On Valentine’s Day, a Quebec woman discovered an orange tabby cat struggling in the snow, shivering and meowing for assistance. The cat, desperate for warmth, pawed at her door. As a foster volunteer with the kitten rescue organization, Un Chat à la Fois, she quickly captured the moment and shared a photo with the group’s founder, Marie Simard.
Despite her focus on kittens, the woman couldn’t ignore the adult tabby’s plight. “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. His face said everything that needed to be said. He stayed in front of her door for a while, and as soon as I told her to get him, he didn’t try to get away,” Simard recounted.
Following Simard’s directive, the woman brought the cat to the clinic. The tabby remained calm and cooperative during the check-up, which included X-rays and blood tests. The examination revealed the cat had endured numerous hardships: he was covered in bite wounds, suffering from frostbite, had rotten teeth, diabetes, worms, skin allergies, and was infested with fleas and ticks. Additionally, he was not neutered.
Simard recognized that the cat would not have survived the harsh winter without intervention. The tabby was evidently appreciative of the aid he received. “He was very nice to the employees at the clinic,” Simard recalled. “He would take his paw out of the cage at the vet so the people would pet him.” The staff speculated that the friendly cat had been abandoned, but no reports of a missing cat were found.
Simard named the tabby Aslan, inspired by the lion from “The Chronicles of Narnia” series. Aslan’s health improved rapidly, and he was soon placed in a foster home. There, he quickly bonded with the other cats and expressed his gratitude daily to his foster mom. “He’s a very affectionate cat,” Simard noted. “He likes to sleep close to his foster mom.”
When it came time for adoption applications, both Aslan’s foster mom and another rescue cat, Chloe, were reluctant to part with him. “He would just sleep next to her, groom her and she would groom him,” Simard explained. “It made sense to have them stay together — two rescue cats who had a tough life.”
Due to his diabetes, Aslan requires a special diet and often finds himself tempted by other food. Occasionally, he attempts to sneak a bite, but his indulgences are usually met with understanding and sometimes a treat. Now, the once bedraggled cat prefers the comfort of indoor life, enjoying naps on pillows and cuddles with his fellow felines, having left his harsh outdoor experiences behind.
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!
Aslan’s rescue story highlights the impact of compassionate individuals who offer second chances to animals in need, ensuring they have another day to enjoy the comfort and warmth they deserve.