A woman saw a cat with crumpled ears while driving home and never gave up on him. Now, he has the best outcome.
Leo/TeddyEmilieRackovan
While on her way home, Emilie Rackovan spotted the silhouette of an orange cat in front of an auto shop.
As the founder of Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue, she didn't hesitate to pull over to check on the cat. "He was sitting on top of a car next to a very busy street. I wanted to see if he was okay, so I offered him some food," Emilie shared.
Though skittish and wary of people, the cat with crumpled ears couldn't resist the offer.
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The orange stray led Emilie to discover a large colony of cats that her team quickly stepped in to help. The original cat, however, remained elusive, skillfully avoiding all humane traps.
Determined to save him, Emilie returned every night to feed him, admiring him from a distance. Eventually, he started waiting for her, even venturing out during the day when he noticed her.
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"After weeks of failed attempts, we finally caught him. Even though he was terrified at first, he ate treats from me and cautiously seemed to want to be friends."
The cat, Leo, was in rough shape, with cauliflower ears from repeated infections. He had many broken teeth and a wounded paw, and his skin was in poor condition. That night, he could rest a bit easier in his new bed, away from the streets.
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After Leo was all fixed up, he felt brand new, with a sparkle in his eye. He began exploring his surroundings and grew increasingly curious about the people around him. "He had to have a decent number of teeth pulled. (Now free from pain), his personality has truly blossomed."
"After several weeks of getting to know each other, he leaned into pets for the very first time. He has turned into such a love bug."
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"For the first few weeks that I had him, I wasn't sure if he'd ever warm up to people, but then everything changed, and he became the sweetest, most loving boy. His favorite thing was to get lots of chin scratches."
It was a striking difference from how timid he had been on the streets. Now, he eagerly sought affection, melting into every gentle touch.
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"Once he warms up, he loves nothing more than to get pets and play with the wand toy."
Leo came right up to Emilie for snuggles, showing he wasn't meant for life outside. He couldn't defend himself, which explained his many scars. Despite all he'd endured, he remained gentle and sweet with other cats.
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When Leo was finally ready for adoption, weeks passed without a single application. "Sometimes, that's just fate at work. Leo (finally) received a wonderful application, and they fell in love with him at the meet-and-greet."
A month ago, Leo, now Teddy, moved into his new home. Over the weeks, he came out of his shell, claiming every corner of his kingdom.
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Teddy has fully embraced his inner lion, confidently roaming the house and offering cuddles to anyone in need. He loves playing with wand toys, expertly catching them with his big paws.
He's thriving with his loving human mom and her two roommates (aunties), who happily cater to his every whim.
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Teddy's charming smile has returned now that his dream has come true.
When he's not snuggling with his people, he enjoys the company of a little dinosaur stuffy. He also has a new feline sister, Birdie, who's getting to know him.
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After years of surviving the streets, Teddy, with his heart of gold, is finally experiencing the love of a family in a place he can call his forever home.
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Share this story with your friends. More on Emilie's rescues on Instagram @emiliexfosters, Thrifted Kittens Animal Rescue @thriftedkittensrescue, and Teddy @teddyandbird.
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