A woman took a shelter cat into her care to give him a soft landing, but the cat decided he wasn’t going anywhere.
Snuffleupagus (now Tybalt)One Tail at a Time
Earlier this year, a scrawny cat found himself at Chicago Animal Care and Control, needing help. Underneath his rough exterior was a heart of gold waiting to be discovered.
He had stopped eating due to a severe upper respiratory infection, but his spirit and love for affection never wavered. When One Tail at a Time (an animal rescue) heard about his urgent need, they sprang into action.
“We asked our fosters (volunteers) if anyone would be able to take him, and thankfully, a loving foster said yes,” Alli Rooney of One Tail At a Time shared with Love Meow.
One Tail at a Time
The cat, named Snuffleupagus, was swiftly taken to the rescue’s vet clinic to receive the care and treatment he needed. “Shortly after being rescued, he was so sweet and loving and was so happy to be out of the shelter.”
He approached everyone who tended to him with snuggles and purrs as if to thank them for helping him.
One Tail at a Time
Stefanie, who had been with the rescue for a year, came across a request to foster Snuffleupagus and immediately offered her help.
She welcomed him into her home, creating a cozy space where he could heal and regain strength. Having cared for numerous foster cats, Stefanie planned to look after him until he found his forever home. But something about this cat felt different.
One Tail at a Time
“It felt like we could just understand each other, and he trusted me immediately to take care of him,” Stefanie told Love Meow.
Snuffleupagus quickly made himself at home, shadowing Stefanie everywhere like her most loyal companion. “He’s so easygoing and is a friend to everyone—humans, other cats, and dogs. He’s nearly unflappable, not scared of vacuums or storms.”
One Tail at a Time
Brimming with confidence, Snuffleupagus embraced his new indoor life, soaking up every bit of love that came his way. “He loves socializing with people, watching birds either out the window or on TV, playing with toys, and taking naps with mom.”
“He is the best cat on the planet.”
One Tail at a Time
Snuffleupagus’ sweet and loving nature reminded his foster mom of her late cat, quickly tugging at her heartstrings.
“I had lost my soul kitty and thought I would never find another cat like him that I had a close bond with. I had been fostering for a year and loved all my kitties but hadn’t felt connected to them the way I felt with [Snuffleupagus].”
One Tail at a Time
Now fully recovered, Snuffleupagus had turned into a full-time cuddle bug, a dedicated office assistant, and the most adorable supervisor around the house. When it came time to find him a forever home, Stefanie knew in her heart he had already found it.
“I knew he was for sure mine when he was about to be cleared for adoption, and I found out another volunteer was interested in him—I had a gut feeling that I just couldn’t let him go.”
One Tail at a Time
Now named Tybalt, the once scraggly cat has filled out and blossomed into the fluffy, majestic king he was always meant to be. Whenever he wants attention, he simply gazes at his mom with his striking emerald eyes—and it works like a charm every time.
He inspected his mom’s bag by flopping right on top of it, giving his feline seal of approval before she could use it.
One Tail at a Time
Stefanie opened her home and her heart to Tybalt, giving him a second chance at life. Now, he rules the house like a boss, greeting visitors with purrs and snuggles and being his mom’s sweetest companion.
One Tail at a Time
Share this story with your friends. More cats like Tybalt at One Tail at a Time on Instagram@onlycats_otat and @onetailatatime and Facebook.
Related story: Two Kittens Seek Help Together, One of Them Appears Blind but Days Later They Discover He Can See
