When a family packed up and left their home in Virginia, they made a heartbreaking decision that left one family member behind, their cat.
Valentino, a strikingly beautiful Ragdoll with soft white fur and piercing blue eyes, found himself alone on the streets.
His humans had moved out and simply didn’t take him with them.
No note. No explanation. Just gone.
For days, Valentino wandered through the neighborhood where he once lived.
He went door to door, hoping for kindness, perhaps even looking for familiar faces.
Credit: fosterkittys/ instagram
But he was met with closed doors and unfamiliar voices.
He didn’t understand why the people he loved had disappeared and, more importantly, why they had left without him.
Fortunately, someone noticed him. A kind neighbor had been feeding the fluffy stranger, but there was a problem.
Her husband had severe allergies to cats, meaning she couldn’t keep him inside.
So she did the next best thing by giving him shelter in her garage and reached out to someone she knew would care.
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That someone was Debbie Harris, a seasoned cat fosterer based in Virginia.
As soon as she got the call, she didn’t hesitate. She had helped countless cats before, but something about this one felt different.
When she met Valentino for the first time, it was an instant connection.
He walked in like he already owned the place, his calm and gentle personality filling the room.
Debbie was immediately charmed.
She snapped a photo of him and introduced him to her followers online, describing him as sweet and docile with the confidence of a cat who knew he belonged.
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There was still a lot to learn about this new guest, including whether he was a boy or a girl.
Debbie made a lighthearted post about trying to figure it out, admitting it was “like parting the Red Sea.”
She decided she’d wait until they were a little more familiar with each other before trying again.
It didn’t take long for Valentino to settle in.
Debbie booked a vet appointment to check his health, find out his age, and make sure he was okay.
At the clinic, Valentino won over everyone, rubbing up against the staff, purring constantly, and acting like he’d been going to the vet his whole life.
Credit: fosterkittys/ instagram
The results? Valentino was a 12-pound male Ragdoll, estimated to be about 2 to 3 years old.
Aside from a minor upper respiratory infection, something quite common in outdoor cats, he was in good shape.
He was given antibiotics, a rabies shot, and had a few painful mats shaved off his coat to help him feel more comfortable.
In just a few weeks, he made a full recovery.
Debbie updated her followers again, proudly sharing that he had finished his meds and was back to full health.
He’d even gone in for his distemper vaccine and got a clean bill of health from the vet.
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To celebrate, Valentino was treated to a well-deserved spa day.
The groomer who worked with him was completely taken by his personality and asked if she could adopt him.
But Debbie wasn’t ready to let him go, not yet.
By this time, Debbie had a long list of people interested in giving Valentino a permanent home.
But something about the situation didn’t feel right.
She kept hesitating, unsure about handing him over to someone else. And the more time they spent together, the clearer it became.
Debbie had fallen for him. And she wasn’t the only one.
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Before Valentino arrived, Debbie already had two “foster fails” a term used when someone fostering a pet ends up adopting them permanently.
Jojo and Lil Man were part of the household, and they were curious about their new roommate.
At first, there were some awkward introductions. But soon, the trio found their rhythm.
Valentino and Lil Man became fast friends, playing together and forming a close bond.
Jojo, on the other hand, took more of a supervisory role, checking in on the boys from time to time to make sure they weren’t getting into too much trouble.
Credit: fosterkittys/ instagram
With everything falling into place, Debbie made it official. Valentino wouldn’t be leaving.
He had already been through too much heartbreak. It was time for him to feel safe, loved, and at home for good.
Now, Valentino spends his days lounging in sunny spots, enjoying cuddles, and living the peaceful life he always deserved.
After being left behind and forced to fend for himself, he finally got his happy ending and it’s clear he’s not going anywhere.
