Colorado Photographer Hears Frantic Cries In The Trash Can And Finds A Freezing Furball Inside

The day was colder than anyone would’ve liked for an outdoor photoshoot. A thin layer of snow covered the ground of Greeley, Colorado, making every step crunch beneath the boots.

But Angel Talitha Dougherty and her dad weren’t about to let a little winter chill ruin their plans. Photography was their passion, and they had come too far to turn back now.

Little did they know, their camera wouldn’t be capturing the day’s most important moment, because something far more urgent was about to steal their attention.

Not long after they arrived at a local park, Dougherty and her dad heard an odd noise. The cries led them to an ordinary-looking trash can, but what they found inside was anything but ordinary.

At the very bottom of the metal bin was a black cat. His wide eyes pleaded for help and his tiny body shivered uncontrollably.

He must have been stuck in there for hours, just curled up in that freezing, cramped space with no way out.

The metal walls were too smooth to climb, and his little paws were probably too cold to even try scratching his way free.

Dougherty’s dad reached in slowly, not sure how the cat would react. But instead of freaking out or trying to run, the little guy just melted into his hands.

It was like he’d been waiting for this moment all along. Doherty shared in an interview:

“We were a little apprehensive of how the cat would react, but he was just so grateful we saved him. He started purring as soon as we pulled him in close.”

It was clear this cat had no home waiting for him. Dougherty searched the area, knocked on doors, and posted on a local Facebook group, hoping someone might recognize him.

A trip to the vet confirmed there was no microchip. A week passed and no one claimed this kitty. And with every hour that went by, he became less of a stranger and more a part of Dougherty’s world.

Maybe it was fate. Maybe he had been waiting for her all along. Either way, there was no way Doherty was letting him go. He needed a home, and she had the perfect one to offer.

A month later, Finnegan Francisco (Finn for short) was no longer a lonely stray. He was a happy ball of energy who enjoyed his new home as if he had always belonged there.

He followed Dougherty everywhere, always watching her like he was trying to figure out what she’d do next. And when he wasn’t running around or playing, he was curled up in her lap or perched by the window, as Doherty shared:

“He can be very cuddly, but he also loves to play. He is a very agile little guy. He loves sitting in the window [and] listening to the birds.”

Looking back, Dougherty can’t believe how lucky she was to hear those cries that day, sharing:

“I really lucked out with finding such a sweet cat.”

If she had been anywhere else, if she hadn’t stopped to listen, Finn might not have made it.

But sometimes, life has a way of putting the right souls in the right place at the right time. And now, she has a best friend for life.