Heartwarming Stories Of Rescue Cats Finding Purpose And Love
Although there are many problems in the world, there's something about seeing a beloved animal in misery that ignites an immediately outraged reaction from people. However, some loving individuals and families take that outrage and harness it into the kind of love that makes these struggling creatures feel safe at last.
It's a particularly powerful effect when a cat is being rescued. Few things are worse than seeing a sad kitten, but few things are as affirming as seeing that kitten grow into a happy cat with all the love in the world. That's why today is all about the stories of those who made that transition happen.
The term "rescue cat" is rarely so dramatically literal
Although it's true that adopting a rescue cat is an act that literally saves its life, that usually has to do with unfortunate long-term and systemic circumstances. In this case, however, the rescue began with a sudden, perilous incident. That's because this cat was once trapped in a burning, abandoned house.
After Reddit user blowsy_cute saved it from the smoke, however, she decided to adopt it for her own. And in the month since she first rescued the little kitty, it's become so much healthier and fluffier. Neither of them is likely to ever forget the way they first met.
The amount of improvement in eight weeks is amazing!
When Reddit user Fluffy-Designer first adopted Duke, they knew the cat had some seriously challenging issues. For one thing, he has an allergy to chicken that carers found out about the hard way because he's known to rip off clumps of fur whenever he eats it.
Duke also has a more generalized form of anxiety, which means that he's also likely to rip it off when he gets upset enough. However, Fluffy-Designer has fostered such a loving and supportive environment for Duke that he looks like a completely different cat eight weeks later. He's still trying to grow all his fur back, though.
There's always going to be more adjustment required
It's easy to see the difference between this cat's quality of life before and after its adoption. Although it's unclear what was making its face swell, its slight body weight made it abundantly clear that its previous living conditions where leaving it severely malnourished. Add that to the sickly quality of its fur and the situation it was in speaks for itself.
However, it's clear that things are already so much better. The cat is looking much plumper and the brilliance of its white fur can finally be seen. It looks like it's still haunted by what it's been through, but helping a neglected cat feel safe and secure is often the hardest part.
He doesn't know how close he came to the end
When Nano here was on the euthanasia list at an overcrowded city shelter, he looked significantly older than he really was. That's because he was fighting multiple infections at the time, which left him severely underweight. Although he may not have known his fate, he was clearly miserable about his situation.
However, his luck changed after Reddit user kensingtoncat took him off that list and fostered him until he was ready for a loving forever home. When that day came, he was sent to some family friends in Connecticut and looks even happier now than in this photo with the bowtie.
"He's a proper kitty now"
As the first photo from this tiny kitten's adoption makes clear, Reddit user Share_Pls was very enthusiastic about his name. But while Boromir didn't meet the happiest fate in The Lord Of The Rings, the little cat bearing his name looks like he's thriving. And it's clear just by looking at him.
Although every little kitten looks like it's been through the wringer when it's newly born, Boromir looked like he once teetered on the edge of life and death. However, he's now a flourishing little kitty who is clearly in a much happier, healthier environment. Although Share_Pls intends to limit themselves to fostering him, it seems hard to resist adopting him.
Retracing some tiny steps over a big area
As Reddit user Elliotlewish explained, they adopted their cat, Ben, between the times these photos were taken. As it turned out, the charity they interfaced with had posted a before shot showing the exact moment of his rescue. And while he obviously wasn't in the best of moods in the second picture, it still shows a dramatic change.
He was dangerously underweight with faded fur when Ben was first discovered as a stray wandering the streets of Dubai. However, it's clear that he's reached a much healthier body weight since then, and his fur is so much shinier. Now, he can be adorably grumpy in peace.
Penka has been through as much as any cat can survive
As Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671 explained, Penka's sickly, blue hue and dismal expression in the first photo have a sad, harrowing origin. Namely, they found her in an abandoned barn in the dead of winter back in 2022. As they told it, it was 13 degrees below zero Fahrenheit when the little one was first discovered in Russia.
Although she was adopted from the uploader's foster care, it wasn't long before this potential adopter found her allergies too much to deal with and brought her back. To make matters worse, Penka had a harrowing brush with Feline Infectious Peritonitis after ElectricalTravel1671 took her back. However, she got through it and the Redditor considers her the sweetest cat ever.
