A Sphynx cat that spent around a month living outside a Texas gas station has been rescued and adopted into a loving home.
Fernando, who goes by u/Key_Acanthaceae8267 on Reddit, shared photos of the feline in the parking lot, in his car and in his new home, wearing a yellow outfit.
“The poor fella looked like a sun baked chicken,” Fernando told Newsweek. “He was all beat-up with scratches and scarred. His skin was irritated and his ears had mites.”
In the comments section of his post, he added: “Someone abandoned him. No collar nothing to tie him to an owner. The poor guy looked beat up when I got him. Now he has loving owners that won’t let him outside.”
From Gas Station Stray to Family Pet
Fernando first spotted the hairless cat at the start of August. When he returned to the gas station on the 31st, the feline was still there.
“The first time, he scampered off,” he said. “Then, I went back to that gas station at the end of the month, and he ran up to me. He was very cuddly.”
Two days later, Fernando’s friends decided to adopt the cat and named him Archiebald.
Fernando wrote on Reddit: “They took him to the vet and surprisingly for being outside for at least a month he was fine! He’s got two dogs to keep him entertained and they get along well!”
The vet confirmed there was no microchip and estimated the cat to be about three or four years old.
Why Sphynx Cats Should Stay Indoors
According to U.K.-based charity Cats Protection, hairless breeds like the Sphynx should never be left outside due to their lack of fur. Without a natural coat, they are prone to several health risks:
- Skin conditions: Hairless cats can struggle with excess oils and dirt, which can lead to irritated, inflamed or infected skin. Even though they have no fur to groom, they may continue to lick their skin, causing further irritation. They are also prone to sunburn and require careful sun safety to avoid burns.
- Poor temperature regulation: Without fur, these cats can quickly get cold in chilly weather and may need extra warmth, such as blankets or a higher thermostat setting. In warm weather, they are equally at risk of overheating and need access to cool areas and shade.
Reddit Reacts
Since being shared on September 14, Fernando’s post has attracted around 2,400 upvotes. One Reddit user asked: “Wow how did he survive for a month?”
Fernando responded: “No clue. That’s just my guess. I saw him at that gas station like two weeks before he came up to me and I grabbed him. So that’s just my guesstimated time since he had burns and scars. He’s healed up now is in a big sweet heart!”
Another commenter praised Fernando’s actions: “Listen, man, thank you so much for saving this little man. The look in his eyes in that second photo, that frightened, worried expression, the, ‘Will these people help me when so many others left me to die?’ look kills me. He needed saving, and there you were. Lots of love, man, from the bottom of my heart. You’re a hero, you know, in his eyes, and will be forever.”
A third user simply wrote: “This is shattering my heart.”
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