Sad And Scruffy-Looking Stray Cat Transforms Into A Fluffy Beauty After Finding His Own Home

Tuggly’s appearance and behavior when he was rescued from the streets is now a distant memory.

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• June 23, 2022

Katherine Meara is a cat lover. She and her partner had been searching for a senior cat to adopt. They saw Tuggly on the New Zealand SPCA’s website and immediately knew he was the one.

Meara figured he was at least 10 years old by his appearance. "I turned out to be wrong, obviously, but he just looked so scruffy and sad compared to all the other cat photos that I knew I had to have him," says Meara.

Tuggly was actually five years of age, and by the time he arrived under the SPCA’s care, you could tell that he had been through a lot. He was found as a wandering stray in Christchurch, New Zealand, with some severe injuries all over his neck.

Tuggly was afraid and perplexed by what was happening to him, and this was because of his past. This made him act aggressively, and the shelter made sure to notify the couple of this behavior.

But despite seeing him and witnessing the act firsthand, they still wanted to keep him. They just had a feeling that it was meant to be.

Tuggly was anxious to explore his new home when he first arrived. He was undoubtedly nervous, but his new parents did everything in their power to make him feel at ease.

They gradually learned what he needed and made adjustments as needed. They hoped that he would ultimately relax and realize that he was safe and cared for.

Katherine saw Tuggly on the New Zealand SPCA’s website and knew he was the one

Meara explained that "he was a little frightened, and after essentially starving for so long, he would just get panicky and aggressive about food." She added that when they got Tuggly, he was extremely thin to the extent that his fur was also very thin due to malnutrition.

Tuggly is actually around 5 years old, but he had already been through so much

They bought him an automatic feeder and he became fine as he stopped associating them with food.

"He was scared, he was starving, and it took him a week or so to adjust, which is actually quite fast compared to most cats. It’s a good reminder that sometimes cats just need time," Meara added.

He was found living as a stray in Christchurch, New Zealand

Tuggly was supposed to take a long time to settle in, or at least that is what the couple thought, but just after a few weeks, he was so comfortable in his new environment. Six months down the line, Tuggly looks and acts like a completely different cat, as he no longer has an aggressive bone in his body.

When Tuggly first arrived in his new home, he was eager to explore

When the couple looks back at Tuggly’s images from the SPCA, he appears to be an entirely different cat.

"His cheeks have finally filled out and he’s got the cutest, roundest tomcat jowls. His fur has really filled out as well, and he’s now our big, floofy boy," Meara says.

Now he doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body

Meara and her boyfriend do not have any kids or other pets, so it’s safe to say that Tuggly is the prince of the household. The cat wants to be with the couple all of the time as he is "very curious and has to be involved in everything we do."

The way Tuggly looked and acted back when he was first rescued from the streets is now a distant memory

In the winter, he enjoys lounging in front of the fireplace, and in the summer, he enjoys chasing butterflies. It appears as if Tuggly’s only requirements to live a happy life were time, patience, and love.

Meara signed a waiver for his aggressive behavior initially, but now he has turned into "the loveliest, most affectionate little cat, and we love him so unbelievably much." 

Maryjane