It was a rainy day when Alyssa, a volunteer at Puppy Kitty NY City, received a photo of a young cat in desperate need of help.
A neighbor found the kitten left in a building stairwell with a tiny cup of water and food and began knocking on doors. “He was told they didn’t want the cat and are moving,” Alyssa shared.
She received the message as she was leaving the shelter and immediately headed to the scene. When she arrived, she couldn’t find the cat.
“I thought someone took him, or he ran out because the stairway led to two open doors out the building where it was pouring.”
She looked around, calling for the kitten, until she noticed a little movement below the ceiling, right on top of the pressure gauge. Always carrying treats with her, Alyssa offered some to the kitten, who became instantly interested.
Though wary and unsure, the kitten couldn’t resist the enticing smell and slowly inched closer to Alyssa. “It made him curious enough to peek out and for me to climb up and scruff him.”
When the kitten entered his foster home with Alyssa, the worries in his eyes instantly melted away, and his purr engine started rumbling.
Within hours, the kitten, named Jardani, transformed into a cuddle bug, his paws kneading a blanket and his purr motor running nonstop. A few gentle chin scratches sent him straight to cloud nine, his eyes closing in contentment.
Feeling safe and comfy, Jardani rolled on his back, offering his fluffy belly to his foster mom for rubs and kisses.
Jardani has regained his boisterous, playful spirit, batting at toys like a real boxer. When he tires out from sparing, he seeks out his people and demands cuddles on their lap or in their arms.
He’s the first to leap to the top of a cat post, darting after toys with ferocious energy. Yet, after playtime, he turns into the biggest baby, melting into his humans. “When he wants love, he just looks for my lap, tries to jump up, or yells at me with his squeaky meow. He gets completely floppy. This boy is pure love.”
“He’s been doing so well here and even bold enough to sit on the coffee table, but who can say no to this face.”
When Jardani met the other foster cats in the house, he was completely enamored. He followed them everywhere and tried to be their best friend.
No matter how wildly he zooms around while playing, he is always a sweet, gentle soul with his people and feline friends.
One of the cats, DJ Mittens, is a bit wobbly, and Jardani often wraps his arm around him, giving him affectionate, thorough face washes.
Jardani has also taken Monchichi, the cat, under his wing, showing off his impressive swiping skills at toys and flawless high jumps.
“Jardani and Monchi love chasing each other from room to room, and they each like wrestling with Mitts, who loves any attention he gets. And the three are always grooming each other. It’s so sweet, even if it’s followed by some wrestling.”
Mitts, Jardani, and MonchiAlyssa
Monchi and Mitts are growing braver, more playful, and curious, trying to keep up with Jardani’s boundless energy. Together, they embark on new daily adventures.
“Not only is he a cutie, but he has the funniest meows, needs to be cuddled, and shows off his new talents every day.”
Alyssa didn’t plan to take in another foster but couldn’t leave the kitten to fend for himself. Now, he’s thriving with his feline crew, racing fast, jumping high, and cuddling close without a care in the world.
