A woman who discovered a frightened kitten near a New York creek has turned a chance encounter into a heartwarming rescue story that has touched thousands online.
Sarah Mirsini and her husband were out with their dogs when she noticed something moving by the rocks. It was a tiny orange and white kitten, hiding but clearly hungry. Mirsini, 38, said she “knew in [her] heart” she couldn’t leave the animal behind.
The couple returned to the spot multiple times that day, trying to lure the kitten with food and treats. At first, the kitten was too scared to come close. “I noticed her neck tilted to the right and worried she’d broken it,” Mirsini told Newsweek. But after finally catching the kitten on the third day and taking her to the vet, they learned it was an inner ear infection, which was treated right away.
Locals said the kitten had been living near the creek for weeks. Based on her age—around 11 to 12 weeks—Mirsini believes someone abandoned her due to the medical issue. “My gut tells me her owners dumped her because of her head tilt and didn’t want to deal with the expense,” she said.
Once home, they named her Clover, calling her their “lucky charm.” The vet recommended keeping her in a separate room at first, since they had two dogs. They turned a guest room into Clover’s safe space, complete with toys, blankets, and a litter box. Mirsini’s husband even slept in the room so the kitten wouldn’t feel alone.
“She would curl up in his beard and fall asleep every night,” Mirsini said. “They built a special bond. She still does it now.”
Shortly after adopting Clover, the couple added another cat to the family—a black cat named Finn. Mirsini says the two became inseparable and helped each other thrive.
“Clover is my first cat, and she’s taught me so much,” Mirsini said. “Every living being deserves safety and a second chance. It’s not just our planet—we have a lot to learn from animals.”
In May, Mirsini posted a video on TikTok (@sarahmirsini) showing Clover’s transformation—from a scared kitten by the creek to a beloved family member. The video has earned over 434,400 views and 90,300 likes.
The clip’s caption reads: “I thought I was rescuing her, but really, she was rescuing me.” Mirsini hopes the video inspires others to help animals in need, whether through adoption, fostering, volunteering, or donating.
“I’ve had people comment about finding cats in alleys or on roads,” she said. “It breaks my heart. We treat some of these animals like they’re disposable, when they deserve kindness and respect.”
The story has brought many TikTok users to tears. One comment reads: “So happy for Clover, but my heart breaks for all the abandoned strays.” Another simply said: “I will never recover from the first clip. I’m so glad she’s loved now.”
For Clover and Mirsini, their paths crossed by chance—but their bond, it seems, was meant to be.
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