Abandoned Cat Makes Miraculous Recovery Thanks to Dedicated Rescue Workers
Valentino’s story starts in the worst kind of place, under a car on a scorching 100°F day, where a tiny ginger cat was trying to stay hidden and stay alive.
When a woman spotted him hiding under her son’s car, she called Cats of San Bernardino, the rescue group that helps feed and spay or neuter stray cats in the area. What followed was a fast-moving rescue, a rough recovery, and a bond that grew stronger with every step.
Valentino had already been through a lot, but the people who found him were ready to give him a second chance. Read on.
Rescue volunteers from CSB rushed to the parking lot to check on the cat, curious whether he was feral or just a stray.
They were relieved to discover he was not feral because he easily allowed them to touch him and pick him up.
In an interview with The Dodo, Jaina from Cats of San Bernardino said:
“He was just like, “Please, someone take me.” He just allowed himself to be picked up, and he wasn’t moving.”
Thankfully, the rescuers were able to coax the cat into a carrier, where they took him immediately to the vet. At first, the cat was so malnourished that they thought he was female (he had already been neutered), but they quickly discovered that the "she" was actually a "he."
At that point, everyone involved in his care figured he must have been left behind and abandoned when his previous family moved away.
He was left outside, after a life indoors, to fend for himself. He was skinny and malnourished, and his fur was matted, where there weren't bald patches, at least.
The bald patch on his forehead was so severe that it extended to one of his eyes, and the vets discovered a swollen area that left one of his eyes only half-open.
That was the sad part of the story.
Rescue volunteers Jaina and Ivy took on the task of helping the cat heal. They named him Valentino.
“We had the abscess on his forehead examined. We started him on some antibiotics.”
Surprisingly, in just a few short weeks, the cat began to transform:
“He just wanted to give everyone an update and let everyone know he is doing well. He is responding well to the antibiotics. The inflammation is basically completely gone. He’s gaining weight and getting stronger. He’s got new hair growing back.”
This intense rescue is similar to the stray cat yanked free from a car engine’s tight grip.
Jaina said that as the cat healed, he quickly bonded with his dedicated rescuers, too:
“His personality changed to this, “I love you, guys! Every time we pick him up, he starts rubbing his face against ours, really saying thank you. And then, he likes to give kisses too, so he will kiss my nose. He is a lover.”
From then on, every chance Valentino got, he would snuggle up.
As Valentino began to heal, CSB provided updates on Facebook, although at the time they still thought he was a she!
"So far, so good for little Valentina. She is eating, she is hydrating, and she is relaxing. She is a very friendly, affectionate kitty and must have had a family at one point in her life. One thing we know for sure is that Valentina is extremely thin and must have been starving for quite some time before sustaining her recent injuries. We've started her on a high-calorie diet to help her weak body gain some weight and energy."
"Our hearts break knowing that she was out there in this condition for so long. We are extremely grateful to have her here with us and can't wait for her to start healing and feeling better."
"We sometimes desperately wish that cats could talk. I bet she would have a crazy story to tell."
Even the updates came with a little surprise.
The future looks bright for Valentino.
“Obviously, we are busy, so we have a lot of other kitties to care for. Valentino is going to be looking for a home. It will have to be, obviously, the perfect home for him—someone who is home a lot, spends a lot of time with him, and will be able to hold him most of the time. He will love to be with someone who gives him 100% of their attention.”
Look how far he's come!
Check out his inspiring video story here:
Before the carrier miracle, see how a tabby fought to survive freezing snow. Tabby Cat Fights to Survive After Being Rescued From Freezing Snow
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