Ex leaves her cat behind during breakup, the boyfriend adopts her cat and loves it, then has his heart broken when the cat goes missing; 2 weeks later, he rescues an abandoned kitten screaming for help and finds comfort through the pain

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 11, 2026 1:30 PM EDT

The universe has a way of rewarding us for doing kind things. 

Being kind to animals is one of the most selfless acts of kindness, because more often than not, you don't get anything out of it. The same is true in the other direction. Being cruel to animals is one of the worst kinds of cruelty because animals have done nothing to deserve it. And abandoning a cat after a breakup is simple cruelty. Maybe the breakup was justified. The story is told on r/CatDistributionSystem gives us no way of knowing. And it doesn't matter. Either way, abandoning the cat with someone who didn't ask for it cannot be justified. 

It's lucky that this man cared about this cat enough to keep him. That's not a given. It's not something we can take for granted. He didn't care for cats. He didn't want a cat. He just knew that the cat didn't deserve this. To be abandoned, to be tossed around from home to shelter, from stranger to stanger, in the hopes that something will stick. So, he kept the cat, and of course, he ended up falling in love. Only to have his heart broken once again when someone he trusted let the cat escape. 

But the universe has a way of rewarding people for being kind. And just two weeks after Oreo disappeared, this man encountered a kitten in need of help. And because he's kind, he stopped. He helped. And he took the kitten in, planning on finding it a home. A kitten who looks so similar to Oreo. Except that the kitten wouldn't let him go, and although it hurts to keep the new kitten, it's also helping this man heal.

Oreo hasn't come back yet after disappearing, but we still have hope. We've heard of people reuniting with their cats years after they escaped. It's been two weeks. Maybe he's lost hope, but we'll keep holding onto it until Oreo comes back. 

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  • 01

    "Cat distribution system helped me process feelings and grow a heart"

    Cheezburger Image 10645012480
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10645011968
    via Dear-Government-9884

  • The colors are the same, the eyes are the same. The pattern is different, of course, but the resemblance is there enough for this to feel like fate. 

  • 03
    The first cat's name was Oreo. He originally belonged to my ex-girlfriend, who got him as a kitten while we were living together. After we broke up, she asked me to keep him for a couple of weeks—maybe a month at most-and said she would pay for everything.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 04
    At the time, I didn't really care for cats. But nine months passed before she tried to get him back. By then, she hadn't paid me a dime, and I had already spent around $2,000 on vet bills and other expenses.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 05
    Somehow, though, Oreo had become my best friend. It was everything from his little mannerisms to the way he would jump on my chest and fall asleep.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 06
    If I said his name, he would come running. I had actually made a friend, and that surprised me more than anything. I never thought I could care so much about one of these little creatures.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 07
    I was in Georgia getting ready to leave the Army, and I was also trying to get my house ready to rent. I sent Oreo to stay with my brother for a little while. Then I got a call that broke my heart: my brother's roommate had accidentally let him out, and they couldn't find him.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 08
    I told myself I would never have another cat. Oreo was the only cat I had ever liked. What felt strange was that two weeks passed, and I still hadn't cried. I didn't feel the sadness I thought I should feel, even though I knew how much I loved that cat. I kept wondering why losing him hadn't torn me apart yet.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 09
    Then, about two weeks later, I was on my way to Lowe's to buy new doorknobs for the house when I noticed a group of people gathered around, trying to catch something. Being who I am, I stopped and offered to help. It turned out to be a cat.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 10
    After about 15 minutes, we finally caught him. Then everyone started coming up with reasons they couldn't take him. One person already had 12 cats. Another had dogs that might k | him. Someone else said their kids were allergic. Eventually, everyone just looked at me.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 11
    I said, "Okay, I'll give him a home for a couple of days while I find him a permanent one."
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 12
    Luckily, I still had plenty of cat supplies at my house, so getting him settled was easy. But as soon as I took that second picture, I burst into tears. In that moment, I finally processed that Oreo was gone.
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 13
    Life, though, had found a way to give me another best friend. He has been with me for about a year now. No, he could never fill Oreo's shoes, but he brought his own pair. Everyone, meet Presley.
    via Dear-Government-9884

  • “He could never fill Oreo's shoes, but he brought his own pair" is probably one of the most beautiful ways that we have ever seen anyone describe this feeling. And it's so, so accurate. 

  • 14
    YORK IN A
    via Unsplash / Karin Kim - karinkim

    Black and white tuxedo cat chilling on top of a staircase in front of books. 

    The chill subject in the photo is a meowdel. 

  • 15
    Beneficial Young5126 Your story made me cry. I hope Oreo is happy somewhere and that Presley can heal your heart
    via Beneficial_Young5126
  • 16
    Dear-Government-9884 OP Thank you he's doing awesome
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10645015040
    via Unsplash / Martín Castañeda

    Image of a black and white kitten yawning. 

    The cat in the image is a model.

  • 18
    Dear-Government-9884 OP He's a weirdo in his own right doesn't have any of the same quirks besides listening to his name, but he's just as quirky
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 19
    O
    via Unsplash / Florian Göpfert - printlinebyflo

    Cute black and white cat lying on its side.

    Subject is a meowdel. 

  • 20
    Laura-52872 Did your ex-girlfriend have Oreo microchipped? If yes, can you check to make sure that someone who found Oreo hasn't been trying to reach her?
    via Laura-52872
  • 21
    Dear-Government-9884 OP No she would have had to use my money to do it I would have caught wind too how many different we were at the vet. And plus she lives in Georgia. He's all the way here somewhere in Louisiana. The search went on for a few weeks. Had group chat set up, but we're pretty convinced somebody picked them up outside of this gas station. We weren't able to pull any video unfortunately
    via Dear-Government-9884
  • 22
    T 12.36 Соляные Оте 12.10, 15.15, 03.30.184) Крудчид ма 4.55 «Леточка 18.00 «Говорим «Секс и чувственн скусство Модерн (124 22.55 14.20, 18.15, 21.20 ем с Леонидом За шанским. (16+) Сегодня 5 «КРИМИНАЛЬНОЕ НА СЛЕДСТВО». (16+) СЯ ФАМИЛИЯ ШИ- 17.00 «билет в Б 17.40 XIV Моск 18.40 «Злия
    via Unsplash / Taisia Karaseva

    Black and white cat looking at the ground curiously. 

    The cute subject in the picture is a model. 

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