Meet Mr. Belvedere, or “Mr. B.” for short – a feral tomcat who was rescued from the streets. According to his rescuer, Lindsay Raturi, Mr. B. was ten years old when he was domesticated – older than most feral cats live.
Several unsuccessful attempts to rescue Mr. B had already been made. Finally, one day, he entered a trap, as if to say he was finally ready for help. He suffered from mange and ear mites and tested positive for FIV.
Vets encouraged Raturi to have Mr. B. euthanized due to his health problems, but she saw a will to live in the senior cat’s eyes. She patiently nursed him back to health and worked with him to start trusting humans.
Mr. B. has found the perfect forever home with a woman named Jenna De Cristofaro, who says she “fell in love with his big tomcat cheeks.”
Because of people who believe in granting second chances to animals whom others have given up on, Mr. B. will enjoy his twilight years in the comfortable and playful environment he deserves.
THANK YOU, Lindsay Raturi — you’re the best — you not only have the patience required, you have the Will — for this reason, Mr. B. is alive and well today — again, Lindsay, you’re the best — I was told that Cats can live perfectly normal lives with FIV — WHY, in the name of God, would Vets suggest you KILL Mr. B? — you proved by nursing Mr. B. back to health that treatable Animals have an excellent chance at a normal life — whatever happened to, “do no harm?” — I’m thrilled you stuck by Mr. B. and found him a loving home to boot — again, You’re the BEST.
Senior cats & dogs who’ve lived out on the streets are always the most incredible rescues & it looks like Mr. B is no exception! Thank you so much for sharing this uplifting story…there are days when I believe there is no hope for the cruel human race & then I see a video like this & my faith in humanity is restored.
I am so very happy to hear about Mr. B! He is utterly adorable! This really gives me hope because my son and I have just rescued a young mama kitty and her 2 month old kitten from downtown Atlanta. It took so long to get them that the other 4 kittens had disappeared. I realized yesterday that she’s pregnant again, so we will find homes when they’re old enough. The problem is that she is so skittish that I think this may be the only feral cat that I won’t be able to completely tame. Her surviving kitten is tame now. I’m thinking that after she gives birth and the babies are weaned, she may be happy being a barn kitty. Do you have any advice for mama kitty? My guess is that she’s no more than 1 year old.
Das ist ein Lebewesen
Thank you for sharing, a very touching story.
Heart-warming and happy story about Mr. B. Well done the girl who rescued him and the girl who adopted him. You didn’t give up on him.
LOVE IT, HE LOOKS A DARLING BOY, SO GLAD YOU SAVED HIM. A WONDERFUL STORY OF COMPASSION AT ITS BEST.. WELL DONE JENNA!!!!!!
WE FOUND A HUGE WHITE PERSIAN CAT ON OUR BACK PORCH ONE COLD FREEZING WINTERS NIGHT, FACE CUT TO PIECES, & A HUGE WOUND ON HIS LEG, WE FED HIM EVERY NIGHT FOR WEEKS, ALL THE WHILE PUTTING ANTI-BIOTICS INTO HIS FOOD TO HELP HIS WONUDS HEAL . , FINALLY, WE MANAGED TO PICK HIM UP & GET HIM INSIDE, HE WENT NUTS OF COURSE.
WEEKS WENT BY AS HE MANAGED TO FIND COMFORT & SECURITY IN THE HOUSE WITH SAMOYEDS & OUR OTHER CATS, EVENTUALLY BECOMING KING OF THE HOUSE.
AT THE VETS, HE WAS DESEXED, MICRO-CHIPPED, TWO BROKEN TEETH OUT, & VACCINATED, & ALSO INFECTED WITH FELINE AIDS.
WE NAMED HIM POOH-BEAR, HE WAS A HUGE 15 POUND LOVING GENTLE DARLING BOY, UNTIL TWO YEARS LATER HIS KIDNEYS FAILED & WE PUT HIM TO SLEEP, BROKE MY HEART, BUT BOUYED BY THE LOVE WE GAVE HIM IN THE LAST YEARS OF HIS LIFE, HE WAS WORTH SAVING, A BIG GENTLE GIANT.
