It’s perfectly normal for our neighbours to move out. They sometimes even leave things behind.
But when Maria noticed the family across the road pack up their car and move out, she didn’t expect what they’d leave behind to turn her world upside down.
Abandoned
When the removal vehicles and family cars had left, Maria glanced at the now vacant house opposite. And a chill ran down her spine. There, sitting in front of the house, was Rolo, her now ex-neighbour’s black and white cat.
As the cat sat there alone on the doorstep, no one came back for him. They’d deliberately and cruelly left the poor cat behind.
Maria knew she had to do something and couldn’t watch him sit in the cold and the rain outside his old house. But as much as she tried, Rolo refused to budge from his spot, as if he was worried his owners would return and he’d miss them.
So Maria started putting out food for the cat. But he refused to eat despite having already lost weight since his owners left.
Neighbourly love
Fortunately, one day, Rolo allowed Maria to get close enough to him so that she could scoop him up, give him a big hug, and whisk him off to the vet. Maria didn’t know how well Rolo had been looked after before his owners abandoned him, so she asked the vet to give him a thorough check-over. The vet kept Rolo in for four days so the poor puss could get all the necessary medical treatment.
When the vet said he was ready to leave, Maria had already decided that his new home would be with her. Maria set up a little room in her house for Rolo that connects with the garden, so he can come and go as he pleases. Rolo wasn’t too sure initially, but he soon settled into his new home with Maria and her boyfriend.
He’s now getting all the love and attention he deserves, along with plenty of food, toys and lovely soft blankets for him to curl up on.
Check out Rolo's adventures below:
