Adopted Human
From starving in the Saudi Dessert to being the princess of a London apartment
I found Hissy (3f) under an office cabin while out in Saudi Arabia for work November-December 2023 (working on Soundstorm Festival). At the time she only came out of hiding at night and was absolutely terrified of everyone and everything, but also starving. I ended up feeding her three times per night for the month I was out there, seeing as the cat colony on site didn’t accept her and constantly attacked her. She also got to warm up inside the cabin during nights. Towards the end of the month, it became clear to me I couldn’t possibly leave her behind.
With the help of friends and family donating, finding a charity in Saudi helping with all paperwork and medical requirements, and about 3-4 months of anxiety she came into her furever home early February 2024.
Since then we’ve had a long journey: Hissy is diagnosed with severe anxiety and PTSD, on heavy anxiety meds and behaviourist have confirmed she probably won’t ever come off those meds due to her history. We don’t know much about her history, except that she was completely feral at the time of rescue, and any human interaction she’s had till I found her was bad at best. She was missing part of her lower jaw due to something biting it off in a fight most likely. Her spine is fused from a break, most likely due to being kicked in the back really hard as a kitten. When she had a dental at the end of last year (which cost her most of her teeth) they found a bullet lodged behind her ear that failed to penetrate her skull and kill her - vets still unsure on how she survived, and they removed the bullet free of charge.
Besides all of this, she is honestly the cuddliest cat I’ve ever met. While she doesn’t trust being picked up, we have plenty of cuddle sessions on the couch and bed nowadays, her favourite are belly scratches. And for about a month now she’s also allowing my partner to give her those. She’s also just started letting me reach across her body to reach her belly, as well as not running off when I initiate touch on the couch, which all have been incredible breakthroughs.
On paper and internet, Hissy should have been impossible to ever be socialised - a feral cat with only bad human interactions - but I genuinely can’t imagine a more perfect little girl than her, and I’m forever thankful I stumbled upon her that first night on site. I was never a cat person until I met Hissy and now she’s my favourite being on this planet, and to see the trust she has for me after all she’s been through will forever be the greatest honour of my life. ❤️
Wow! That truly is an honor to have the love of such a cat. Poor Hissy has really been through it, but I’m so glad she has you now. You two deserve each other in the best way and it can only improve from here. :)
Yeah genuinely breaks my heart to think about what else she might have endured, but I’m just so glad I found her when I did because the love this tiny girl has to give is nothing I’ve ever seen before 🥰
You are a saint for saving her. Thank you for being a good person and caring for this little girl. Her life story would break my heart if it didn’t have this happy ending.
It was honestly so many people in my life coming together and helping me make it possible, as it was a hefty amount of money to get her to the UK. But as soon as I started posting about her on my instagram everyone was like “we have to get this cat home with you” and eventually that became reality :)
I have no idea haha! My childhood dog that was a rescue from Spain did react to Spanish as well tho when my Mexican friend chatted with him!
And a friend of mine in the US had a German Shepherd that was born in Germany and trained as police dog but failed so got adopted, and he listened better to me than to their English commands 😅😂
So I guess there’s a chance she’d react? Unfortunately I don’t speak more than like 10 words Arabic so won’t be able to test 😅
Realised I didn’t include my favourite photo of her in this post - this was her on her 3rd birthday (resuce date) after destroying a self made fresh salmon and churro treats cake 😅🥰
Oh wow what a beautiful face! She’s so cute and the picture is just gold! Please offer some extra tummy rubs from me. My own ex street tabby also loves tummy rubs and the fact she lets me give her them gives me the warm fuzzies every time. Even when she sneezes on me. (I swear she does it on purpose.)
Wow, what an incredible story! You can tell how much safer and more relaxed she's feeling now. Poor baby to have gone through so much - you really did save her life.
She still has her panic attacks during cuddles but she’s getting so much better with not just running away and hiding, just jumping up a second and reassessing the situation now before going back for more cuddles :)
She is so brave! You sound like a complete pro anyway, but play sessions can also be a great way to build confidence and bond with kitty in a way that doesn't require touching. Wand toys are great at mimicking prey. Just get a good one that isn't going to fall to pieces or that your cat can tear apart and accidentally swallow.
She does love play time and it’s actually how I first got her out of fight it flight :) she’s now mainly just asking for cuddles but will have her zoomies through the hallway with her little balls and catnip toys in the middle of the night 😂 and beg the boyfriend for treats 😂
Realistically I have been winging it from the start tho by just listening to her boundaries while trying various things to get her to start enjoying life - and ignoring the fact that on paper she’s unsocialisable 😂😅
You are clearly doing an amazing job! I think somehow animals just 'know' when they have met their person. My beautiful cat (now 11 years old) spent the first year of her life on the streets being mistreated. One day she basically came to me asking for help, and here we are 10 years later. You have an amazing future with Hissy. With how far she's come in such a short time, it's only going to get better.
