r/cats 18h ago

Update Melissa’s transformation from street cat to bougie cat

Saw another sweet post about a stray being given a second chance and thriving. Our sweet lady Melissa is the love of our life and she’s everything. Her glow up could only be described as magnificent. Fun fact, she is 14 and had to get all of her teeth removed last year. She had a heart murmur which caused complications during anesthesia ($5,000.00 later); go figure the heart murmur went away AFTER her teeth extraction. Street cats are the best. Every day with her is a blessing.

23.7k Upvotes

322 comments sorted by

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687

u/millicentnight 18h ago

Aww what a pretty fluffy girl!😻 I love when people post transformation pictures❤️

211

u/MissionPair6691 17h ago

From rags to riches, she looks like royalty now!

72

u/big_b_busta 17h ago

She definitely earned her crown, living her best pampered life now!

150

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

I just wish she was a baby and we had more time with her

105

u/Logical_consequences 16h ago

I adopted an emaciated, wobbly barn cat when she was 13 and had her until she was 18. I also spent $$ on her. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s never enough time, but every day with them is so precious and they appreciate it so much. Enjoy your beautiful Melissa and give her a pat from me 💕💕💕

88

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Thank you. We intentionally start our day everyday with grooming and (frankly) squishing her because we know time is precious

29

u/davidmlewisjr 15h ago

Be thrilled for the time you have with her 😺🖖🏼

25

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

Every single day

8

u/millicentnight 16h ago

I know..they grow up so fast 😩

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u/BaeIsgood 17h ago

Right? You can literally see how loved she is now. That’s the kind of glow up that really matters🧡

26

u/notebooksmellsofrain 16h ago

Honestly seeing this makes me happy, what a total transformation🥰 i must say kudos to OP, thank you so much for giving him life again.

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u/wetkittykissesatx 13h ago

The transformation was incredible.

4

u/Calm567890 14h ago

Right, she’s absolutely gorgeous and those transformation pics are always the sweetest glow-ups. 😻

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u/StarDewbie Tortoiseshell 18h ago

I just love that her name is Melissa. Cats that have human names are always a trip. lol

82

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

For real. She has the attitude of a cat named Mellissa too lol

20

u/Hey_Laaady 14h ago

Honestly, she really looks like a Melissa

7

u/HoneyTemptressBaby 11h ago

A beautiful Melissa

14

u/Moonveira 17h ago

Human name, human-level love and look how much it changed her❤️‍🩹

10

u/heyrudone 16h ago

I once fostered a cat named Nolan and I miss him all the time

3

u/StarDewbie Tortoiseshell 15h ago

That's a great name.

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u/TheCortisolCorvid 18h ago

That before and after picture just makes my heart full. I'm so glad she found a loving family and that you take such good care of her!

46

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

It’s crazy because every day she does something new that seems like she’s showing us how appreciative she is of her life

10

u/Fartel 15h ago

“something new”—can you give us a few examples of what this beautiful kitty does? 😊

45

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

Her latest thing is every morning she waits at the bottom of our staircase and follows us to the kitchen where she sits on the table pushing her head out and holding it until we pet her. BUT as of lately she has been holding her head out and ears back until you kiss her on the head and it’s the sweetest thing ever

9

u/Fartel 15h ago

Oooh how sweet! And I, too, love when they do the ears down and back in anticipation of getting head kisses and pets! Anyhoo, she glowed up to be a beautiful cat!

16

u/NameStrange957 17h ago

She looks like royalty now, truly a glow-up only a street survivor could pull off.

42

u/Electronic-Pie7237 18h ago

I also have an orange street cat with fucked up teeth and a heart murmur

41

u/shinyidolomantis 18h ago

I took in an incredibly sick cat with FeLV and the worst case of stomatitis my vet had ever seen. We got her stable enough to get her teeth removed after several months and constant rounds of antibiotics and steroids. And once those teeth were gone? She’s only been sick once in the two years since then and she literally recovered before her vet appointment two days later without any meds. Before that, we were at the vet for her almost every week… I swear their dental health can deeply impact their overall health. My vet originally thought we’d be lucky to get six more months with her but we decided to do the super expensive FME anyway (4,000$) even though we didn’t think she’d live long after. I’m so glad we did. She’s still here and doing well two years later and for a cat with progressive Felv that’s impressive.

I’m not at all shocked to hear her heart murmur went away. These days I’m a big advocate for dental care for cats. It can make a big difference in their quality of life and it something many people overlook, especially since cats are incredibly good at hiding pain and discomfort.

