“She was filthy, sick, and starving—and still kinder than anyone around me”: Foster cat’s severe neglect sparks a fallout that exposes owner and ends a toxic relationship

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 3, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Cat rescues really do come in all shapes and sizes. And much like snowflakes, it is almost impossible to compare on to another. Which is perhaps why we are so drawn to them in the first place. But this particular story adds an unexpected element in which our heroic rescuer ends up saving not only one cat, but also a kitten in the process of making sure that the previous owner of the first cat that was rescued, did not have the opportunity to make the same mistake she made with her original catto with a brand-new kitten.

This is the story of a woman who would not let the threat of social alienation stop her from being a carer of all cattos. This is the story of how feline love trumps all. And most importantly, this is the story that should remind you one and all, that adopting a cute catto means giving them a world and never taking it away.
 

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  • 01
    I (28F) recently agreed to foster a cat who I was told had massive behaviour issues and was going to be taken to an animal shelter if I didn't agree. I expected
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    Cheezburger Image 10537586176
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  • 03
    spitting, hissing, biting, not litterbox trained etc. Cat arrived with nothing to her name, cat is 5 years old. No box, bowls, toys, food, nothing but a flea collar that was clearly months old and too tight.
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  • 04
    Cat was absolutely filthy, ex-owner told me they couldn't provide money at the time for me to set the cat up, and I allowed it as I'd been told they were in a nasty financial position. We
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  • Jheez, this is quite the state to receive a cat in. though it does go to show that the world of cat adoption outside of shelters is far more dire, and demands its own attention. Thankfully, this kind rescuer had a heart larger than most to manage the load that came with this catto.

  • 05
    agreed to keep a tab of vet bills/food bills to be paid. As they are leaving, she mentions the case of white claws she stopped to pick up on the way. I was gobsmacked.
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  • 06
    I set about getting what the cat needed, and began to try to gauge its behaviour. Turns out this animal is the sweetest, smartest, kindest being I've ever had the pleasure to know. Took cat to vet, and cat is incredibly ill and underweight due to neglect.
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  • 07
    Got her medical shampoo for her skin, antibiotics for the massive infection she has, and then called her ex- owner and told her to send me her microchip details as I would be keeping the cat.
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  • 08
    She says thats fine, cat was never chipped anyway. Doesn't pay anything bar $40 of the bills. 2 days later turns up at her job with hair and nails done.
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  • 09
    I sat on it for 6 weeks, and stewed and stewed, until I found out she had been speaking to someone about a kitten. I didn't embellish anything, I simply told 2 of my closest friends what happened and why the cat stayed with me.
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  • 10
    The truth spread like wildfire, and most people have now turned their back on her. My only intent was to stop her from getting another animal, not for it to end up like this. I feel like I could be the a ''e because this has affected her work and friendships.
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  • 11
    INAP
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  • 12
    EDIT: Well folks I think we can safely say that I am NTA, wanted to thank you all for your judgements (no matter what they were). The Darkness has been given all of the wonderful messages, love and scritchies. You can keep an eye out on cattax for a post, due to this
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  • Yeah, sounds about right that things went this way. And what a horrible thing to have to deal with. To see someone who so badly neglected a catto that they have to give them up, turn around and start spouting nonsense about adopting a much needier kitten. This rescuer is truly one of the bravest heroes around. She risked her finances, relationships and social standing at work all in the name of feline kind. 

  • 13
    blowing up. Keep safe, be nice to each other and the animals! EDIT2: Also, I want to assure you all that she will be okay, we are in for several surgeries (corrective and necessary) and a long recovery. But I've got her
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  • 14
    every step of the way, she will have the best of everything, forever!
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  • 15
    I received some messages asking for an update on the tiny void baby I adopted a year and a half ago.
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    Unfortunately for me, the fall out of telling people the actual reason eventually led to myself and my ex splitting. Fortunately, I think it was by far the best outcome.
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  • 17
    I ended up naming her Freja, and she is still the light of my life. For the last year and a half, we've battled hard to get her healthy. She's had her
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  • 18
    shoulder and jaw realigned, 6 teeth removed due to extreme dental issues, and we've finally managed to get her ear infections under control after 9 rounds of medication and a surgical cleaning. I spent around 5k getting these issues fixed, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
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  • 19
    She has also gone from being extremely underweight (2.6lbs) to a healthy 7.7lbs. She is my baby, whole world, and it's hard imagine what my life would be like without her.
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  • 20
    Previously she would only eat the worst food you could buy, we've managed to get her to eat premium grade wet and dry food, as well as transition onto eating some real food (fish, chicken). She plays now,
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    Cheezburger Image 10537586688
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    loves anything that has feathers, and is always extremely grateful for any new thing she is given, be it a small toy or a new cat stand.
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  • 23
    She has 2 sisters now, and 2 dog brothers who she loves to terrorise. She has become a "the sky is awake, so I'm awake, so GET UP!" child, no sleep ins allowed. She is my teddy bear and sleeps in a king size bed every night!
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  • 24
    FKAlag: Telling people the previous cat's owner was awful led to your relationship breaking up? You're either dating a very awful person or there's a lot more to this story than we're being told.
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  • 25
    Reply from OOP: It was a DV relationship, I walked on eggshells for 4 years. Outing the woman who abused my baby to a company that employed half of the town just made it worse. She was on ds,
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  • 26
    and so was my ex, I'm just happy to be away from all of that and to have escaped with myself and my girl alive OOP now has a wife who came with 2 cats and a dog. It sounds like the OP has a happy home full of fur and love!
    via 8billionaliens

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cat kind fallout foster reddit story cat story cat owners exposed starving neglect sick toxic relationship filthy
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