Valerie Wells began feeding stray cats in her Phoenix apartment complex in 2020.
She worked tirelessly to manage the colony through trap-neuter-return schemes, despite rules against feeding animals on the premises.
Reluctant feline
Over time, many of the cats warmed to her. But one, a skittish tomcat named Griz, always kept his distance, until recently.
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“He never let me get closer than 15 feet,” Wells said. “But he never missed a meal.”
In recent months, Griz began showing signs of trust, even trailing her on walks and blinking slowly, a sign of feline affection. When he stopped eating, Wells knew something was wrong.
RIP Griz
A vet confirmed Griz had a severely infected wound. In his final moments, the once-frightened cat allowed Wells to stroke his head. Then, for the first time, he meowed.
“It was an honour to care for him,” she said.
Wells shared Griz’s story on TikTok, where it touched thousands.
One commenter wrote, “He waited until the end to show his love.”
@phoenixferals Griz (Unknown - April 23, 2025) 🤍 For 5 years, I was his colony caregiver - providing food and treats and water. Griz was extremely wary of humans, and until his final days, I was never able to get within 15 feet of him. But I know that he loved and trusted me in his own way. At his end, I noticed his appetite was vanishing and he wouldn’t leave his favorite bush. While I hoped for a miracle, I knew it was his time. He put up little fight when it was time to trap him and take him to the vet. And he put up zero fight for the doctors to examine him. We found he had a severe abscess and maggots on his neck, and he was only 5 pounds. All the money in the world wouldn’t have saved his body that was so close passing. As he went to sleep, I was able to touch him for the first time - an honor I’ll never forget or take for granted. Loving feral cats is not easy. You can only give them the love that they’re willing to accept. Sometimes showing kindness comes in the form of a meal, a smile from a safe distance away, or in ending their suffering. #feralcats #griefjourney #petloss #petgrief #feralcat #straycat #animalrescue #rescuer #showkindness #feralcatsmatter ♬ Spring Into Summer - Lizzy McAlpine
