As animal enthusiasts, many of us can’t fathom why someone would heartlessly abandon a pet on the streets. We often find it easier to empathize with the abandoned animal, left confused and alone.
Thankfully, most people don’t just ignore such situations; they step in to help. This is exactly what Maria Montes did when she discovered that her neighbors had moved away and left their cat behind.
Montes resides directly across from the home that the family vacated suddenly. She was astounded that her neighbors hadn’t informed her about the cat they were leaving behind. Understandably, some might feel embarrassed to admit they no longer want a pet, but abandoning a cat on the street shows a lack of respect for living creatures.
“They could have told me ‘we’re moving…we don’t want him’…I just didn’t want to believe it,” Montes shared with The Dodo.
Heartbroken for the cat, Montes often saw him from her window, waiting for his owners and hopefully watching every passing car, enduring the rain and cold. Naturally, Montes wanted to take in the cat, but it wasn’t going to be easy.
Cats, especially those thrust into new and frightening situations, don’t readily trust people. Montes struggled to get the elderly cat to come near her, prompting her to research ways to earn his trust.
“At first he would run, but I caught him on video where he did it and he just kind of like looked at me like he wanted to [come back] but he didn’t,” Montes explained.
She decided to start feeding him to gain his attention. While the cat had no problem finding his way to the food, he remained aloof and wary of Montes. She noticed he was losing weight and wanted not only to provide him a home but also to get him to a vet for necessary care.
Eventually, Montes managed to pick him up, though he greeted her with hisses. She took him to the vet, where the cat, now named “Rolo,” underwent a full check-up and blood tests. He needed extensive care, including dental work for a mouth infection and treatment for feline leukemia, which made him more susceptible to illness.
Montes set up a GoFundMe for Rolo’s vet bills, which quickly surpassed its initial goal, although ongoing expenses remain. When Montes picked him up from the vet, she could tell Rolo was feeling much better and more alert.
She brought him home, where he has stayed since. Occasionally, Rolo looks towards his old house, seemingly waiting for his previous owners, but he appears to understand he’s now safe. “You can tell he was just kind of like ‘when is my babysitter gonna take me to my mom’s house?’” Montes noted.
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Having lived with his original family for at least the two years they lived across the street, it will take time for Rolo to fully adjust. Despite his age, he has become playful again, chasing anything that rolls on the ground, both inside and outside. Montes and her boyfriend even rearranged their home to give Rolo his own space, moving the washer and dryer for him.
Although Rolo isn’t fond of being picked up, he seems to recognize his new home and family.
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