'I didn’t want her in a shelter': A work call that meant more than expected led one employee to a tortoiseshell cat left behind, and straight into the arms of a new love

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 3, 2026 3:00 PM EDT

Cats don't often come into your life when you're expecting them, but when have cats ever done something "expected"?

Do you have a plan for what will happen with your cats after you pass away? It's not something you normally think about, right? Quite the opposite, normally you worry about what will happen to you after your cats cross over the rainbow bridge. But in today's case, an adorable tortoiseshell cat was suddenly left without a pawrent. When an employee showed up at their house and noticed that no one seemed to care what would happen to the cat after they left, they just couldn't leave them behind. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10627909376
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    I had a work call today that ended up sticking with me in a different way than I expected. We were called to a home where someone had passed away. I'm not going to get into the details of that part, but while clearing the scene, I found their cat still inside.
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    She wasn't panicked or confused like you might expect. Honestly, she was really sweet-just kind of calm and affectionate, like she trusted people being there even though everything around her had changed.
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  • Of our two cats, one would try to make friends with all the new strangers in the house, and the other would hide until they all left (and then probably even longer). Cats are surprisingly resilient to change if they are given the right environment and safe space to do so. But regardless, what happened to this poor kitty is nothing short of tragic. All of a sudden, her whole life changed and she has no way of truly understanding what's going on.

    We're very thankful that the employee went out of her way to make sure the cat was taken care of. This is how many house cats become strays, by being left behind (on purpose or by accident, like this). That's a horrible life for a house cat - to go from your every whim and desire taken care of to being alone. It takes a cat purrson to understand the pain of a cat that's gone through loss like this.

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    It was one of those moments where everything else going on fades into the background for a minute and it's just you taking care of a little animal that doesn't understand the bigger picture.
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    I was able to get her out safely and into the care of someone I trust who will take good care of her. She was super sweet to me the entire time. You could tell she was taken care of before the owner passed.
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    I didn't want her in a shelter. Everyone was kinda overlooking the cat. But I felt so bad for it. I ended up giving her to a really good friend who loves cats and has taken care of them for decades.
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    I would've taken the sweet baby. But unfortunately I have 3 of my own. Give your cats some extra love tonight.
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    onn. Roku TV
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    Adept_Amount_4327 I am glad she went to a good home. She is a cutie pie!
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    Karsten760 For reasons like this, we've designated a trusted family member to find homes for our kitties in case of the worst scenario.
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    ChevalCher You did a wonderful thing! I'd like to think the original owner's spirit guided you to that house to make sure their kitty was placed with a new family who will love her as much as they did. You done good.
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  • Spirit or no, it doesn't change the fact that they did a good thing. They saw not just a cat, but a soul that just lost its family. Lots of others wouldn't focus on the cat at all, but that cat was probably her pawrent's whole world, and vice versa. She deserves to finish her years in a home that loves her, too. Now, she will, and it warms our little cat-shaped hearts to know that she's probably curled up on a couch somewhere, dreaming of an unlimited bowl of tuna.

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    iSeiBoN Oh you are so nice! Thank you for taking care of her!
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    GrayLilly678 I got my two senior cats from a shelter that specializes in them. Gracie is an absolutely sweet cat and is never afraid of people who come over. Right away she will let them pet her.
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    Her backstory is an owner who had to go into a nursing home and you can tell this cat was never ever mistreated. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to care for Gracie in her second half of life.
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    Various-Muffin4145 Thank you for caring for this fur baby. Its not there fault they loose there owner and some are just left to defend for themselves and that never ends well except for people like you who love pets. Thank you
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    Heavy_Calligrapher71 My brother unexpected passed away and was found yesterday. I live 8 hours north. My first concern was getting his cat taken care of and making sure she didn't end up in the shelter. Thankfully his
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    coworker is taking her in, but I was ready to drive down today to make sure she was ok. Thank you for taking care of this sweet cat, I am sure her human's spirit is very grateful from beyond.
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    Electric_Possum53 Thank you for caring for the kitty! You are the best kind of hero
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    honeyapp You are that sweet cats guardian angel. So very kind of you to find a great home for her. It's obvious her owner loved her and would have wanted her to be well cared for and loved. Thank you for looking out for her
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    Estellalatte She will love you always.
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    Bebe_Yaga_ This is how I got my late cat, Bean. She was 11 when her owner d d. We gave her 5 years of endless love and pampering until she left us. It wasnt enough time, but I am honored to have gotten to take care of her.
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    xala123 You saved a life today with this kitty. I'm serious. Others would have just sent her to a shelter but you saved her. I hope you can rest easy knowing you did something really special. Thank you so much.
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tortoiseshell cats adoption employee work left behind cat rescue love animal shelter Cats animals
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