A cat who only knew life in the shelter and didn’t receive any interest for two years has finally been granted a second chance after finding her forever home.
Tabby was found abandoned when she was just a kitten, and she was taken to Almost Home Animal Rescue in Long Island. Unfortunately, that was where Tabby would remain for the next two years, barely getting to experience anything outside of her kennel.
In May 2020, Tabby caught the eye of Rachel Volpicello, 26, who was determined to find a new friend for her rescue cat, Piper. At first, Volpicello thought she’d foster a cat to see if they’d get along, but as soon as she heard about what Tabby had gone through, she told Newsweek that she knew “almost immediately” that Tabby would be hers forever.
Volpicello, of New York City, rescued Piper in April 2020, and one month later, she returned to the same shelter to provide Tabby the second chance she deserved.
“I didn’t have any cat in mind before returning to the shelter, I just asked the volunteers if there was a cat who hadn’t had a chance yet,” Volpicello said. “They said Tabby hadn’t left the shelter in two years, and that no one had even considered fostering or adopting her.
“She’s very shy and has a foggy eye due to feline herpes, so that might have strayed people away. I was in and out of the shelter in five minutes because I knew she was the one.”
From the beginning, it was clear that all Tabby wanted was to be loved. She was shy at first and spent several days hiding behind the couch, refusing to come out while anyone was in the room. But throughout it all, she was never aggressive.
Volpicello was patient, even setting up a camera so she could give her space and check on her from a distance. Tabby spent so long at the shelter and was frequently overlooked, so Volpicello knew it would take time to adjust.
Eventually, Volpicello caught Tabby and Piper reaching their paws under the door, and it seemed right to introduce them.
“Tabby got more comfortable after meeting Piper. I think Piper gave Tabby the confidence to not hide behind the couch. She started to trust me more and even started getting jealous when I was petting Piper,” Volpicello said.
She continued: “Tabby is the sweetest cat in the world. She’s a huge cuddle bug and follows me into my bed every night. Piper and Tabby love each other so much. Tabby snuggles up to Piper every chance she gets, even laying on top of Piper and wrapping both arms around her.”
Since both cats were adopted, Volpicello told Newsweek that she’s loved “seeing their bond grow” over the years. Tabby has come so far out of her shell, and Piper has the sister she’s always wanted.
Volpicello shared Tabby’s rescue story on TikTok (@rachelvolpicello) in a post showing how much her life has been transformed. The post went viral with over 698,800 views and more than 154,000 likes at the time of writing.
She hopes that Tabby’s story will inspire others to take a chance on a rescue pet in need and give them the loving home they deserve.
“I’ve always wondered if they crossed paths when they were in the shelter together, but either way it’s clear they were meant to find each other,” Volpicello said. “A lot of people have been thanking me for giving Tabby a fresh start, but I’m the one thanking Tabby for trusting me. I’m so lucky to have her. As much as I saved her, she saved me.”
Tabby’s rescue journey has captured so much attention online, leading to more than 1,900 comments on the TikTok post.
One comment reads: “They’re perfect together.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “She looks so proud to be yours.”
While one person replied: “You brought the life back into that sweet baby’s eyes.”
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