Virginia Man Rescues A Traumatized Siamese Cat And Helps Him Learn To Trust Again
Some cats start life under harsh conditions, fighting to survive while holding on to the tiniest glimmer of hope that someone kind will one day notice them.
Thankfully, there are plenty of people who can’t turn away from an animal in need – and if you’re reading this, you might be one of them.
That’s exactly how the story of Milton Longcat began. His life had been filled with more struggles than victories, until a man named Dan came along and changed everything.
Just a little warning before you read further: the story of Milton and Dan is bound to tug at your heart, so you might want to keep some tissues close by.
Dan and his wife are just your everyday couple with a big love for animals, often giving their time to help out at the local shelter.
Cats hold a special place in their hearts, and with five of their own at home, their house is already full of furry companions. Still, they felt a pull to do more and decided it was time to give fostering a try.
Realizing that adding one more feline companion under their roof couldn’t hurt, they informed the shelter where they volunteered about their wish, knowing they’d support them. Dan said:
“We did the training and offered our services, and about a week later the foster coordinator asked if we would be interested in doing a medical foster.”
Fostering a cat with medical needs can be daunting and certainly isn’t for everyone, but for experienced cat lovers like Dan and his wife, it turned out to be something they could handle with ease.
Their first foster assignment turned out to be Milton Longcat, a striking 7-year-old lynx point Siamese.
The shelter staff explained that Milton’s life up to that point had been anything but kind. He had been abandoned by his former family, struck by a car, attacked by a larger animal, and even shot with a BB gun.
Once rescued, Milton was given a complete veterinary workup. The results revealed even more challenges – he was battling feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis (FHM) as well as heartworm disease.
On top of everything else, Milton also tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, making it even more urgent to place him with someone who could handle his special needs.
When Dan and his wife heard about all that Milton had been through, they didn’t think twice.
They opened their home to him, convinced that after surviving so much hardship, he deserved nothing less than a safe and loving family.
At home, Dan and his wife prepared a cozy safe space just for Milton in Dan’s office, giving him the comfort and privacy he needed while keeping him separate from their five other cats.
At first, they weren’t sure how well he would adapt to the change, but to their delight, Milton surprised them in the best possible way. He settled in far better than they ever imagined.
Dan recalled:
“From the moment we opened his carrier Milton was an absolute sweetheart. His first action when he was turned loose in my office was to headbutt my hands, and he purred like a freight train when I petted him.”
After a couple of days confined to Dan’s office, Milton managed to escape, curious about what lay beyond the door.
That day, Dan and his wife were reading in their living room when they heard the office door open. Recalling the whole event, Dan said:
“We heard Milton’s distinctive meezer meow coming down the hallway. I got up to put him back in the office, but before I got to him our 17 and 18-year-old senior citizens, Ranger and Sammy, had joined a sniff-fest with Milton and were remaining peaceful.”
Encouraged by how well things were going, Dan gave Milton the chance to explore more of the house. As he wandered from room to room, he voiced his presence with loud meows, announcing himself with confidence.
But when Milton crossed paths with Benni and Francesca, Dan’s two female cats, the welcome wasn’t quite so warm.
They greeted him with sharp hisses, catching Milton off guard. Surprised, he quickly softened his meows, changing his tone as if to show he meant no harm. Dan added:
“It sounded like he was saying ‘Hey, why the hiss? We’re buddies! We love each other!’, then he would walk on and revert to his regular song.”
Out of Dan’s five cats, it was Fred – a gentle two-year-old rescue with a shy but affectionate personality – who became Milton’s closest companion. The two bonded almost instantly, as if they had been waiting for each other all along.
Dan noticed how their friendship worked wonders for them both. Once reserved and cautious, Milton and Fred grew into cheerful, playful cats, their bond giving them the confidence to truly thrive. He said:
“I often hear what sounds like a herd of wildebeest thundering down the hallway, but it’s Milton and Fred racing down the hall and leaping over each other.”
After a few weeks of fostering, Dan and his wife realized that Milton had become an integral part of their furry family.
So, they had no choice but to label him their foster fail – and adopt him for good!
“We couldn’t deal with the thought of giving him up. He now sleeps on the bed with us (often curling up on my pillow or my head) and is a wonderfully affectionate member of the family.”
Wanting nothing but the best for Milton, Dan and his wife decided he was no longer just a foster – he was officially their sixth furbaby. Their care and devotion made it clear he had found his forever home.And honestly, who doesn’t love a happy foster fail story? Share your thoughts about this heartwarming journey in the comments below.