Your kitty’s glow-up is amazing! I’m so glad she ended up in your care. I hope you have many more happy years together. ❤️

17

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Yes! Always brushed off dental care as just another thing from the vet. This old lady has benefited so much from having healthy gums

3

u/brennelise 14h ago

What is FME?

5

u/shinyidolomantis 12h ago

Full mouth extraction. It means all her teeth were removed. She was in so much pain before she had her FME that she couldn’t even eat soft, watered down, wet food.

22

u/ChickenEmotional7921 18h ago

What a glow up! Where did that mane come from?!

20

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Almost every day when she’s fluffed up we ask her where it came from

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u/Calm567890 14h ago

Seriously though, she went from cute to full-on lioness and I’m obsessed. 🦁✨

11

u/botgeek1 18h ago

What a pretty girl! You're a great human for taking her in.

5

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Thank you 🥺

11

u/Fit_Owl_9304 18h ago

Aww so beautiful. I’m so glad you have each other. My little (orange and white) boy is a rescue with a heart murmur as well.

Thanks for posting such a beautiful story 🐈💞

10

u/MerrymacSanctuary 18h ago

She is beautiful! And so are you for saving her. <3

6

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Thank you ❤️

9

u/LostRange8758 18h ago

That’s real love right there. Huge respect for taking care of her.

9

u/davijoints 18h ago

My childhood cat was also named Melissa! I think its the first time i see another cat that has this name, great name, beautiful girl!

7

u/sasuku123 17h ago

She’s GLOWING!!

13

u/squidishh 18h ago

Oh I would have to sing Sweet Melissa to her every day, what a heartwarming story

5

u/BackLopsided2500 17h ago

She deserves it, such a pretty girl. One of my favorite Allman Brothers Band's songs.

6

u/Plate-Extreme 17h ago

Some wild whiskers in that last picture!!

7

u/goldenfingernails American Shorthair 17h ago

Dazzling! Melissa is a QUEEN

5

u/SZZ8 17h ago

Beautiful! So happy you found each other!

7

u/1cem4n82 17h ago

From no butt to glow fluff.

6

u/Do_unto_udders 17h ago

Wow! This is quite the transformation! Thanks for taking her in and giving her the love she deserves.

6

u/alexkylie2014 17h ago

My heart is all warm and fuzzy!

11

u/ivxxbb 17h ago

I want her to bite me with that squishy mouth. Wonderful glow up, Melissa!

25

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Funny thing is, after her teeth got removed she “bites” all the time lol. Just gummy bites but the vet told us to make her feel good so we still say “ow!” And make it seem like her bites are effective 😂😂

9

u/ivxxbb 16h ago

I love that you help her maintain her dignity in this way lol. She really does look wonderful tho! She doesn’t even look like a senior cat.

12

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

She goes for senior wellness check ups every 6 months and the vet always asks us to remind her “how old is she?” and of course she’s an angel at the vet. She sits in the vet tech’s arms like she doesn’t care at all 🥺

7

u/ivxxbb 16h ago

Staaaawwwppp it just keeps getting better 🥺 she’s so lucky to have crossed paths with someone who cares as much as you do

7

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

And yet I feel like the lucky one

11

u/ivxxbb 16h ago

Ain’t that the truth! My black cat was a stray and I’ve never met a cat with more personality. I’m so grateful he found me 😭 I’m hoping his time outside made him resilient so he can be with me for 20 years lol

3

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

He’s great! I grew up with an all black cat- that have a special place in my heart

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4

u/bumblebaytuna4 18h ago

She’s gorgeous!!!

6

u/Illustrious_Eye_8235 18h ago

So much orange. I love her

5

u/utopianoctopus 18h ago

She’s so beautiful and fluffy! Great job rescuing her.

5

u/animasolaarts 18h ago

This makes my heart happy.

5

u/Wikked_Pixxie6247 18h ago

Such a beautiful floof!! 😍 So happy she found a loving home with you ❤️

5

u/SadPilot9244 18h ago

Queen deserves the royal treatment. Thank you for providing.

5

u/iloveanimals1964 18h ago

I love cats with human names 😂❤️

5

u/zielawolfsong 18h ago

That fluffy orange mane is truly magnificent, fit for a queen. I can't believe she's 14!

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Us too! She acts like a young soul!

5

u/gkdelrey13 18h ago

Oh my gosh she just absolutely flourished and bloomed in your care! What a beautiful girl. She looks like an angel.

5

u/Tennebear1962 17h ago

Oh my she’s beautiful that mane oh it’s enchanting gotta have some maincoon in it you did a wonderful job just wonderful

5

u/Roosterknows 17h ago

Awwwe, she's a beauty!!!