The change that truly matters the most
Considering the spotty quality of the photos both before and after Suzi's rescue, it's pretty hard to gauge the physical changes she's been through. Although these photos were taken seven years apart, there isn't exactly a world of difference between how she looked when she was in the shelter and now.
However, very little would have changed if Reddit user skorletun had been able to find a better camera for that second moment. That's because the low-quality one they used was enough to capture the most important change of all. Suzi looked so sad in the shelter and looks so adorably happy now.
Better late than never
Although Hecktor here seemed like the stoic type, one doesn't need to see any change in his expression to understand how much of a difference Reddit user kholekardashian12 made for him. All it takes is one look at the matted fur and wispy weight the cat was at before to make that abundantly clear.
Since Hecktor was adopted at the age of 11, the sad reality is that the uploader only had a few years with him before he crossed over to the beyond. However, the second photo makes it clear that Hecktor's last years were filled with love and saw him in a safe, healthy environment.
It turns out she could grow quite big once she had a chance
As Reddit user pimpmywalrus explained, they first found this adorable little kitten out in the cold. Yet, while it was so small and cute, it was also clear that it was struggling. The uploader noticed that she was acting lethargic and hoped the little kitty would be able to make it through.
Fortunately, it's now clear that she did and that was all thanks to the Redditor. After they took her home and introduced her to their other cat, Peaches, the long process to see this scared, exhausted kitten flourish into a beautiful, confident cat began. As they said, that story has a happy ending.
Her problems weren't as hard to solve as they sounded
When Stesha here was rescued in Russia, she was in some seriously rough shape. It all started when her previous owner abandoned her on the street, which resulted in a long period when she didn't get nearly enough food. Sadly, this period of malnutrition affected her bones, which became more fragile.
However, it turned out that all Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671 needed to do to address this problem was to keep her very well-fed and limit her mobility for a month. After that recuperation, some vaccinations, and a spaying appointment, Stesha has since been adopted. The uploader's foster care is to be commended for sure.
The difference between these images is small but crucial
As Reddit user Opposite_Course_3954 explained, Delphine is an eight-month-old cat who was the result of inbreeding. This is also true of her siblings, and the results left the whole litter with unusual allergies and increased their risks of eye infections. In Delphine's case, the foster carer she had before meeting the uploader secured some eye drops for her.
That meant the Redditor had to continue that care after adopting her, and they are proud to announce that the drops eventually worked well enough to clear away what had been ailing her for so long. Her eyes look so much healthier now!
A rough start in one of the dirtiest places
As Reddit user AllenWalker218 explained, they discovered this little cat in a dumpster and rescued her on the spot. They also mentioned that it wasn't hard to do because, as the first photo suggested, her eyes were caked shut due to an upper respiratory infection. All the uploader had to do was walk up and grab her.
After her medical issues were sorted out and she was brought home to AllenWalker218's other cat, she started on a regular diet of wet food at breakfast and high protein dry food with no grain in it all day. She also gets along great with her new brother.
What a powerful and beautiful difference
Although this adorable cat has an adorable name (Fishtopher), it's clear that a darker story than that name suggests was once written on his face. In fact, Fishtopher's entire story could be told just with his facial expressions. The first comes at a vet visit right as he was being adopted, while the second comes after a lot of time and love.
Just look at the difference. It was hard to think of a cat who looked more tired and depressed than Fishtopher did when it all started. But now, he's revealing how bright and adorable his little eyes could be all along. It's a moving transformation.
Sometimes, a picture tells a story all on its own
When it was first rescued, this cat looked more like a Chihuahua than any cat breed out there. That would already be a sign that it's not in a healthy state if that was the only photo available. However, that impression only becomes starker when this photo is compared to the "after" shot.
Its fur looked sickly, its eyes looked tired and red, and it looked dangerously small for a cat of its age. However, seeing what it looks like with lush fur and a healthy body weight makes it seem miraculous that the cat made it through its hardest struggles.
It's like the difference between night and day
Whether they're human or animal, the world's creatures have distinct markers that show they've been struggling on the street. In the case of this cat, it's clear that its fur had become wild and unmanaged, as grooming isn't much of a priority when a struggle to survive is on.
