Shelter happily finds a home for a healthy, playful kitten only for her to be returned a day later with multiple broken bones and "in critical condition": 'This is my worst nightmare come true... I thought I was setting this cat up for a good life'

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Mar 31, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Working in a shelter, finding good people to adopt cats, seeing these cats go to their forever homes, getting pictures of these cats from their owners looking happy, surrounded by love in their new homes… we have always thought that must be one of the most gratifying jobs ever. We have also thought about how much responsibility that must be. Finding a loving home for a cat is not always easy. We have seen cats come from horrible homes before, homes where they were neglected and forgotten and not loved. And as much as working in shelter is gratifying, we kind of suspected that it was also scary, and today, sadly, we had our suspicions confirmed.

The person working in this shelter thought that they found the purrfect home for this cat. A loving family, many years of happiness - that was all in this kitten's future on the day that the papers were signed. But the dreams shattered when less than a day later, the same adopters called the shelter with the worst news that they could have possibly had.

Wonton is doing better now, thankfully, now that she's back with the shelter. But we think this is a lesson. You can never be too careful when vetting people for adoption.

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This really is the most nightmarish scenario ever. We have so much anger in us at the new owners - the ex-owners, but we're so worried about Wonton that we can barely feel it. The concern overshadows everything. We are just glad that these people had enough sense in them to call you and put this sweet kitten back in good hands.
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$Friends of Bear Cat Rescue @feederofcats Long story short - once she stabilized, we opted for a CT. Both front limbs are a mess - fractured basically everywhere. One fractured rib. Broken jaw, fractured palate, several small fractures throughout her face. • 7:11 AM · Mar 23, 2025 1.4M Views . Q4 1271 32K ☐ 185$

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$Friends of Bear Cat Rescue @feederofcats Wonton had her oral specialty consult this morning and they agreed she needs surgery ASAP to repair the fractured jaw and hard palate. I just left and they're taking her straight into surgery please keep her in your thoughts and enjoy her sweet purrs 7:47 PM · Mar 27, 2025 366.2K Views II 0:15$

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We cannot say how thankful we are to everyone who is involved who is continuing to fight for her. She is strong. She will make it. The fact that she is still here and is still in good spirits is proof of that. She's getting better already. After that… we'll take her if need be.
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