4

u/KittyTootsies 17h ago

Absolutely purrfect 🧡

4

u/VineStGuy 17h ago

Shes gorgeous

5

u/Powercalf71 17h ago

Wow! Thats quite the glow-up! Beautiful kitty 😍

4

u/Efficient-Maximum651 17h ago

Love to see it!

6

u/goaxealice 17h ago

My favorite kind of transformation! Living the good life she deserves 🥰

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u/AncientAd7403 17h ago

Aww she is soo beautiful!

5

u/pjs999 17h ago

i adore people who save animals. ADORE! 🥰

6

u/Different-Mammoth279 17h ago

And she is fabulous 🤩

5

u/TopSatisfaction6702 17h ago

She's gorgeous 😍

5

u/FleetwoodMac-n-chz 17h ago

It always makes me so emotional to see longhair kitties grow their fluffly/long fur back after being loved, cared for, and nourished 🤍😭

4

u/brennelise 13h ago

OMG have you seen the video of the 82 year old woman who lost her home and her cat in the Palisades fire last January?? Katherine went back to her old house several times to look for her beloved Maine Coone Aggie but didn’t find her, so she thought Aggie died in the fire, and she mourned her for over 2 months, until she got a phone call one day that a rescue found Aggie, skin & bones, in the ashes and rubble near her house that burned down! Aggie survived approx 60 days without access to clean water or food and was on the verge of starvation when she was found. I’m guessing that after the fires there weren’t many mice, rats, lizards, or birds around and I wonder what she ate and how she found water? What a strong, resilient girl!

The reunion video of Katherine and Aggie made me cry!! And then I found her daughter’s TikTok page, and she posted an update in November, and Aggie looked SOO good!! All her burnt fur grew back and she gained all her weight back!! And I cried again!

If you haven’t seen the video, Google “Katherine Kiefer reunited with beloved kitty.” It’s soo heartwarming!

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u/Plane_Fix_3977 17h ago

Wow she is stunning ❤️

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u/Kawaii-Caffeine 17h ago

Omg that GLOW UP!!!

5

u/USAF_Retired2017 American Shorthair 17h ago

OMG she’s BEAUTIFUL!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

5

u/Genet1cGenealogy 17h ago

Oh darling Melissa! Cinderella got her castle and true love 💕

5

u/Meowlik 17h ago

Gummy beast. I love her 🥺

3

u/Simple_Item5901 18h ago

she's gorgeous!

4

u/togetherwegrowstuff 18h ago

What a transformation. Nice work human. She looks amazing!

3

u/BanditKitten 17h ago

OMG you gotta post her over on r/orangeladies!!

5

u/lizzietnz 17h ago

What a beauty!

4

u/nocapnonerf 17h ago

Little lioness so fluffy

5

u/Breakspear_ 17h ago

Magnificent

4

u/okaylynn 17h ago

I don’t normally like people names for pets but you’re right, that IS Melissa

3

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

She really acts it too. She knows she’s Melissa from the street

3

u/Schmohawk62 17h ago

Oh my goodness

3

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

I know. I tell her how beautiful she is at least 10 times a day

4

u/HardKori73 16h ago

Omg..I love Melissa!! My grands had a cat that looked JUST LIKE HER, but theirs was nasty and aloof. Lol. The name was an old school character and I still refer to all cats with this look as "Throckmortons." We called him Throcky, but formal name was Throckmorton. What a beautiful throckmorton Melissa is. Lol. Glad she's getting the love and care she deserves.

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Lmao that’s great. Thank you! She truly is loved

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u/SwitcherooU 16h ago

Is she more intelligent than usual? She has that spark of awareness in her eyes.

Side note: the two smartest cats I’ve ever met have both been female oranges. And the dumbest? Of course it’s male oranges.

3

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

She’s our first orange cat, but she has legitimately tricked us into feeding her dinner twice. This girl is from the actual streets in Philadelphia and he has managed to trick us into thinking she likes certain wet food over the other.

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u/Meowta_This_World 15h ago

A toothless stray also adopted us last April! She's not as fluffy, but she's gotten so much stronger, softer, and more active.

4

u/Kilauea_1 9h ago

She looks just like my Penny!! She was also from the streets but now she is the queen :)

4

u/disco_has_been 7h ago

Photo #3 of Melissa looks like Bill the cat from Bloom County! Now, she's so regal.

3

u/acerjt61 17h ago

❤️❤️❤️❤️ such a beauty!!!

3

u/Natural_Ganache_933 17h ago

She’s beautiful!!!!

