When we see an animal in need, our first instinct is to help. This is exactly what happened to a sweet cat on a freezing winter day in Canada.
On Valentine’s Day, a cat knocked on a woman’s door, instantly winning her heart. It was February and snowing, and she was puzzled by the noise, which sounded like crying.
She followed the sound to her back door and found an orange tabby standing in the snow, pawing at the door.
A cat was sitting on her porch, asking to come inside. It was freezing cold, and the tabby looked like it was in serious trouble. It had one of the saddest faces the woman had ever seen.
Fortunately, the cat was in luck. The woman was not just any person; she was a foster volunteer with Un Chat à la Fois, a local kitten rescue. She took a photo of the cat and sent it to Marie Simard, the founder of the shelter.
“She said she knew we were not taking adult cats and was looking to help him. As soon as I saw the picture it broke my heart, and I told her to take him to our partner clinic so he could be evaluated.” – The Dodo
The cat stayed at the door until they let him inside. Unlike most stray cats, he did not try to escape. He knew he needed to get inside to survive. Once inside and at the shelter, it became clear why he was seeking help.
The poor cat was covered in bites and wounds, likely from a fight. He also had fleas and ticks in his fur. His teeth were rotting and falling out, and he had frostbite and diabetes.
In short, he would not have survived the winter. Despite his exhaustion and injuries, he was very happy to be around people.
You could tell this kitty was very affectionate. Whenever someone walked by his cage, he would stick his paw out, hoping for a pet, even if it was brief. Marie decided to name the cat Aslan after the Chronicles of Narnia series.
The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
After recovering at the shelter, Aslan found a forever home. Marie officially adopted him, and now Aslan has a happy life with her and her other cat, Cleo, who has become his best friend.
“He would just sleep next to her, groom her and she would groom him,” Simard said. “It made sense to have them stay together — two rescue cats who had a tough life.”