That’s so amazing and honestly I’m so excited for all the small steps still ahead of us! I feel like we’re getting really close to her sitting on me now, as she keeps rolling up pressed against me, so that’s potentially our next milestone. Picking up will for now most likely stay a vet experience when she clings onto me for dear life 😂
My Cas has been with me and the cat he bonded with in the rescue since Oct 2017. Took him more than a year to let me pet him for the first time. He is still incredibly skittish and panics at everything, but he loves to snuggle with me and be petted. Only in the last year has he started sitting on my lap/laying on me. Everything takes time. Before he was Cas, he had been named Slappy by the rescue because anytime someone came near him, he would swipe at them. It took them quite a while to realise he was terrified, not just too feral to ever be socialised.
He still has his moments of panic, but has also, overtime, stopped running and hiding every time. Now it is maybe 50% of the time, and the rest he will jump away, and then come back after a few minutes.
Your Hissy is beautiful :) I am glad you were able to bring her back with you
Aww that sounds so similar to her! I’m glad Cas is striving and also that you got him as a bonded pair! Hissy is unfortunately terrified of other animals due to her experiences on the streets and being the outcast of the colony in the area, always thought it would be cute to have a friend for her tho. Glad he found you and got someone that understands him and his needs!
Our cat was the same. A rescue feral cat 2 yo, problems with spine and hips. Took years for cuddles. She's now curled up next to me, 14yrs later. It takes time, but it's worth it. She's called Skitz because she's always been skittish. I'm glad your kitty has a loving forever home.
OMG. I’m bawling my eyes out. That poor sweet baby! How someone(s) can hurt a sweet little cat is sickening. I’m so glad it was you that found her and that she’ll spend the rest of her life being loved and cared for. You’re the best OP.
The day of her dental I genuinely don’t remember how much I cried when they found the bullet. Wish I could’ve proper hugged her that day, but every little head but and belly rub she gives is more than enough 🥰 I was fully prepared to just coexist with her when I rescued her, but she’s genuinely my (very anxious and ready to book it at all times) shadow nowadays 😅😂
That is such a terrible beginning but I am so glad that you found one another.I tell people that my greatest Honor in life is the trust my boy has in me.As bad as people have treated her,I know that she feels the love that you have for her.She is a beautiful lil baby bean.My boy was a stray and I am so glad that I took the time to let him know and trust me,he has enriched my life more than I can even say,he is my soul kitty for sure and I love him with my whole heart.
This is such a sweet story of love! You and Hissy were meant to find each other, so happy you both found each other and that friends/family helped get her to your home ♥️
She’s genuinely my soulcat. The bond we have is unreal, and I’m very lucky that all my friends, and especially my partner, is so supportive of me having become a crazy cat lady when it comes to Hissy haha
Agreed, which is why I can never break up with my partner now as he’s the only other human she fully trusts 😂😂 and it’s not cause of lack of trying from others 😂
The baddest! I might sound weird but I’ve kept onto the bullet in the back of a shelf for whenever she’s able to tolerate a collar in a few years, I’ll have it made into a tag for her to show off what she’s overcome
What an amazing story! Beautiful Hissy and her beautiful human who took a chance on her. I would have ptsd if I had been shot and kicked. My heart dropped. The miracle she is and you saving her is serendipitous. You should do a kids book about resilience and survival with PTSD with Hissy's and your story.
Oooh that’s actually a really lovely idea! Might have to look into that. We’re just taking it every day at a time but every day her panic attacks are less intense and shorter 🥰
IME, they'll never go away completely but they'll get further and further apart until you can't remember when the last one was.
And that's a beautiful day.
My soul cat had PTSD and a bullet fragment in his shoulder. He was never feral, but the ptsd and nightmares were intense when I first got him, they did fade over time. He was also deeply afraid of snow. It took him eight years to suddenly decide that he was a lap cat. He was a great soul and I had fifteen and a half years with him. Here's wishing you a long and happy life with HRH Hissy.
Oh what a beautiful story. You have done such a beautiful thing. Bless you. I believe Hissy will slowly become calmer and calmer, more and more relaxed and affectionate, what a truly lovely thing.
