A cat had lived by a church for many years. One day, she began following a person she trusted, eventually changing her life.
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For many years, a gray and white cat had lived by a church, capturing the hearts of churchgoers and passersby. Among her admirers was Stephanie B., a volunteer for Little Wanderers NYC.
"Every day I walked by, I would make a little click sound with my mouth, and she knew it was me, and she would come running to me, screaming and demanding her scratches, pets, and hopefully a snack," Stephanie shared with Love Meow.
"She was super friendly and loved attention from the get-go."
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For a while, Stephanie thought the cat, Sparkles, belonged to the church until she spoke to a church member.
Sparkles was a stray who found refuge at the church and relied on the kindness of strangers. She had braved many harsh winters and hot summers and survived the treacherous city streets. "I was in complete shock because of how friendly she was."
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Whenever Sparkles saw Stephanie, she'd slip through the fence to greet her, purring up a storm. "I was told I could rescue her if I wanted."
Over the next few months, Sparkles vanished from her usual spot. When Stephanie finally saw her again, she contacted the team at Little Wanderers NYC, who responded immediately to help. "After about a week of checking every day, Sparkles was back out by the church."
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"I heard her breathing, and it was bad. I could tell she had a bad upper respiratory infection, and it was getting really cold outside," Stephanie added. "I told Sparkles to follow me, which she has done often - she knows she will get a can of wet food. She waited for me outside while I went to get the food and my carrier."
When Stephanie placed the can in the carrier, Sparkles walked right in, marking the end of that chapter.
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Sparkles was rushed to the vet for the treatment and care she desperately needed. "She was making biscuits all day long in the vet's office. She is so happy, content, and grateful to be indoors," Little Wanderers NYC shared.
With the support of the rescue, Sparkles spent a few days recovering at the hospital. Once she was feeling better, she moved to her foster home with Michelle M.
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After years of roaming the streets, Sparkles stepped into a loving home for the first time. Though still new to her surroundings, she quickly found comfort and reassurance from her foster family.
"She was so friendly when we got her, immediately purring and loving or nuzzling us," Michelle told Love Meow.
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"The first day, she would get scared of noises and hide under things every once in a while, but she was very trusting (more than my resident cat)."
Sparkles is so delighted to be safe that she often nudges her humans, showering them with gratitude. "Her favorite thing is to be pet on the head—she literally can't get enough of it. She has trouble relaxing if she's being pet, and she has to constantly walk back and forth."
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The sweet girl shadows her foster mom around the house, gazing up at her until she gets her attention. She's blossomed into a full-time love bug, with her personality shining through now that she's free from worries.
"From the cold, snowy, rough streets to a lovely, warm, cozy home. Fostering saved this girl's life," Little Wanderers NYC added.
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Thanks to the compassion of her rescuer and many volunteers, Sparkles is thriving in foster care. She purrs and snuggles every day with loving humans by her side—a dream come true after years of outdoor life.
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