Published Feb 28, 2025
George the cat was found in East Hollywood, roaming the streets by himself. He was trying to be resilient, but the unsuitable environment and his multitude of health problems were wearing him down, and he needed help.
Fortunately, some kind humans stepped in to give George a better life.
A cat in poor health
When George entered his first foster home, they had a lot of work to do! His teeth were rotten and he could barely walk. He had an upper respiratory infection and was coughing and sneezing. George also had a dull coat and scabs on his ears.
Due to dental pain, he couldn’t close his mouth easily. It was difficult for him to even eat a meal.
George’s time in his first, short-term foster home was all about healing. This included a surgery where all of his teeth were removed and medications to help fight his infection.
Long-term fostering
Sometimes, it takes a village to help a cat, especially one as sick and as old as George. Once his initial vet care was handled, his next step was to enter a second foster home with someone who could keep him long-term.
Jadyn decided to commit to George’s long-term care because she knew it takes more time to find homes for senior cats. Rescues and shelters are inundated with kittens, and most people want to adopt them as young as possible.
Jadyn wanted George to feel safe and secure, and not to live a life where he was passed from place to place. He’d already gone through a huge transition from the streets to a home environment, and needed a place to settle in and become comfortable.
George’s recovery
Today, George looks like a different cat. He has a shiny, healthy coat, and he’s healed from his infection and injuries. He’s toothless but has adapted well to the change, and no longer has to live with constant tooth pain.
He also had to recover from what his time on the streets did to him emotionally, and he needed some socialization. In the beginning, he was timid, taking slow, cowering steps. Jadyn describes him as insecure.
She allowed him to settle in at his pace. Now, he enjoys pets and even sitting on laps, though he’s too shy to climb up on his own. When Jadyn pulls him onto her lap, he does cute little scoots toward her so that he can be closer for cuddles.
They’ve created an unbreakable bond together, and George is very loved by his foster mom. “He’s my life,” she says. “I care for him every single day. He’s my best friend.”
George slowly transformed into a confident cat, walking around with his head held high. He trusts Jadyn and has formed a routine, which includes meowing at her until she goes to bed and watches TV with him at night.
He’s playful and talkative. Now that he’s healed, Jadyn says, “I feel like he’s a kitten.” He’s always running around, making the most out of life. George helped Jadyn realize how much cats can transform when given proper care.
Fostering or adopting senior cats
When it comes to cats, kittens tend to get all the love–and many more resources than adults or seniors.
Jadyn fell in love with senior cats through her family cat, who sadly passed away before she fostered George. He cemented that love for sure, and now she wants to inspire others to adopt or foster seniors.
She says that they need love just as much as kittens do. While it can feel sad not to have as long to spend with a senior cat, Jadyn puts it perfectly: “They don’t know when their time is going to be up, but they do know how much love they had.”
Reach out to your local shelter or rescue group if you’d like to give that love to a senior cat. It will make a huge difference for them, and might even save their life!
You can learn more about Jadyn and George on her Instagram.
