When Maria Montes glanced out her window, she was stunned by the sight before her: her neighbors were packing up and moving out, but they had heartlessly left their cat behind.
In July 2020, Maria shared her dismay on TikTok, revealing the callous actions of her neighbors. They made no effort to rehome the cat; instead, they abandoned him as they drove away.
During an interview with The Dodo, Maria expressed her frustration: “They could have told me, ‘We’re moving out, we don’t want him, can you have him.’ They didn’t tell nobody. They just left him.”
Maria posted updates on TikTok, showing that she kept an eye on Rolo. Even days after his abandonment, he remained outside, waiting for his family to return.
Determined to help, Maria began the slow process of earning Rolo’s trust. She researched methods to approach stray cats and started by bringing him food, gradually getting closer to him each day.
It wasn’t an easy task, but Maria’s persistence paid off. Eventually, she succeeded in bringing Rolo inside and continued to build their bond. Not long after rescuing him, a visit to the vet brought devastating news: Rolo had leukemia.
Maria set up a GoFundMe to cover his extensive veterinary bills. She explained on the fundraiser page that Rolo had a mouth infection needing sedation for teeth removal and cleaning, and tick removal. He was also battling leukemia and the feline panleukopenia virus.
Despite these health challenges, Maria was unwavering in her commitment to give Rolo the best life possible. She showered him with love, toys, and everything a cat could desire.
Tragically, Rolo passed away on December 5, 2022. Maria announced the sad news on GoFundMe, explaining that he had succumbed to an upper respiratory infection and “could not pull through during surgery.”
She also shared a tribute video on TikTok, commemorating their time together.
Although Rolo’s life was cut short, it’s heartening to know he experienced two years filled with love and care, thanks to Maria’s compassion.