'He just looked in so much pain and so sad': Couple told to avoid a supposedly feral shelter cat watches him transform the moment the worker leaves, and brings him home the same day.

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Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 20, 2026 3:00 PM EDT

Cat shelters are important establishments contributing to cat rescues, but even they can be wrong.

Imagine you had to live your entire life in the streets, or even worse - knowing the taste of home, comfort, love, and family, only to be abandoned on the street to fend for yourself. Imagine that after that, some people would pick you up to a shelter, and you couldn't explain your trauma to them because of a language barrier, and you'd be labeled as "mean" and "feral" because you can't understand what's going on - as if the situation wasn't scary enough. Because that's what happened to the now-cat of @jaxwithatwist. And no, the fact that he's a cat doesn't make this pretend scenario any better - no cat should be treated like that.

There's no excuse in the world that would make me think "That's very wrong, but if it wasn't a person experiencing it, it'd be okay." Just as we're touched by people's stories of endurance, perseverance, and survival - it should be mirrored when the story is of a cat, for example. And it seems that the shelter this cat has made his way to, after fending for himself on the streets, didn't see the endurance, perseverance, and survival of this cat. They didn't even look at his broken and sad soul. They just saw a "mean" cat, planning on releasing him back into the dangers of the streets if no brave-enough person adopts him.

But I'm not here to get angry at shelter workers who deal with a cat in need in such an uncompassionate and rough way. I'm here to celebrate the happy ending, and give all the stage necessary for the caring couple who adopted him. Unlike the shelter people, they approached this scared and scarred cat with tenderness, compassion, kindness, and an open heart. And it's very apparent - because the love they now receive from this sweet boy is through the roof. Because this is the simple truth - if you approach a cat with love, you will receive the cat's love in return. And that's the best kind of love to have.

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  • 01
    We weren't expecting to see what we saw when we went to the shelter.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 02
    We headed to the shelter to see a cat, even though we weren't sure we were ready for a new kitty... But his picture caught our attention. He looked so much like Hugo, our cat who recently passed away, and we couldn't stop thinking about him so we wanted to meet him.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 03
    When we got there, they warned us he was a mean feral, had a broken tail, and had just had his ear clipped... He was going to be released back into the streets if he wasn't adopted in the next few days.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 04
    We wondered how bad could it be, but when we saw him being carried in the room by the scruff of the neck, crying and looking terrified we were instantly worried about how mean he was going to be
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 05
    We decided to stay and see if we could try and get near him to spend time with him.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 06
    Once she left the room we noticed his broken tail and the blad on his neck, he just looked in so much pain and so sad
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 07
    But then we were so confused... The moment my husband picked him up, this scared little kitty instantly curled up in his lap and seemed to feel safe and started to purr!
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 08
    I was still worried and literally trying to google... "How do you train a mean kitty?"
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 09
    (You can hear me sounding worried here)
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 10
    But my husband and Jax already knew. This was meant to be.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 11
    But my husband and Jax already knew. This was meant to be.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 12
    When I said to my husband, did you get yourself a cat... Jax looked up to say yes you did
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10648815872
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 14
    So we took this "mean" little kitty home. And it turns out he wasn't mean at all. Once he found love, he became the sweetest cat.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 15
    So we took this "mean" little kitty home. And it turns out he wasn't mean at all. Once he found love, he became the sweetest cat.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10648815104
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 17
    WhiskersandMittens 13cats2dogs "Ready to go buddy" just k led me Such a heartwarming story Even the way he looked at you in the first clip
    via WhiskersandMittens 13cats2dogs
  • 18
    Jaxwithatwist - Creator It's sooo crazy because I have never realized how he looked at me in the beginning once he saw me! It makes my heart happy that he felt something with me too and not just all my husband believe I never realized that until now! but I can't
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 19
    Lisa Aww I love this. He was so afraid when the worker was in the room but when she went out he must of sensed security with you and your hubby
    via Lisa
  • 20
    keltiesmomCA You can not tell an animals true temperament or personality in a shelter setting and this story proves it
    via keltiesmomCA
  • 21
    Don That wonderful kitty sensed your combined trust. So incredible how quick your buddy did that!
    via Don
  • 22
    Jaxwithatwist • Creator It really was so amazing how he could sense right away the safety and the love. I am so glad we found him.
    via @jaxwithatwist
  • 23
    via @jaxwithatwist

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wholesome cat heartwarming kindness cat adoption cute cats adopted Cat distribution system animal shelter Cats
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