30 Pics Of Cats Before & After They Were Adopted That Will Warm Your Heart
Some cat rescue stories hit harder than others, and these before-and-after photos are full of them.
Shared on the subreddit r/BeforeNAfterAdoption, the images show cats that were neglected, sick, or simply in rough shape before finding people who gave them a real chance. The transformations are striking, and in many cases, the difference is impossible to ignore.
Scroll down to see how much love, food, and care can change everything.
#1 Yuzu
"My boy, Yuzu, was a stray found by a friend of mine with the worst case of scabies we've ever seen (we're all vet students). He's also had ear mites, fungal infections, stud tail, and recurrent ear and eye infections, one after the other. One year and lots of treatments later, and he's perfectly healthy!"
#2 Barley
"This is Barley! My son and I found her by the road. She had been abandoned, was very thin, and was covered in fleas. The last photo was taken three months after we found her. She's simply the sweetest little cat ever."
#3 “We’re just going to foster him!” - My mother, in May of 2015
#4 Emmy
"One month ago, I found this baby in the wheel of my forklift at work. Now she lives at home with me. Meet Emmy (6 weeks vs. 10 weeks)."
#5 Melvin
"Found in a trash heap in June 2012. He spent his first night in his forever home sleeping on me. Six years later, it’s still his favorite place to be."
#6 Benben. Before and after death row.
#7 Phoenix
"Phoenix was rescued from the streets and was covered in hot tar. A little over a month later, he looks amazing, loves humans, and is ready to enter a loving home."
#8 Kai Mana
"Kai Mana had his jaw stepped on and was going to be put down. I worked full-time and couldn’t commit to taking care of him. But my boyfriend took him to get surgery and fed him kitten formula through a syringe. He brought him to his construction job and woke up every two hours for feedings. He’s happy today."
#9 "I had to fight my wife to not leave him at the shelter. She was concerned he'd either cost us a ton of money in vet bills or die soon since he was so sickly. Turns out, he just needed food and kisses."
A lot can change once a cat finally gets a safe home.
#10 Kira
"Kira was found almost dead from starvation on a farm with cows. She was healthy in one week, and we kept her. Summer 2018."
#11 Cousteau
"Our sweet Cousteau! From a scrawny street kitty in New Orleans to a prince living in Paris."
#12 Sonny
"Two years ago today, I walked into a Petsmart and met a cat named Sonny, who no one would adopt because he was 13 years old, covered in fleas, underweight, and had a mouth full of rotten teeth that had to be removed. He came home with me that night, and it was the best decision I ever made."
#13 Roadrunner
"Before and after fostering. Roadrunner on the day I got him from the shelter, and on the day he went to his new home."
#14 Jake
"One year ago, Jake was found underneath a car, alone and half-frozen. He was four weeks old, and his mom was gone. Now he's the biggest kitty with the most personality that I've ever met."
#15 Three years later.
"Some wonderful soul found this little guy on the street, cuddled up in a plastic container. Three years later, he is the happiest, sweetest, most playful, and curious cat. I love him so much, and thank you, wonderful soul, whomever you are."
Some of these rescues clearly turned into lifelong bonds.
This is the same kind of heart-melting rescue story as the abandoned, flea-covered Barley and the other 50 rescued cats’ makeovers.
#16 "These two cat brothers were rescued from the street, and they are as inseparable today as they were the day I found them."
#17 "A 10-year-old girl neglected by previous owners. It took a while for her to come out of her shell; she's the sweetest old gal."
#18 Albus
"Albus was found abandoned and starving on the streets of Cairo. The strays wouldn't let him eat. He's now spoiled rotten and incredibly affectionate."
#19 Harry
"From feral to friend (Harry’s story). Last January, we received word that there was a feral cat found with a terrible head wound. He was on death’s doorstep. We took him in to recover, and eight months later, he won’t leave our side."
#20 A little love goes a long way.
The glow-up is doing all the talking here.
#21 Spooky
"I worked hard to bring Spooky back from the edge. He passed away unexpectedly weeks later, but his short presence was a gift."
#22 "I rescued the cat off the street. Photos before and after. One month difference."
#23 Midnight’s transformation.
#24 "Found homeless in 120-degree heat, she gave birth to five kittens within two hours of us taking her in...and now she's our princess!"
#25 "My foster went from just 3 lbs with multiple infections, being syringe-fed, to over 7 lbs in just a month!"
That kind of turnaround never gets old.
#26 River
"This is River. At the shelter, he was shaved because his fur was extremely matted and riddled with fleas. He had coccidia and conjunctivitis. After some medicine and TLC, he's doing amazing! He's the most loving and affectionate kitty ever, always snuggling up and kissing me! I've had him for four months."
#27 Sela
"When I first saw her, Sela was a sick, underweight, flea-infested stray that the local pound picked up. Today we celebrated her one-year adoption day, matching party hats and all!"
#28 From “Take me home,” to “Never let me go.” We adore our little dude.
#29 Roger
"My cousin saw this 20 lb senior cat available for adoption. After a year of love, dieting, and proper veterinary care, Roger has lost over 5 pounds. He's still a big boy, but he's happy and active."
#30 Cupido
"The shelter named him “Cupido” because he had been shot through and through with an arrow. He also had a respiratory infection because he’s FeLV positive. Now he’s fat and happy."
Proof that the right home can change everything.
Yuzu’s scabies-and-ear-mite glow-up makes you want to see rescue cats flourish after adoption in these “before and after” makeovers.
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