Imagine the crushing loneliness of watching the only family you’ve ever known walk away, never to return. That heartbreaking reality became the fate of a gentle 12-year-old orange cat when his owners packed up their belongings and moved, leaving him behind at their old house as though he no longer mattered. Confused and abandoned, the senior cat wandered the neighborhood searching for comfort that never came. But just when it seemed his story would end in sorrow, an unexpected act of compassion gave him a second chance at love and safety.
“We fed him outside for a week, and another neighbor told us he had been left behind when the neighbors moved,” Alex shared with *Newsweek.* “He wasn’t doing well outside like some cats can, so we decided to bring him into our home.”
In an effort to track down the cat’s previous owners, a vet reached out using the number attached to the cat’s microchip. Unfortunately, it became clear that the owners had deliberately abandoned him.
Alex, who had already grown fond of the gentle senior, made the decision to adopt him and lovingly named him Red. She shared her decision in a Reddit post, writing, “Welcome to your new home, Red!”
The online community was both saddened and outraged by Red’s abandonment, but many praised Alex for her kindness. “I can’t understand how someone could leave a 12-year-old cat behind,” one user commented. “I’m so happy he has you to take care of him in his old age!”
Another user expressed similar disbelief: “Imagine having a cat for over a decade and then just leaving them. Some people are heartless, but others, like you, are angels for stepping in. Red is lucky to have found you!”
Others added messages of support, with one saying, “Thank you for giving this beautiful boy a safe home. I hope everything works out well for him!”
Despite the rough start, Alex says that Red has been adjusting well to his new home. “He’s been sleeping a lot, but when he’s awake, he’s so charming and funny,” she wrote on Reddit.
She also shared that Red has had a vet visit and that she is gradually introducing him to her other cat.
While it’s heartbreaking that Red’s previous family left him behind, it’s comforting to know that he’s now in the care of someone who will give him the love and attention he deserves in his senior years.
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Neighbors moved out and left their 12 year old senior gentleman. Welcome to your new home Red!
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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartCats team.