One strangely hot spring day in West Philadelphia, a call went out to save Saturn, a one-year-old orange and white cat seen lying in the sand. It was 90 degrees that April day and the scraggly cat was barely breathing. His face and body were crusty with advanced mange, looking like he was a death’s door.
Images and media via Instagram/The Black Thornberry
It was a miserable sight, one many people would look away from. At first glance, most would never suspect the stunning transformation this cat would make in just two months.
“Every animal has a story, but it’s up to us to rewrite their chapter and for Saturn we all made that happen,” The Black Thornberry Inc. shared.
When the call went out to help the ailing cat, a frequent cat fosterer’s husband, Matthew, rushed to help. There, he found the cat and got a video of the desperate cat and carried him to the vet for treatment. Then, he brought Saturn home to recover with help from The Black Thornberry, a pioneering black-owned Philly rescue.
All the Care He Probably Never Had
Pulled from the gutter, Saturn was given all the love he probably never had, said his foster mom. She cuddled him in a towel and didn’t hold back from giving him love despite the mange.
Images via Instagram/ghoulia.child
Saturn swaddled in a towel after mange treatment
He Started Feeling So Much Better in Days
Two days later, Saturn was already feeling so much better with medicated baths. He rolled over to offer his belly, the first he’d moved much at all. At first, they thought he was a she, later learning Saturn is a boy.
“Today, Saturn flopped for me. Up until now, [he’s] been just loafing, stationary. I think it hurt for him to move. But, today, he was the liveliest we’ve seen him. This boy’s spirit moves me to tears,” M. Fair shared.
For National Cat Lady Day, she shared a picture with Saturn, getting so much love.
“It’s #nationalcatladyday and just holding this mange baby because that’s what we do”
By the end of April, Saturn’s true purrsonality was emerging along with new fur, which was so soft and pretty. Saturn was playing and enjoying life for the first time in a long while. He was so friendly he must have been someone’s beloved pet, so it’s not clear how he ended up in a gutter the way they found him. But now, everything would be okay.
His foster dad loved spending time with Saturn, as well as a furry friend, Taffy the cat.
The Return of Saturn
By the end of May, Saturn was ready to begin a new chapter, finding a forever home. He was soft and beautiful, like an “orange creamsicle,” leaving behind his formerly crunchy appearance forever.
Saturn getting cuddles in foster care
He proved to be the sweetest, snuggliest, and silliest boy who loved people and other cats, too. It just goes to show, you can find the best cats at rescues and shelters up for adoption on any given day.
Can you believe this is the same kitty pulled from the gutter weeks earlier?
Along with looking ameowzing, Saturn was feeling great! His foster dad said that Saturn was “the best cat to ever come through these parts” and that they would dearly miss him.
But everyone was so happy to see his stunning transformation and that he was starting a new life with a new forever family.
“Alexa, play ‘I’m So Happy that I Can’t Stop Crying’ by Sting. Today we said goodbye the the bestest boy. Saturn, you are such a precious light. It’s been a joy to care for you and watch you blossom into a beautiful cat. Your new mom and brother will love you and I’m so excited to watch you grow up in your new forever home,” shared M. Fair.
Saturn with his new mama and foster mom
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Nina Love, founder of The Black Thornberry in Philadelphia