However, the lack of hope and crushing defeat in those eyes are just as telling. In the year-and-a-half since this cat was discovered, its bright, confident eyes have come as an even more powerful and welcome change than its lush fur. Still, its little mustache pops out more this way as well.
It was a close call for this little fellow
As Reddit user Hoperosaliex explained, this little cat was on death's door when they first discovered him. In the above two shots, the cat was in the throes of a case of anemia that nearly claimed his life. Believe it or not, so much lifesaving progress was made in just 24 hours.
Although that's clear from the fact that the cat no longer looks dazed and sad, it's also visible in how pink his little nose is now. It really underscores how pale he was before. His eyes, however, will continue to look like that because the cat is blind.
Well, she's certainly not going to miss her ex anymore
Although most people who rescue cats from the wild discover them as strays, Reddit user TaraJo had actually met the cat she would eventually take into her home before. Unfortunately, the reason for that is that Nefer used to belong to the uploader's ex-partner. Worse yet, that person apparently dumped Nefer in the streets after the breakup.
Apparently, she was outside and begging to be let in for days before TaraJo visited this ex for the last time. Now, Nefer is home with her and doesn't look anywhere near as tired and sad as she did just days before. It's definitely for the best that she's not with that person if they're going to treat a cat so cruelly.
This is such wonderful progress!
It's clear that when this cat was a kitten, the shelter's workers did the best they could to make it comfortable. The cage was covered to help it sleep and it had food and a cute, soft little blanket to lie on. However, life in a cage is still not preferable for any cat.
That's what makes it so powerful to see how what was once a timid little kitty had grown up. Not only does the cat look well-fed and healthy but it's lounging in a more much comfortable and free place. Even from a still picture, it's also clear that it looks way more relaxed.
No wonder they couldn't give this cat up
When Reddit user street0car first took in Muppet as a foster cat, it was clear that this senior cat had lived a rough life. Although they didn't get specific about what he had been through, the sores on Muppet's nose and leg filled in enough details about his struggles on their own.
However, it only took a month before he looked a world healthier and before his eyes went from angry to full of contentment. Considering how beautiful his transformation was, it's hardly a surprise that the uploader couldn't limit their time with him to foster care, which is why they officially adopted him.
Seven years of progress in one photo
When a very young cat is left in a terrible situation, it's often clear by how much bigger its head is than the rest of its body. That was sadly true when this cat was first rescued, and it came as a sign that his body wasn't getting the nourishment he needed.
Although the cat seemed to have a little sore on his nose after the first year in Reddit user Paradox1989's care, his body weight was looking much better. His new situation clearly had a lot to take in, but it looks like it's been smooth sailing for the cat ever since.
Some things didn't change but the important things did
Although Reddit user TieApprehensive3829 didn't elaborate on what this cat had been through before they welcomed her into their home, there wasn't much they really needed to say. Her scruffy fur and that heartbreaking look in her eyes say everything that needs to be said.
Now, so much about her is radically different. She looks so much happier and healthier and doesn't see life as anywhere near as much of a struggle. Although she's as cross-eyed as she was as a kitten, that seems to be the only thing that stays the same. That's just a cute trait for her now.
His lovely green eyes have never stopped shining
Even from the moment he was rescued, Gizmo's beautiful green eyes have shone brightly through everything he's experienced. Since Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671 found him outside of a local shop in September 2022, it's possible that nobody will ever know what he had been through. Everything after that, however, has been well documented.q
As the uploader told it, they were able to find a good home for Gizmo fairly soon after they rescued him. Ever since then, his proud new owners have regularly sent photos that show how big he's been growing over time. He looks like he's been doing great!
She was always beautiful but she's now so much happier
Most of the time, animals will wear their hardships on their face when they're newly adopted. Even if there's nothing physically wrong with them, their sad expressions will tell the story of their life before adoption as much as anyone needs to hear. However, things seem to be a little different in this case.
For instance, Daisy looked perfectly lovely from day one after Reddit user mollystorm brought her home. Yet, while her expression seemed neutral then, the real sign of her progress is what she's doing in the second picture. She was nervous and reserved when she was first brought home, but she's much more playful now.
