Animal lovers have become emotional after a disheveled cat whose life was at risk was rescued by a kind-hearted stranger.
A woman named Haley took to TikTok to reveal how she was driving through California’s Bay Area when she noticed “a bony orange butt” sticking out of a huge pile of roadside trash.
She quickly turned to inspect what the unusual shape was, and came across a confused cat, who she named ‘Shambles’, determined to give him a loving home because he ‘has never known life without suffering’ .
According to the cat advocate, Shambles was on the brink of death and “couldn’t have lasted a few more days” in his condition.
People are heartbroken by the images of the suffering animal, with one person even going so far as to say he would ‘die for Shambles’.
The feline named Shambles (pictured) was found on the side of the road after Haley spotted him in the trash. She thinks he probably would have only lasted a few more days if she hadn’t discovered him
The woman who wants to one day open her own animal shelter explained that she “had to go back” for the cat.
The TikTok video which now has 5.2 million views, shows a timid, orange cat staring shyly with its big yellow eyes.
Haley revealed that the animal was so weak and starving that it began trying to eat the garbage around it.
However, his legs were seriously injured, burned and suffering from rot and putrefaction, leaving him with very little movement.
Degloving is a terrible injury, meaning that the top layers of skin and tissue begin to tear away from the underlying bone, muscle, or connective tissue.
In humans, degloving mainly affects the legs and is often related to underlying fractures.
If Shambles had not been rescued, he likely would have survived only a few more days because of his life-threatening problems, Haley said.
The cat has made progress in his recovery, but the vet reportedly told the cat advocate there that there is nothing he can do about Shambles’ permanent kidney failure, which was likely caused by ingesting toxic material while he was in the trash pile.
Part of the video showed the two-year-old cat’s heartbreaking journey back to health, from veterinary assessments to being nursed back to health, with food and a dry place to rest.
Throughout the emotional videos, the cat advocate is continuously seen hugging the animal and showing lots of love to the animal that has “probably never known a life without suffering.”
On September 16, Haley posted an update on Shambles after being inundated with requests.
Fortunately, the cat is still alive with fully healed paws. According to the cat rescuer, Shambles’ anemia was also cured after a visit to the vet.
But it was not all positive news for the animal, because the vet could not solve his ‘permanent kidney damage’.
The damage to the animal’s organs was likely caused by it eating something poisonous while starving among the waste.
Haley told her more than 29,000 followers: “It kills me to think that he was so hungry outside that he ate something that did this to his little body.”
She added: ‘I will do everything I can to ensure that boy lives many happy years to make up for the time he spent on the streets.’
Viewers have flooded the comments with messages of support for the animal who has endured much suffering in his short life, with one writing: ‘Shambles deserves the world’
Users flocked to the comments on the viral video to show their love and support for the animal who has likely ‘never known a life without suffering’
Another person said: ‘If anything happens to Shambles I will be absolutely in shambles.’
Others were heartbroken to discover the cat looked like their own beloved pets, with one person saying: ‘Shambles looks so much like my girl cat Winnie. Exactly the same color scheme. This hurts my heart.’
While one commenter said: ‘His poor tired eyes. He’s been through a lot in so little time.’
Noting that the pet who had experienced so much fear was still open to receiving love, one joked, “And he still wants love.” Even after people abandoned him.”
Another added: ‘When I tapped your hand with his paw it made me cry.’
Someone emotionally commented, “The fact that his feet hurt and he still makes the effort to get pets and love you.”