Stefan's journey out of pain.

It was a cold morning in Swindon when Molly first saw him - a scruffy, bedraggled cat, curled up in the bushes, his eyes swollen and infected. He looked utterly miserable, his fur matted, and he was barely able to open his eyes.

Molly didn’t just walk on by. She didn’t leave him to suffer. She reached out for help, and thank goodness she did.

We learned that the had been living in the area as a stray for two years. A kind local lady had been feeding him, even put out a cat house for him to sleep in, but he wouldn’t let her get anywhere near him.

That was when Hazel and Karen stepped in - two of the most dedicated volunteers you could ever meet. They’d been keeping an eye on the cat, setting traps, doing everything they could to help him without scaring him off. After some patience and careful work, the volunteers managed to trap him. We named him Stefan.

His eyes were in a terrible state. His eyelashes had grown the wrong way, constantly scratching at his eyes and causing him endless pain. He was living in constant discomfort.

But the reality was, our funds were running low and our vet bills had been mounting. So, we turned to all of you - the people who have always supported our rescue. We sent out a plea for donations, and as always, you answered.

The vets did an amazing job, and Stefan’s eye surgery went as well as could be hoped. For the first time in years, Stefan could finally see properly again and he would be free of pain.

Stefan suffering with his eyes and badly needing surgery.

Stefan post surgery on the start of his road to recovery:

Although his recovery was going well, Stefan didn’t know how to trust people, and he certainly didn’t know what to make of a soft bed or a warm blanket. At first, he refused to sleep on anything comfortable, preferring the cold, hard floor - anything that felt familiar.

Over the next few weeks, Stefan started to come around. It wasn’t much at first - he’d rest a little longer on a soft blanket, and little by little, he started to enjoy his food. His personality began to shine through. He was still a little unsure of people, but he wasn’t scared anymore.

Stefan starting to look better, but still not trusting humans.

When the time was right, we found him a forever home - a place where he could take his time, where he wouldn’t be rushed, and where he could learn to trust humans on his own terms.

His new family was perfect for him - experienced with feral cats and incredibly patient. They gave him a room of his own, attached to their main house, where he could come and go as he pleased. Stefan gets to choose when he wanted to interact with them. No pressure, no rush. Just love and patience. They even had a feral cat of their own who, with time, had become a loving pet. He will be given every opportunity to enjoy the life he so deserves.

Stefan’s journey wasn’t easy, but it was worth every moment. It was a reminder that even the hardest cases can find a happy ending - with a little bit of patience, a lot of love, and a whole lot of people who care.

So here we are, sharing the good news. Stefan is happy, healthy, and most importantly, finally pain-free. We couldn’t have done this without all of you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. You’ve changed his life. Together, we save lives.

From all of us at the rescue and from Stefan - thank you. You all made this possible. ❤️