Every now and then, you come across a story that hits you right in the feels, and this week, that story is all about a cat named Garbanzo and the dedicated foster carer who has saved her life twice. Rachael Robertson is the epitome of an animal lover. Working in the pet care industry, fostering young kittens, and looking after her own cats and dogs, most of whom are very elderly, have special health requirements, or both, she doesn’t get a lot of free time. However, when a local animal shelter reached out to her in early February to tell her that one of her former foster kittens had been brought in to them, she didn’t hesitate to take the call. Initially, she had hoped that the ginger cat had just managed to escape her home, but Garbanzo (Bonzo for short) had been surrendered by the person who had adopted her four years earlier. Even more distressing was the state she was in.

At 25 lbs, Garbanzo was morbidly obese, her long coat was matted and smelly, and she was absolutely petrified, lashing out at any attempt to touch her; a far cry from the affectionate, confident young cat that Rachael had said goodbye to back in 2021.

Garbanzo’s Distressing State

Initially, Garbanzo’s owner blocked Rachael’s attempts to contact her, but eventually reached out to explain what had happened. Some time after adopting Garbanzo, a man came on the scene who would apparently take pleasure in tormenting, possibly even harming the cat. After he eventually departed, a housemate came with their own cat, resulting in Garbanzo suffering from stress-induced urinary issues. Rachael knew that her home, with various cats and dogs, was not going to be the right place to start Garbanzo’s rehabilitation, but fortunately, her ex-partner was able to help out with some space in his home.

The first few days were challenging for everyone, with Bonzo rarely venturing out of her litter box and refusing to eat or drink. Each day, she grew a little more relaxed, with Rachael taking things at a super slow pace. Although this cat was clearly traumatized and terrified of humans, you could see that she was conflicted. This wasn’t a cat that was naturally shy or withdrawn; this was a cat who wanted human contact, but whose experience had taught her to fear it, which was truly upsetting to see.

Making Progress

As her second week began, they saw two huge signs of progress as Garbanzo issued a trusting ‘slow blink’ and even a little chirrup! There was still a long way to go, and cuddles were very much off the table for now, but they were finally starting to see those walls coming down. By this stage, Bonzo and Rachael were developing quite a following on TikTok and Instagram, and gifts and donations were rolling in from all around the world, filling her simple sanctuary with all the latest feline furniture.

With the help of some mild sedatives and her Feliway diffuser and spray, Garbanzo had a vet visit for a health check and grooming session towards the end of the third week, which was quite a turning point. In her freshly shorn body with an adorable lion tail, Bonzo seemed more relaxed, comfortable, and friendly, and after almost three weeks of grumbles, hissing, and paw swipes, she was finally starting to show her true softer side. She was more confident when playing games, eating from Rachael’s hand, and even started to allow some brief petting. From that point onwards, her personality started shining through, and every day brought with it a new milestone. Day 23 saw her move into a larger room with more access to the house, and on day 24, her hisses turned into demanding meows, and she finally permitted Rachael to give her a proper pat. The old Garbanzo was making a comeback.

Winning Back Trust

Watching her relaxing in the sunshine, luxuriating on her bed, and demanding to be petted, you could almost forget that only three weeks ago, she was borderline feral. Gaining back the trust of a cat that had been so severely let down by humans in the past is no easy feat, but not only has Bonzo become affectionate with Rachael, she has also become confident and friendly with new people, showing that she is almost ready to look for a forever home. At a slimmed-down weight of 16 lbs, she will soon be having a dental procedure to sort out her gingivitis, putting her in top condition, too.

While Rachael’s love for Bonzo is obvious, she also knows that she cannot provide her with what she needs in a permanent home. With multiple pets who require a lot of care and attention, Rachael knows that this ginger diva would soon become stressed and resentful of the competition, not to mention the financial and time strain involved. It would be easy for Rachael to simply give in to her emotions and keep this gorgeous feline, so it is admirable that she is able to put the needs of her fur family and Garbanzo ahead of her heart.

Applications are currently open for those who would like to offer Garbanzo a forever home, but the criteria is strict. Rachael is looking for someone:

• experienced with cats
• with no very young children
• with no other pets
• who lives within one hour of her home in L.A.

You don’t have to feel obligated to keep up with Garbanzo’s social media following, but we’re sure that her fans would love it if you do! If you’d like to be considered, you can find out more information and fill out an application HERE, and you can stay up to date with her progress by following @rachaelrayrobertson.

So what’s next for Rachael? The warmer weather and longer days mean that kitten season is almost upon us, so hopefully, she’ll manage to get a short break before her home becomes filled with the sound of hungry, mewling kittens!

You can also help by donating to animal shelters and charities, adopting cats and kittens from shelters, and spaying/neutering your cat.

All images courtesy of Rachael Robertson, @rachaelraerobertson.

Did You Know?