She definitely has! It’s already been such a difference from when she first got to the UK (let alone when I found her in Saudi) and my partner moving in recently has really helped her start proper bonding with someone that’s not me - it’s made her a lot more confident being petted by friends coming over now, still hesitant but willing to give it a try :)
Haha yeah, when we’re on site in Saudi all the cats get very obvious nicknames 😅 it took a few months to get any other sounds than hisses out of her, but nowadays it’s mainly meows and purrs 🥰
Thank you so much for going so above and beyond for her, and also being understanding and patient of her needs. Hissy had a rough past and she really lucked out finding you.
She’s thought me a lot about patience but the payoff for going at her pace and just letting her find joy in life and her self esteem has been so rewarding to watch! The last two months she’s really started to be curious and investigate bags, shadows, and our take our orders 😂
I’ve popped this one further down in the comments as I forgot to include it in the original post. Putting it here again to make up for the 6th picture: this is her at her 3rd birthday a few months post bullet (and most of her teeth) removal being all excited after devouring a slice of salmon 🥰
My heart! My little scaredy anxious cat really comes out of his shell when we play together. We have a routine for “FOOTY SNACKS!” Where I break off bits of Websticks, and throw them in the air. He jumps up and eats them in the air LOL. But I whoop and holler, give him quick pats, and I think it helps him relax about loud humans 💕
Oh I’ll have to try that!! Although she can’t jump super high cause of her fused spine, but she does live her zoomies so maybe we can adjust height for distance 🥰
Here’s instructions from our home:
1. Go to one place you always keep the treat, and shake it about so they know the wrapper and the sound
2. Play in just the same small area, and put down a cushion or bag they can crouch behind
3. Throw it just in front of them, and when they get it squeal and praise them while you keep shaking the treat
They kind of ignore you, to get back in prey position 😝
Websticks are great, cos when you rip them from the pack they make a unique sound, and my cat comes running!!
I’m not familiar with guns but as they gave it to me when I picked her up after (which was the strangest thing) it was a about 7mm long, 3mm diameter, heavy enough to be metal but looks to at least be coated in rubber
So very small, didn’t penetrate the skull, and rubber coated sounds like an airsoft pellet. They can be deadly for small animals but the pellet is powered by compressed air in the gun rather than a gunpowder explosion in the casing.
Significantly less power behind the projectile, and usually used for small animal pest control.
Poor little lady. I’m so glad she’s somewhere she matters now.
Yeah that sounds about right, especially as unfortunately cats are seen as pest over there due to the amount of uncontrolled breeding in the colonies and rabies being a big thing there still.
I’m just glad she’s not going to have to endure any of this ever again and doesn’t have to feel the bullet behind her ear anymore. The fact the vet took it out free of charge was honestly what kept me somewhat sane that day, as they felt so bad for her as well
Dear OP, you are a serious superstar human for helping save this beautiful soul! Her story and the pictures of her life with you have seriously brought tears to my eyes. Your last sentence where you say that she is your favorite being on the planet and the trust she is building with you being the greatest honor of your life really touched me. Thank you for being such a wonderful human and for saving this precious being. You will have a wonderful future, the world needs more stories like this ❤️
There are veterinary acupuncture specialists that can help with trauma. They don’t use needles but a little buzz of current at acupressure points. Glad she’s with you now.
Oh I’ll have to look into that!! We’ve been to a few specialist for behaviour, ptsd in animals,… but haven’t heard about that yet so will definitely do some research!
The fact that she lets you give belly rubs is incredible. Showing off their belly is huge for a cat because it’s where they are most vulnerable. Thank you for saving her. She looks so much like my girl it’s making me tear up. We can’t imagine the level of cruelty she experienced and her resiliency is an astounding compliment to you and your efforts. That’s your soul cat, right there.
Weirdly enough she let me touch her belly before her back, but I think it’s cause of her being kicked before that she was more scared about her back being touched.
But yes she truly is my soul cat 🥰
Wow..
I hope you know YOU and those who helped you are amazing. Most humans would NOT be doing All of this for a feral stray. You're a good person. Not just a normal person but genuinely good
Oh that’s so kind of you to say, but honestly she just has her way of making people absolutely fall in love with her, so there wasn’t much choice once I found her ❤️
I'm so happy you managed to bring Hissy home safe! I have a traumatised cat, a 12 yo tuxie lady, who watched both her humans die & g then started self harming & nearly killed herself.
Thankfully nearly a year later she's doing much better. I hope you & Hissy have many, many years of living your best lives together 😻😻
l have a boy, now 1 yo, like that with 2 wary, but cuddly siblings. I joke he had an adrenelin spill in utero. But his eyes have always lovingly betrayed him. He is a no- pick -up cuddler, too.
