Cat abandoned by owner who moved home, saved and adopted thanks to support from online community who offered help and homes to the feline’s rescuer, says: ‘I've done everything in my power to ensure he gets the happy & secure life he deserves.’

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
May 10, 2026 3:00 PM EDT

Sometimes it takes a rag tag group of strangers on the internet to come together and save a cat who was abandoned by its owner. This was one of those times.

It is funny that a movie has not yet been made with such an occurrence where internet strangers come together to save the life of a cat. But it can take Hollywood a few years to catch up, so we will forgive them for not having made the movie version of this story just yet. But when you come to dive into the details of this story, you too will be left wondering why it has not reached Hollywood yet.

Either way, allow us to introduce you to the tale of the sweet catto whose pawrent got a partner, moved house and did not bring his cat child along. In a shocking turn of events this hooman's partner's dog beat the cat for residence of their home and this is how we come to meet our feline protagonist. Stressed and scratching at the door of what was once his home, this catto would go on to meet the hooman and later hoomans who would find him a home where he would always be loved no matter what.
 

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    "There is nastiness in this world but I know the good outweighs the bad, you've proven that."
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    first, a QUICK RECAP: His ex-owner moved out at the end of February and left his cat behind. This cat had been trained to meow at the back door to come inside. So there he was, sitting and waiting to be let
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    inside by someone who was never coming back. An older woman in my complex stopped me with tears in her eyes as I was walking my dog on Saturday. She told me that Gizmo had been abandoned - that her neighbor
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    KIRKLAND CHUNKS
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    had moved out a week prior, but didn't take Gizmo with them. This slimeball told her that he's moving in with his girlfriend, who "has dogs that won't like his cat," which is why he chose to knowingly abandon the cat. (as
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  • Erugh, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes us despise other hoomans. Ok, well to be exact hoomans who give up on their cats the moment it becomes inconvenient to care for them any longer. How should moving in with your partner result in you abandoning your cat. At the very worst we can understand how it would cause you to rehome your cat, or drop them off at the shelter. Both tough things to do, but responsible at the very least. But an outright abandonment, that is just cruel. We can practically hear this poor catto pawing at his hooman’s old home, just begging to be let into a home that will never be again. 
     

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    Cheezburger Image 10621346304
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    if there is a valid reason for doing this...) When she told me about this i was P ED!!! I couldn't stop thinking about this poor cat and wanted to help immediately.
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    One redditor met me here with a cat trap and helped me set it up. u/windowlicker93 came out here with her friend to help catch him! She is also a hero of this story and capturing him would not have been possible
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    Cheezburger Image 10621346048
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    without her help. Little man was EXTREMELY difficult to catch for 2 sleepless nights we struggled. He managed to get in and out of the trap several times without stepping on the door-locking
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    pressure plate - eating all the food without an issue! when i shared our struggles in the comments, u/lisalys told us to try covering the bottom. THAT WORKED! He was extremely
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    NU!
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    frightened (ofc) - when we picked up the cage to move it to the car, he ran around in a mad frenzy, most likely scared because of the see-through bottom. In his terror he banged up his nose a little bit.:((
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    Thankfully, because the post went viral I had many, many people reach out offering to take him in, either to foster or adopt. I went through countless comments, direct messages and chats on Reddit, asking the best candidates
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    BOISE Paper with Purpose™ BOISE
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    many pointed questions ("Do you have other pets? Have they been around cats? What is your plan for introducing him to your other animals? Do you have a secure, isolated space for him to be at first? Do you live with
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  • Who would have thought that with the support of an online community a cat could be given the proper care and consideration that it deserved all along? That with the help and advice of genuine strangers this abandoned feline would have a town's worth of people rally around him and ensure that he would never live a life deprived of anything, ever again. Moreover, that such procedure and care would be put in place to ensure that the purrfect home would be chosen. But that is the magic of the online cat loving community, when these feline fans come together, there is very little that can stop them. 
     

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    ལ་ ONLY STONE LLUK CA
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    anyone else, how do they feel about this?) etc etc etc...) One person got pretty annoyed, saying "No, that's too much personal info for a stranger! I'm trying to help the cat not you!" Well, too bad. I had to make sure I knew
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    exactly where he was going, and I knew that people who respected my reason for asking these questions would be good candidates. The best candidate was one who offered much of that
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    information without me even needing to ask first: u/kellyjoycuntbunny. - who is now his new owner, has also been providing some updates with additional photos you can see here!!
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    Cheezburger Image 10621347328
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    To my delight she had a beautiful private cat room set up for our little prince, with small covered places he could hide in set up. It's important to give a new cat their own space first, especially before their first vet checkup.
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    I'm told he's actually a "LOVE MONSTER" and wants to be near her at all times!! According to his new owner, " "He only eats and drinks when I'm sitting next to him and he's pressed up against my leg, and Im also actively petting
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    Cheezburger Image 10621348352
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    him." It's bittersweet to realize that this cat simply doesn't want to be left alone after his ordeal - "He's a sweet, lovey boy who wants to be around people.""We're best friends now. I really
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    Cheezburger Image 10621349376
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    can't tell you how different it is from what I thought at first. I thought he was hiding because he was scared of people. I was so worried he wouldn't want to be around us and would take time to get close to. But I think he's
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    Cheezburger Image 10621348608
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    actually only feeling safe when I'm right with him."
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    Cheezburger Image 10621349888
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    A new name makes sense for his new life and fresh start. The cat has been given a GREAT name, Special Agent Dale Cooper. (coop or dale for short) and an insta page under specialcatdale, i wont put the direct link as im worried
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    about this post being removed again. they, like me, are huge twin peaks fans, which is something we talked about a lot when we all met. This name just made sense, since he has a suit and all, lol! and
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    we're pretty close to the filming location in WA state. All in all, it looks like he is settling in well and is a lovable cat who was seen as disposable by an irresponsible and cruel human being. His former owner treated him like a
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    piece of old furniture to be left at a dumpster and forgotten. He deserves so much more than that and I've done everything in my power to ensure he gets the happy & secure life he deserves - with big help from all of
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    you, Reddit. One thing I'd add is that for anyone who wanted to adopt him: This is a sadly common occurrence, and the only difference between him and another cat local to you, is that I've
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    VIZIO
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    shown you his photo, so you can see his grief with your own eyes. But many cats like him are left behind every day, waiting in shelters for someone like you to give them a real home. Fostering can also save lives, as
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    Cheezburger Image 10621348864
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    can donating to your local shelter, and can make a huge difference. Consider visiting them and rescuing a cat who needs you just as much as he did. But please remember too, that this is a lifetime commitment.
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    Thank you so much for everything, reddit. There is nastiness in this world but I know the good outweighs the bad, you've proven that.
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cat homes online abandoned reddit story saved community help adopted cat story cat owners feline support move out home rescue
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