How many folks would have guessed they're the same cat?
Considering how much can change about a cat even days after adopting it, a neglected cat can look utterly unrecognizable after it starts getting proper care for a while. In this case, it only took Aurora one month to transform before Reddit user Mintyfreshcatbreath's eyes.
When she was first adopted, she looked malnourished. Moreover, her eyes were alert, as it was difficult to trust anyone after going through as many rapid changes as she had. However, the cat in the second photo looks both healthy and relaxed in her new home. It's hard to believe that both pictures show Aurora.
More changed here than it seems
Although it seems like these photos were taken on the same day, the truth is that they were weeks apart. Although Lena's looks indicate that she could handle herself pretty well in the wild, it's also true that she's changed so much since she wandered into Reddit user brunanass's backyard.
That's because she was pregnant and semi-feral at the time. Yet, while the uploader did give her kittens away to loving homes, she found that she couldn't really do the same to Lena once the mama cat was rehabilitated. Instead, Lena is now an indoor cat who lives here permanently.
Misha doesn't need to be scared anymore
Although some cats have a way of disarming even the toughest humans with adorable pleading faces like this, it seems to come naturally to Misha. Sadly, it's not hard to see why, considering the clear strife he was under in the first of these photos. As Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671 explained, he was born a stray.
He, his mother, and his siblings were fostered by a woman in Russia for a time, but that woman eventually reached out to ElectricalTravel1671, who has a wealth of experience rescuing animals. The woman asked for help in getting the kittens adopted and getting the mother spayed. Fortunately, the uploader was able to help out on both fronts.
There's no way she could understand how close this was
As Reddit user catmommy_ explained, little Sansa's life had very nearly taken a tragic turn before she was even a year old. By the time the uploader met her, she was staying at an animal shelter that's known to resort to euthanasia more quickly than some other places.
Moreover, her survival remained fairly uncertain once she was adopted because she only weighed four pounds. For a cat of her age, that's not nearly enough. In the two years since she's been cared for, however, it's a lot safer to say that her life has been truly saved. What a success story!
The odds were stacked against this sweet girl
When Reddit user The_Fluffy_Walrus first met Little, they weren't sure whether they were going to keep her. Indeed, it seemed up in the air as to whether they even could, as she was dealing with a laundry list of health problems. Judging by the comparison photos here, it was clear she was very malnourished.
However, she also had ear infections, eye infections, fleas, worms, and even burn marks on her paws from walking on hot concrete. However, the uploader's chance discovery while on a break from work turned into nine months of companionship that they never want to end. That's beautiful because being in that home has clearly been amazing for her!
They really wish they could keep him
Although Reddit user disguised_sableye has fallen in love with this little puffball in the year since they started fostering him, they can't legally house another cat permanently. Instead, they spent the days after posting these powerful comparison photos preparing him for his forever home.
It was the culmination of a hard but rewarding year. When the uploader first met him, the cat had been rescued from a hoarding situation. What he experienced in that house left him so terrified and anxious that his fur kept falling out. However, a year of stability and proper care showed how fluffy and cute he's supposed to be.
There was almost nothing left by the time someone cared
For reasons that have nothing to do with work or shopping, Black Friday is an incredibly special day for Reddit user pdlbean. That's because that's the day they discovered the cat they have since named after it. As the first of these photos shows, poor Black Friday was all but emaciated when he was found.
In fact, he initially looked even worse because that photo was taken 11 days after the uploader brought him home. However, it's still a stark enough difference to how Black Friday looked four months later. Now, he's the perfectly healthy little cat he was supposed to be all along.
The Universal Cat Distribution System was working hard
Although people often say that cats adopt their humans, some think this works on a cosmic, universal level. This leads cat adopters to joke about the "Universal Cat Distribution System," in which cats come into people's lives against all odds. This system was all but confirmed for Reddit user LaiSaSong, who shared the moment Cha-Lam came into their life.
Apparently, he and his brother were born to a stray who squatted in the uploader's basement. While that situation would lead many unsure what to do, LaiSaLong decided to adopt them both. It's clearly made a world of difference for Cha-Lam.