He walks up to me and pets me with his tail, and gratefully accepts pets and sritches, and flops over for belly rubs.
He's my heart.
You and that kitty, who is beautiful, btw, are wonderful.
As a survivor of a truly horrific childhood at the hand of my own family who also has severe cptsd and will be in therapy for the rest of my life and on medication, but who has a wonderful and supportive Family Circle and tight Social Circle now, in a safe and secure loving home surrounded by family both biological through marriage and procreation, and found family, Universe bless you for taking in this sweet little soul and giving her all the love that she deserves. I say it all the time to the clients that I counsel through my peer counseling I do as part of my way of giving back to the Universe for my survival, that the body wants to heal but the mind can be a stubborn thing, but once you get both of them in alignment toward the same goal there's very little that can stop you if you're given the right supports and a long enough time of healing and long enough Runway to be able to take off and truly fly, a safe space enough long enough and supportive enough for you to truly Buckle in and get the work done to heal. And that's certainly what you've given her, and I can guarantee that she is going to Blossom under your care. She's always going to be an anxious girl, but you have given her a whole new Avenue toward a life that she could only have ever dreamed of Once Upon a time. And I guarantee you, someday those nightmares that I'm sure she has will fade and only be an occasional Shadow across what is an otherwise incredible life.
I don’t think I had ever seen an animal as intimidated as her. I don’t think she’d have come out of hiding if it hadn’t been for how close to starving she was. The whole team at the time helped care for her out there and being treats etc every day until i got everything sorted to capture her and start her immigration process to the UK!
Thank you so very very much for rescuing her! She looks so happy with those eyes full of love and mischief! You two are an awesome match and its so soothing to know she is safe!
We got AC in our apartment luckily and she’s definitely the first one to hug the spot on the couch that gets blasted by it the most 😂😂😂 don’t know how she ever survived out there
I have both a TNR and a formerly abused cat. You have both in one and your abuse was even worse than my Siku's. At least Siku seems to have had someone who loved him before. But at about 5 he went back to the shelter and a family adopted him. They beat him with toys, left him in a cat carrier for at least a week, up to a month, would pull his tail, and who knows what else. They threatened to leave him on the side of a highway if the shelter didn't take him back. When shelter got him back he was covered in blood, feces, and urine.
They didn't tell me any of that until I went back and asked some questions because I have never seen such a terrified cat. It took lots of time and patience, but he has come around. I used to read to him out loud when he was too scared to come out from under the bed. The day he finally let me touch his back it was like holding a miracle. The first time he played with a toy, I almost cried. He is confident and happy now, he's been in my life for roughly 11 years now.
Koda seems to have been the popular cat in the cat colony, he loves other cats and forced Siku to be his friend.
So, maybe she will need medication forever, maybe she won't. But she is so lucky to have you. I know the patience and love it takes and with as much as you've put in just to give her a chance? You're amazing.
I hope she continues to exceed expectations. I hope you continue to hold miracles in your hand.
Oh gosh what a sweetheart and that’s horrible that someone would do this! Glad to hear Siku has overcome all that trauma! Gives me hope for Hissy’s future as we’re only 2 years in :)
Amazing! Both you and Hissy. Your kindness, love and patience has probably earned you way too many points in heaven. It is soothing to the heart when one see the kindness expressed for a damaged, injured fur baby. Thank you.
Oh I can see that! Vet said mainly tabby but with potentially some Egyptian Mau and Bengal in her, but I can definitely see the Felis Lybica upon googling!
I don’t typically believe in a person-like higher power, but I do believe the energy we put out into the world will equilibrate and eventually return to us. The way we pour energy into helping the small, the helpless, the scared — all of it comes back to us. Your kitty baby loves you and you are her hero. Having a cat that trusts is truly a gift. ❤️❤️❤️
This is the kind of thing that gives me hope for humanity. The way so many people have worked together to help Hissy! She suffered so much in her first three years of life, but now, thanks to the group project of your community of friends and professionals, she is THRIVING.
Luckily it was only roughly her first year x last two years she’s been in her furever home 🥰 but genuinely will never be able to thank my friends and family for all their support in getting her home
I had to stop before I finished just to get control of my tears so I could go on. I am so glad you found each other over there. She certainly needed you and will bring you the joy you didn’t know you needed. Thank you for sharing your story! Now let me go do my boohooing in private. 😭
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u/cattabyss Cat Parent Jun 21 '26
Wow! That truly is an honor to have the love of such a cat. Poor Hissy has really been through it, but I’m so glad she has you now. You two deserve each other in the best way and it can only improve from here. :)