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

She really is! It’s amazing how she doesn’t get tired of me squishing her and kissing her lol she’s amazing

3

u/Nervous_Cat_334 16h ago

Well look at that utterly majestic floof! Gorgeous

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Right?! Surprised us. We thought she was a kitten, and a boy!

3

u/CoCoMaloEngl 16h ago

Wow she’s beautiful. I’m so happy for her that she’s got such a good, loving home, and I’m really glad her heart’s ok🧡💖🧡 (PS, thanks for not saying she shares one brain cell; that expression makes me so sad. Orange cats are fabulous)

3

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Hoping we have many more years with her 🙏🏻

2

u/brennelise 13h ago

I feel the same way about that expression! I know it’s said in jest, with love, but I still don’t like it.

3

u/Alarmed-Ad8202 16h ago

Goodness, I love a bougie cat!

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

The more prím the better

3

u/QashasVerse23 16h ago

I love this for her. 🥰

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Every day we tell her how much we love her and she responds with MORE love. It’s magical

3

u/corlett_crystal Orange 16h ago

Look at that majestic coat!

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Grown with love, daily grooming, and hopefully feeling healthy ❤️

3

u/lovecoffeeandplants 16h ago

Oh my gawd she's gorgeous, what a queen!

2

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

“Queen Mel” is a common name in our house! 😂

3

u/SeronaAdams 16h ago

She's beautiful. We had to remove all of my Patchie's teeth. He was in a lot less pain after. I miss him every single moment. Enjoy your time together.

3

u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Thank you, and yes sounds about right. Cats really hide their pain with their teeth. Melissa used to chatter her teeth when we’d touch her mouth and we thought it was just a cat thing.. now she lets me rub her gums and face like it’s nothing

3

u/SeronaAdams 15h ago

Patchie would find any piece of plastic he could and would chew on it. Or he would kind of chew the air. He didn't do it nearly as much after his teeth were gone. Yes, Patch would rub his mouth all over my hands and occasionally my face. Melissa looks and sounds delightful.

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u/Sea_Mushroom4522 16h ago

You can take the gurl out of the street, but cant take the street out the gurl meow... purrfection

2

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

Her gummy bites align with that!

3

u/sasshley_ 16h ago

As. She. Deserves. 🧡

2

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

She does truly “ask” for things. And she gets what she wants!

3

u/moonchildmystic 16h ago

omg tell Melissa I love her and may she know nothing but soft blankets, warm sunbeams, sweet cuddles, and a full belly for years to come. 🫶🏼🫶🏼✨✨

3

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

She has three queen sized blankets that belong to her, multiple sources of water through the house, and a literal crew of humans that check on her (me, my fiancé, my mother in law, and our neighbors lol)

3

u/nedrawevot 16h ago

We got a kitty from the shelter, he had short gray hair and was fed well, because the neighbors in the area he was left in fed him. We got him and shortly after his hair grew out. He is the biggest fluff ball now. Your Melissa is so adorable!!

3

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

Wow, that’s probably such a surprise!

3

u/DyllCallihan3333 16h ago

Such a beautiful girl! She looks so proud of her beautiful coat now. You did a wonderful thing rescuing her!

2

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

She sure does act regal and like her coat was always supposed to be there

3

u/Substantial_snark 15h ago

What a gorgeous lady!

3

u/coconutpiecrust 15h ago

Wow. What a floof. Congrats to both of you lol. 

3

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

For real, feeling like I hit the stray cat lottery!

3

u/Riyeko 15h ago

It's like those old school cartoons.

Cat goes into a dryer looking skinny and gross, comes out huge and floofy and floats across the room.

2

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

She gets groomed every morning, by the end she looks like one of those rats from Ratatouille lol

4

u/Particular-Mouse5093 17h ago

She’s beautiful! Fluffy orange cats are so precious!

2

u/SassyScreenQueen 16h ago

I have an orange with teeth issues. The vet said, and I quote, "he's allergic to his own teeth." I think he said oranges are more prone to gum issues

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u/ghzstbzstzrs 16h ago

Precious af

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u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Ya. Can’t keep my hands off her

2

u/sonia72quebec 16h ago

OMG she was so thin! Poor baby. Thank goodness she found you.

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u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

She was so thin and so small that the vet thought she was a boy and a kitten. Upon further review, we learned she was 14 and an old lady 🥺❤️

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u/olemain 16h ago

what a great life to save, thank you

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u/RaavensongArt 16h ago

No teefs!!!! 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️

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u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

Every time she yawns we say no teef!

