When Lee Pillaro matched with Kathrine Warren on a dating app, he didn’t expect their first week of chatting to involve a cat, who had been found in a dumpster.
Warren had sent him a photo of the tuxedo cat called Truffles, who had been rescued by Telluride Humane Society in Colorado, and explained he is looking for a place to call home.
“I knew I needed to give him a good life,” Pillaro told Newsweek.
A year later, the three of them are living happily together with their other three cats. Warren, 38, recently posted a TikTok (@matilda.and.the.boys) showing Truffles’ journey.
The footage starts with Truffles in shelter enclosure, meowing loudly and reaching his paws through the bars to touch Ellen, who runs the animal welfare organization.
Truffles, who is about 8 or 9 years old and has part of one ear missing, was first fostered by one of Warren’s co‑workers. But Warren wanted to help him find a permanent home. Knowing Pillaro’s love of cats, she sent him the photo, and within a month, the 38‑year‑old adopted him.
He told Newsweek: “When I adopted him I was told that he was a stray but I have to believe that he did have a home at some point. He’s too sweet a boy not to have been loved before.”
According to he American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) most animals enter shelters for different reasons, but the majority of dogs and cats arrive as strays (60 percent in 2024).
The next largest group are surrendered pets (29 percent in 2024), whose owners face unexpected challenges that prevent them from providing care.
In the video, Truffles can be seen lapping up the love as Warren’s voiceover explains that he quickly bonded with Peter, Pillaro’s other cat. She describes him as a “lover” who is cherished equally by his new owners.
Pillaro told Newsweek: “Truffles lives a very relaxed life these days. He mostly sleeps and cuddles. He spends most of his time laying right next to his brother, Peter, or playing with him.
“He seems grateful to have a safe and warm home and I’m honored to provide that to him.”
It seems it isn’t just the couple who adore Truffles—the internet does too. “He’s so sweet!” said one user, while another wrote: “That’s amazing!! Your man is definitely a keeper!”
Warren told Newsweek that she knew her now‑boyfriend was a serious cat lover because he had a photo of himself with Peter on his dating profile.
She said: “He has proved to me since then that he is indeed a keeper.”
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