Guess which cat this little guy grew to be
When people rescue cats, it's not unusual for them to find that their care can all but transform their new friends. Although this can refer to the change in the cat's demeanor once it realizes it's safe, that transformation can also be physical and leave cats unrecognizable.
For instance Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671 level of care for one cat was so healthy and loving that he doesn't look like the same cat as either of the two in the second picture. While Casper's small size might suggest that he's the black and white cat, his name more accurately reflects the larger, white cat. The uploader's care was that good.
The difference is clear on so many levels
Although Reddit user BeautifulTelevision1 didn't reveal this cat's name, they discussed how much she had changed in the six months since they started caring for her. As they shared, this lovely but scruffy cat only weighed three-and-a-half pounds when they brought her home. They said they could feel every bone in her body.
However, it's clear from this photo that she's much larger and fluffier. It's also worth noting that this cat was much shier when she first arrived. Now, she's as perfectly cuddly as a house cat that never had to go through what she did. What an improvement.
He was physically healthy but a lot of work needed doing
Even now, Ajax here is frightened by strangers. As Reddit user Pulmonic explained, it seems likely that he always will be. However, it's nonetheless clear from this picture that there's a world of difference between the unsocialized and terrified cat that first came home and the affectionate little guy Ajax is now.
When he was first rescued from a hoarder's house, the uploader had to feed Ajax while he hid under the furniture. They described him as holing up in his "getting used to the house room" until about six weeks into Pulmonic's care. In that time, though, he's blossomed into "a little cuddly baby."
A rough situation has left this cat with a permanent quirk
As Reddit user Silent_Tradition_241 explained, their sister had a pretty scary hurdle to clear after she found her adopted cat. Although the uploader didn't reveal the cat's name, they mentioned that she was seriously injured when the sister first discovered her. As a result, the cat had to undergo jaw surgery.
Although this rough chapter in the kitty's life has left a little scar above her nose, the more noticeable after-effect is the fact that she can't close her bottom jaw. Nonetheless, Silent_Tradition_241 described her as an "extremely happy and loved cat" and that's the most important thing.
He was a lucky one for sure
This is Helvic. According to Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671, Helvic is one of 13 cats who were rescued from a steel mill. Although it's unclear what happened to the other cats, what initially struck the uploader as the most worrying trait was Helvic's size. He was tiny to a staggering degree.
So much so, in fact, that ElectricalTravel1671 initially mistook him for a female kitten. However, it's clear from the photos they've since received from his adopted family that Helvic is much larger and healthier now. It's so sweet to see him sleep in comfort, especially considering what he had been through.
This cat changed her owner as much as they changed her
As Reddit user amidelune explained, they once believed they were more of a dog person before they met Luna. Indeed, this was a chance meeting that happened after Luna's previous owner gave her away due to dating someone with cat allergies. The uploader also discovered that Luna had been mistreated in the past, which makes her wary of strangers.
However, that didn't stop her from becoming affection with amidelune and after a year together, the Redditor can't imagine not having Luna in their life. As they wrote, "Luna, with her mysterious allure and selective affection, has reshaped my understanding of friendship and loyalty."
A cat with a big hidden problem
As Reddit user ElectricalTravel1671 explained, their efforts to rescue cats were well-known enough in their family by Autumn of 2023 that their parents knew to come to them when a stray cat started wandering around their house. Although the plan was to spay her, the uploader ended up fostering the cat until she was adopted.
Before the spaying could take place, the cat had a kitten named Roxy (visible in the first photo,) who was also eventually adopted. What compelled the Redditor to foster the mama cat, however, was a hidden fish bone that had been lodged in her mouth, which prevented her from eating.
Priscilla's experiences permanently changed her
When Reddit user Katayanaz first discovered Priscilla, she was in the worst possible shape a cat could be in before it's too late. After she had been hit by a car, both of her legs were broken and left in their critical state for long enough that she was covered in flies.
Sadly, her condition was serious enough that half of one of her back legs needed to be amputated. However, the home the uploader has since provided for her has left her safe, happy, and dearly loved. As they also assured commenters, "She can walk around fine. She has lots of cat friends she plays with at our house!"