California Family Adopts A Shelter Cat, Then Does The Unimaginable A Few Months Later

Ares had once been adopted as a tiny kitten by a family in California, but when they moved, they left him behind to fend for himself.

The poor boy was suddenly abandoned and completely on his own. When rescuers finally came to help, it wasn’t easy – he darted around nervously, making the chase last a while.

His fear was easy to understand, as he had not only been deserted by the people he trusted but had also spent nearly two years surviving outdoors on his own.

The rescuer said in a video:

“He was skinny, had mange, and a bunch of scars on his face.”

The rescue team from Cats of San Bernardino, California, had to knock on neighbors’ doors to get permission to search everyone’s yards. Finally, they found Ares sleeping on someone’s back porch.

That’s when the team finally managed to coax him out and safely catch him.

It was truly heartbreaking to realise that this was a cat who once knew the comfort of a family, yet now he was left frightened, unwell, and unsure of the world around him.

Ares enjoyed indoor life for over a year before his family just abandoned him. As one of the rescuers says:

“They didn’t even try and surrender him to a shelter or reach out to a rescue group or anything. They just packed up and left.”

In most cases, feral cats need much longer to recover and adapt, since they have to make the difficult shift from living with no human contact to slowly learning that people can be trusted.

Ares was pretty hissy at first, but once they started treating his skin condition, he really warmed up. The rescuer added:

“And then he just became, like, the absolute lover.”

His rescuers firmly believe that Ares loved humans before. He was most likely heartbroken, and look at him now – jumping into the embrace of his rescuer. As she says:

“These cats, they’re way smarter than we give them credit for.”

Ares quickly adjusted to humans and his life as a pet, but no one was interested in adopting him. She added:

“Can you believe this lover is still available for adoption?”

Cats of San Bernardino shared an update about Ares, explaining that seven months had passed since his rescue.

During that time, many people applied to adopt him, but unfortunately, most of those applications ended up falling through.

Thankfully, Ares’ soon-to-be fur-ever mommy, Monique, saw the post and immediately acted on it. At the time, she thought to herself:

“I cannot believe that it has been seven months, and still no one has gotten him.”

She went ahead and submitted an application, and the rescue team couldn’t have been happier.

Monique had adopted from them before, and it turned out she and Ares were an ideal match. Cats of San Bernardino shared: 

“Our gorgeous man and super lover Ares found his forever home! He went home with one of our previous adopters where we know he will have the most perfect life. We are so extremely grateful but will miss him so much.”

As soon as Ares stepped into his new home, it was clear he felt a sense of peace wash over him.

It was as if he instantly recognised that he was safe at last – he was truly home. His new mommy shared how happy she was:

“That was an awesome feeling. I just tell him how much I love him, and how much of a good cat he is.”

It really is a happily ever after! While it’s sad to think Ares spent seven long months waiting with the rescue, it now feels like it all happened for a reason.

He was simply holding out for the moment his forever mom would come along – and the wait was worth it.