When Katherine Meara and her partner came across Tuggly on the New Zealand SPCA website, they knew he was the cat they had been hoping to adopt.
Meara told The Dodo, “I figured he was at least over 10 years old just from his appearance.” He appeared to be so forlorn and scruffy in comparison to the other cat photographs that, even though I was in error, I knew I wanted to take him.
Tuggly is actually around 5 years old, but he had already been through so much by the time he arrived in the care of the SPCA that he looked so much older. He was found living as a stray in Christchurch, New Zealand, and had some pretty bad cuts all around his neck.
Due to his past, poor Tuggly was terrified and confused about what was happening to him. It caused him to act out and be aggressive, and the shelter made sure to inform the couple about this behavior — but even after meeting him and seeing it firsthand, they decided they wanted him regardless. Somehow they just knew it was meant to be.
Tuggly was anxious to explore when he first got to his new house. He was undoubtedly anxious, but his adoptive parents made every effort to make him feel at ease. They gradually became aware of his needs and made adjustments. They thought that soon he would unwind and understand that he was finally secure.
“I think he was a little frightened, and after essentially starving for so long, he would just get panicky and aggressive about food,” Meara said. “He was very thin when we got him, to the point where his fur was also quite thin from malnutrition.
Once we bought him an automatic feeder, he was fine as he stopped associating us with food … He was scared, he was starving and it took him a week or so to adjust, which is actually quite fast compared to most cats. It’s a good reminder that sometimes cats just need time.”
Tuggly was extremely at ease in his new home after just a few weeks, contrary to the couple’s expectations. Today, around six months later, he appears and behaves quite differently.
He no longer possesses an aggressive bone, according to Meara. “Tuggly appears to be an entirely different cat when we compare him to the SPCA images we have presently. He now has the sweetest, roundest tomcat jowls, and his cheeks have finally filled out.
He’s now our huge, floofy guy, and his fur has really filled out as well. It would be an understatement to say that my partner rules our home as we don’t have any kids or other pets. He enjoys being at our side constantly. He must participate in whatever we do because of his intense curiosity.
Tuggly’s appearance and behavior from the time he was originally rescued from the streets are now only vague memories. He has changed into a cat who enjoys chasing butterflies in the summer and lounging in front of the fireplace in the winter. It turns out that Tuggly just truly required time, patience, and love to thrive.
“After signing a waiver for his aggression, he has turned into the loveliest, most affectionate little cat, and we love him so unbelievably much,” Meara said.