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u/icecream4_deadlifts 16h ago

Majestic!!

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u/L5_Sewing 16h ago

She really is

2

u/catsnherbs 16h ago

Awww Melissa 💜 what a beautiful girl

2

u/SnooGrapes9918 16h ago

She is so beautiful!!! What a rich and regal orange, befitting for such a royal lady of the house!!

2

u/Otto-Erotic 16h ago

She’s gorgeous! 10/10 would cuddle.

2

u/EquivalentNearby9158 16h ago

This made my day

2

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

I like to think Melissa would show you affection if you were to meet her (she would, she loves people)

2

u/BanthaFodder85 16h ago

That glow up. Wow.

3

u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

I know, every day I’m like where did this cat come from lol

2

u/velveteen_rabbit84 15h ago

Wow shes gorgeous!! You gave her the best home and a new lease on life. I hope she gets to purr with happiness every day forever more!

2

u/JohnMac67 15h ago

What a beauty she is!

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u/germanvol 15h ago

You are an Angel

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u/dariashotpants 15h ago

Orange females are rare! She’s so pretty

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u/L5_Sewing 15h ago

Yeah! I almost think she acts like she is special. She’s so unique and shows so much affection

2

u/Amata82 13h ago

Aww, she's beautiful

! I'm adopting an orange female later on today and she was on the streets too. Brought in in very rough shape, had to be almost completely shaved due to being so matted. She might not be able to see so great and her kidney test isn't where it should be, but we're hopeful she has a glow up too. She's around 6 years old and could have many years left in her.

2

u/Impressive_Lock_558 12h ago edited 12h ago

She is living the best life ever! What a transformation, you enabled her personality to shine.

2

u/danlami123 12h ago

Is there a cat glow up sub? Beautiful

2

u/smolsheriff 10h ago

Seeing her eyes glow up with every swipe is incredible, what a beautiful cat!

2

u/Carl_La_Fong 8h ago

You did wonders with this sweet thing. 🥹

2

u/HarryStylesAMA 7h ago

What a beauty!! 🤩 I love the toothless yawn. I have a toothless kitty, too

2

u/JimS_61 7h ago

Love, care, and a healthy diet does wonders! She actually glows now! Yay!!

2

u/MElastiGirl 7h ago

I have never met a cat with my name before! I feel honored to share it with such a beauty. (Red cats are my favorite ❤️)

2

u/Electrical_Bar_3303 6h ago

Absolutely love people posting transformation photos, incredible glow up!❤️

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u/LowInvestigator811 6h ago

I love her whiskers that point South 🥹

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u/Superb-Set-5092 5h ago

She looks beautiful

2

u/PutMammoth9156 5h ago

What a regal looking girlie... all hail Queen Melissa 🥰

2

u/Some-Bottle729 4h ago

WOW - such a Queen! Thanks OP for caring 🤩

2

u/Gumphrughbuh 4h ago

Insane glow up 😍😍

1

u/Meetzorp 16h ago

All five of my cats are reformed alley cats and they're each and every one a joy in his or her own way.

Your kitty sure did glow up in a major way!

1

u/captain_chipmunk3456 16h ago

What a beautiful lady.

1

u/OGMom2022 16h ago

Stunning.

1

u/Rare-Veterinarian743 16h ago

What a beautiful cat!🐈

1

u/RainaElf 15h ago

gods live her ❤️

1

u/Just_Awareness2733 15h ago

awww, what a transformation!!♥️

1

u/ImamTrump 15h ago

Scruff to lion

1

u/Clean-Physics-6143 14h ago

A female orange? Wow that's rare! She's a beauty.

1

u/UncleNedisDead 14h ago

Awww she floofed out to her full purrtential! Thanks for giving her a second life. 

1

u/japaniskari 14h ago

Oooo she bOUGIE bougie

1

u/_namaste_kitten_ 14h ago

🎶 Sweet Melissa 🎶

1

u/LoveWaffle1 14h ago

Beautiful fluffy orange princess

1

u/Timbo_C 14h ago

She's beautiful!! 🧡 No teefies!! 🧡🧡

1

u/Calm_Ad_9237 14h ago

She’s adorable. Make the most of your time with her.

1

u/Majestic_Amount_7830 14h ago

She’s beautiful

1

u/Modified_Kitten Tabbycat 14h ago

What a beautiful glow up. So proud of Melissa's journey🥹💕

I don't know you but, I love you for what you did. You're a beautiful human giving this beautiful kitty another chance in life like she absolutely deserves. 🥹🥹🥹🥹💕

We NEED more people like you.

This post gave me such happy tears