Before and After of Rescue Cat Is Proof Being Loved Transforms You

Owners who rescue animals often notice their pets need time to adjust to the new environment. Slowly but surely, they’ll come out of their shells and their personalities will flourish.

The same happened for TikTok user @kenzieisobel and her cat, but this owner also noticed her feline had more than a behavioral change. A May 20 TikTok video shows her black cat Ricky the day he was brought home, followed by a photo taken a few months after living in his forever home. The day and night difference has stunned viewers.

Exhausted and defeated in the first picture, Ricky showed nothing but hurt in his eyes and a frown. His face looked sunken in. Even his color looked dull.

But after only a few months Ricky looks like a brand-new cat, with life surging through every inch of his body: ears perked up, eyes full of light and a filled-out face. All it took was a showing of love for Ricky to transform.

The text on the before and after photos reads: “To be loved is to be changed.”

When you compare the two photos, you can tell the cat has been eating well too. He isn’t too skinny. He is healthily filled out, and his fur shines much brighter.

Ricky has gladly accepted all the love he has been given over the past few months and settled in just fine, based on his recent photo. This positive change is the case with most rescue animals, but the difference won’t happen overnight.

PetMD stresses the importance of the first 30 days when adopting a new cat, as these weeks are for building a strong foundation of bonding and routines. To start out on the right paw, the PetMD article recommends letting your cat settle in and adjust to the new environment. Keep other cats or animals in a separate place during this time.

Owners should also establish a routine for eating, playing and grooming early on. This will help the cat ease into its daily life. Take things slowly. Go at your cat’s pace and do not overwhelm it.

TikTokers React

The incredible transformation took viewers by surprise. The TikTok clip has over 282,000 views, 76,800 likes and 287 comments.

“The light coming back to their eyes always gets me,” said a viewer.

Another wrote: “He looks like 2 different cats, he’s so loved now it makes my heart happy.”

One person pointed out: “He gained a lil weight, got his colors back, but most importantly, the light in his eyes shines so bright now.”

Newsweek reached out to @kenzieisobel via TikTok for additional comment.

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