He looks like an ordinary cat he is beautiful
Love you for what you are doing for Mr B, I had a similar situation, an old Birmer cat came into my life a few years ago, they are like puppy dogs he would follow me and loved to sit in my lap, then one day I was going to take him to the vet for a check up as I knew he was up in years so beautiful all white with seal point tips, Birmers are related to Siamese cats, so I placed him in the front seat of my pick up and when I came around to the driver side he was having a heart attack and died in my arms, loved him so much, I wish you all the joy a lovely guy like Mr B will bring you!
What a wonderful,sweet and emotional story. I love that a few people took the time and effort to help save this majestic boy and WOW………look what happened his true character is shown and he is a true love bug.
BEST WISHES to BELVEDERE AND LINDSAY FOR A WONDERFUL AND LOVING LIFE TOGETHER!
Thank you to everyone involved in Mr. B’s care- he looks so happy, and is stunningly handsome!
Wonderful outcome from dedicated people. So glad to see Mr B is well and cared for.
I am so happy for Mr. B!! He can live the rest of his lives with someone who will love him!!
Bless Mr B. Thanks to the ladies.
Please share how you were able to catch Mr. B. I have a similar situation and I’d like to trap and have my old transient kitty treated back to health. He already visits me each night for his midnight meal…
God bless both these women for taking this big, old kitty into their hearts and loving him and healing him. It is so sad to see any cat on the streets – especially the old ones. Love to both these women and a really big Thank You!
Wonderful! Love, Hugs and Prayers to you both!
Such a nice story thank you all for caring and giving Mr. B a new chance at life. I can tell that he’s now in really good hands and wont want for anything anymore which is what he deserves!!!!!!!!!! 😉
Thank you to all who cared about/for Mr. B.
True heroes. kind people who help animals you’re awesome. The best people in the world.
All who rescue unwanted animals are ANGELS in disguise!!!!! God bless you!!!
T U for saving his life tears
POUR BEAUTIFUL SOUL
Fantastic. Big Hugs and kisses to Mr B.
So happy for both of you
Thank you all for rescuing, healing and adopting Mr. Belvedere. Love you Mr. Belvedere.
I am so happy for Jenna De Cristofaro and Mr. Belvedere! Long may you both live.
Thank you all for all your loving hard work to help Mr. Belvedere. It was completely worth it all.
I loved reading your story. And love the ending.
Thank you
SHARE SHARE SHARE — THANK YOU TO ALL WHO INTERVENED ON MR. B’S BEHALF — THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE, FOR YOUR PATIENCE, FOR YOUR LOVE AND CARING … good work, girls!
What a lovely story! It has a happy ending.
What a wonderful story ! After all the cruelty and abuse I read about my heart was soaking up this happy end – thank you for sharing !!
Quelle belle histoire et quelle belle personne. Le chat est devenu magnifique!
As a rescuer (and yes a trapper of ferals, for those who disagree) I applaud both the rescuer and Mr. B’s new Mom for all of their hard work, dedication and love. I’ve been thru this process many times, and faced the same issues ie. being told to euthanize due to health problems etc. I too always said no whenever there was hope. Yes it’s a lot of work, but always worth it. Thank you both for saving Mr. B and allowing him to enjoy his senior years. God bless you both!
What a beautiful story! I am so glad Mr. B finally found his forever home!! ❤️❤️❤️
Regardless of age, all viable animals deserve to live out their lives. Only the most extreme situations where the animal is suffering unbearable pain that cannot be abated should euthanization be considered.
You DO NOT rescue,trap ferals, you let them come to you. takes a bit longer but worth it for both of you. I have had 5 feral cats through the years and all have become lap babies. I have a house my father built complete with lap siding, porch columns and lined with insulation which is covered with leftover carpet. I put it by the door so they can get used to my coming and going. I always let them know I am coming so they have time to “escape”. I put food and water outside the entrance and when they get used to this, I start holding out my hand with food. Then I introduce the chin scratch. then they expect and want a scratch and then I sit down and they decide to come on my lap. from there on, they want in the house. THEY HAVE TO TRUST YOU AND BELIEVE IT IS THEIR DECISION TO COME TO YOU.