A stray cat found solace and a forever home after being rescued by a compassionate pet owner. Hailey, a 29-year-old living in a rural area with her husband, discovered the frightened feline while walking her dogs one night. Despite already having a large pet family, the couple decided to adopt the cat, named Merlin, and give him the love and care he deserved.
In a heartwarming TikTok clip shared under the username @haybree27, Merlin’s journey from fear to trust is documented. Hailey recounted to Newsweek how the cat, initially terrified, would hide in a storm drain behind their house. “We’d see a little cat sitting outside the storm drain, but he was terrified of us, so he would run and hide,” Hailey said.
Determined to help, Hailey visited the cat every day for two weeks, bringing food and slowly gaining his trust. “Eventually, he’d jump out of the storm drain every night when I’d come by, and he’d run right up to me,” she explained.
The couple made diligent efforts to find Merlin’s owner. They checked for missing cat reports, contacted animal control, and had him scanned for a microchip, but no one came forward. Suspecting he had been abandoned, they felt a sense of responsibility to provide him with a home. “We believe he was dumped,” Hailey said.
Despite already having two dogs and three cats, Hailey and her husband decided to adopt Merlin. They got him vaccinated, checked for diseases, and welcomed him into their home. “We knew we had more than enough time and love to share,” Hailey said.
Merlin, estimated to be between 6 to 12 months old, quickly adapted to his new home and siblings. “He’s getting along very well with his other five siblings and loves having a safe, cozy home to call his own,” Hailey said. “He’s so incredibly loving; he just has the sweetest little soul. We’re so blessed to have him as one of our furry family members.”
Hailey emphasized the importance of providing loving homes to animals in need. “The most important thing to me in life is my animals and helping animals in any way I can,” she said. “Giving an animal a loving home is such a beautiful gift that we as humans can provide to these fur babies that need our help.”
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters each year, averaging 17,260 a day. In January 2023 alone, shelters took in 46,807 dogs and cats, an increase from the previous year. The Humane Society of Macomb cites age, allergies, behavioral issues, cleanup, cost, moving, new pets, and shedding as common reasons for pet surrenders. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized annually, prompting shelters to promote adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation to reduce euthanasia rates.
Merlin’s rescue story resonated with viewers on TikTok, quickly going viral. The video received over 121,300 views and more than 21,900 likes. Comments poured in from viewers moved by the story. One user, Motherearth6554, wrote, “My tuxedo male went missing… I’m praying he found someone like you!!” Kim Michael added, “He looks like a snowshoe cat! Thank you for saving him! He must have been someone’s cat before.” Another user, Spicy, shared, “There’s always room for one more at Mr. Pings’. My motto when it comes to animals. Thank you.”
Merlin’s journey from a storm drain to a loving home underscores the impact of compassion and dedication in rescuing animals in need. Hailey’s story serves as a reminder of the difference one person can make in an animal’s life.
