You simply can’t help but be moved by certain stories about our furry friends, and today’s tale is no exception.
It revolves around Kyle, an adorable Persian cat from Boston, Massachusetts, with the quirkiest whiskers and the goofiest personality.
Despite his charm, Kyle has a dark past, having suffered neglect and abuse in his previous home, which took a toll on his overall health. The things he witnessed as a young cat are things I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, not even my worst enemy.
But don’t worry, every cloud has a silver lining, and Kyle’s story is proof of that. Let’s explore how this resilient feline found his happy ending!
What Happened To Kyle?
Kyle is one of those cats who has been unfairly dealt a bad hand. Before he ended up at a local no-kill shelter in Boston, he lived in a home with over 30 other cats.
Now you might think, “What a happy and joyful place that must’ve been!” But truth be told, the reality is far from that.
The couple who owned all those cats neglected them terribly – didn’t meet their needs, didn’t give them the basics. It was like they were hoarding the cats, but I simply can’t wrap my head around why.
On top of all that neglect, poor Kyle witnessed a domestic violence incident between his owners that ended tragically, with the husband mercilessly taking the life of his wife.
Along with his 30 furriends, Kyle was confiscated by the local police and held as “evidence.”
At first, the police were hesitant to release them and get them to a safer place where they could get proper care.
Thankfully, a local animal rescue in Boston rescued all the cats, and got them the care they so badly needed. They even put them up on PetFinder, in hopes of finding them better and more loving homes.
Did Kyle Find His Forever Home?
Right off the bat – Yes, Kyle did eventually find his forever home where he was truly cherished and looked after.
At first, he was an afterthought for Jen and her partner, a.k.a. his new parents whose main intention was to find a feline companion for their cat Princess Mer.
While browsing PetFinder, they stumbled upon an adorable Persian cat named Tom, who caught their eye with his quirky appearance.
Tom was mostly black with white patches under his nose, neck, belly, and paws.
What made him so special were his wild whiskers, which perfectly complemented his Persian scowl.
He looked like a grumpy old gentleman who’d seen it all and was just looking for some peace and quiet.
Upon seeing Tom, Jen’s partner insisted on visiting him in the shelter he was in, which was around a 3-hour drive from their home.
Once they arrived at the shelter, Jen and her partner immediately asked the staff about him. One of the volunteers kindly brought him from the back, and the couple immediately fell head over heels for him. They knew they had to adopt him!
When they expressed their desire for his adoption, the staff members informed the couple about the cat’s dark past.
Feeling heartbroken, they decided to continue with the adoption process – with a renewed desire to change his life for the better.
Their new feline friend came with a list of ailments: Heart murmur, hip dysplasia, frequent anal gland infections, blindness in one eye, three remaining teeth, no claws, severe dandruff, and others.
However, despite his health issues, he had a strong will to live.
His delightful personality won them over, and they wasted no time in signing the adoption papers, renaming him Kyle, and taking him to what was about to become his true forever home.
Was His Broken Heart Ever Mended?
Absolutely! Despite the hardships Kyle faced early on, his new family poured so much love into him that his broken heart found healing.
Given his new parents’ love for South Park, Kyle got his name from one of the animated characters.
However, they didn’t stop there! Having an abundance of love for him, they never failed to adorn him with adorable nicknames like Preciouses, My Preciouses, Precious, Presh Presh, and Squishy.
Both Jen and her partner provided him with everything he needed to lead a happy and healthy life. With them by his side, and his buddy Princess Mer, Kyle was undoubtedly one happy feline, able to leave the awful past behind.
The fact that Kyle witnessed a domestic violence scene was always a topic of conversation.
However, it wasn’t until he gained popularity on Instagram that Jen and her partner decided to take action.
Kyle’s somber background highlighted the need for animal-friendly domestic violence shelters, inspiring them to launch the Cats Against Domestic Violence Campaign (#CatsAgainstDV) back in 2015.
Over a year later, the campaign raised $12,000 for organizations supporting their cause.
Since then, Jen, her partner, and Kyle continued to promote awareness and fundraising through Instagram contests, Charitable Cash for Kyle’s Stache store sales, and company partnerships.
Even though he’s been through so much, Kyle’s trauma was definitely not in vain. His journey has become a beacon of hope, teaching the rest of the world the importance of domestic violence awareness and prevention.
A Farewell To The Cat With Crazy Whiskers
Sweet Kyle enjoyed a long and joyful life with his forever humans, Jen and her partner. From cuddles to kisses, his days were filled with love and warmth.
As mentioned above, his pain was not in vain. His legacy lives on as he dedicated his life to advocating for animal-friendly DV shelters, offering hope to those in need. He truly had a lot to be proud of!
Sadly, this noble Persian cat eventually took his final breath at the age of 12, crossing The Rainbow Bridge.
Jen shared the sad news with his Instagram fans – who all loved him so much – saying:
“I’m completely devastated but so grateful for all the time we had together. Kyle was truly amazing and one of a kind. He opened our eyes and hearts to so many things, made our family better, our lives more fulfilling, and topped it off by bringing loads of laughs to our house on a perpetual basis. We will forever be thankful for him.”
Though heartbroken by the hardships he endured, the fact that Kyle knew true love in his final years comforts me. I’m honored to have shared this world with such a precious feline.
