Feral ‘Tom-Tom’ Learns What it Is to Be Loved After a Lifetime of Struggles

A senior feral tomcat with tattered ears struggling on the streets of Portsmouth, Virginia, Tom-Tom had lived a hard life. But when he hid near a home, he caught the eye of a house cat named Envy. Then, Envy alerted his mom, Katie Cats Sims. She went to see what Envy’s odd behavior was about and saw Tom-Tom. They locked eyes, and she knew she wanted to help him if she could.

“The way Tom-Tom looked at me, I just knew that he was asking for my help,” she said.

Tom-Tom, or Bubba, was as feral as they come, running to hide when she tried to get closer. But she started talking to him, telling him she wanted to be his friend.

This cat, possibly around 15, may have been someone’s pet once. But winning over a long-time feral cat can be dangerous, if not impossible. They may never learn to trust humans at all. But she knew this cat needed her help and fast, as a move to Virginia Beach was in the cards in several months. If she left, who would help this cat? She worked at a veterinary clinic and knew the doctors could help him.

“I can’t leave without taking him with me and getting him to the vet,” Katie, said.

Video about Tom-Tom by GeoBeats Animals:

Catching a Feral Cat in an Unusual ‘Trap’

To win him over, Katie left food and a little shelter outside and continued talking to him reassuringly. Gradually, he started being less fearful and would come a little closer. That’s when she tried a humane trap loaned to her by a shelter, but this cat was street-wise. Nope, he wouldn’t go in that trap. So, what do you do at that point?

For Katie, she decided to take a risky leap of faith, and her home became the ‘trap.’ She left the back door open and placed the food on the floor while she hid behind the door! This time, the cat fell for it and came inside, and she closed the door.

Now, a feral cat was in her kitchen; the food was gone, and he was horrified. Katie was scared, too! He bolted to escape but couldn’t get out the window and hid in a bedroom closet.

“I have to tell myself, ‘He can feel that nervous energy,’ so don’t give him that nervous energy. Just have confidence,” Katie said.

Katie contacted rescues, and found one willing to help called Billy the Kidden Rescue.

Video by Katie Cats Sims:

Tom-Tom Overcomes Health Challenges

The rescuer managed to catch Tom-Tom and take him to a vet, where they discovered he was in worse shape than expected. This tough senior was contending with a host of problems, severe ear mites, but he also had:

High blood pressure, broken tail, diabetes, liver disease, heart murmur, kidney stones, bad teeth.

Later, he had a seizure, but the tough guy overcame that, too, after five days at the vet. After the vet initially suggested euthanasia, everyone was amazed at his recovery.

Image how he must have suffered on the street for years. But finally, he had the care he needed and a safe home to recover in. However, he was still quite ferocious. Could he learn to trust his new Mom?

Tom-Tom Learns About Love for the First Time

Safe inside, with plenty to eat, a warm, soft bed, and time to heal, the tomcat made a dramatic transformation. It took several months, but Katie eventually melted his heart.

“I think of him as this grumpy old grandpa kind of cat that just has his walls up, and you just have to keep pushing them down,” Katie said.

Many times, he retreated to his ‘safe place,’ a crate where he could remain to himself.

“I wanted it to be on his terms instead of forcing it on him,” she said.

It was impossible to pet him at first, so she used a back scratcher to gently massage him.

“You could see it in his whole body. He just started to relax a little bit, and he didn’t look as frightened,” she recalled.

After the third week, it was time for a gloved hand, which he didn’t like at first. But eventually, she was able to pet him with her bare hand, a “huge” moment, the “best feeling ever,” she said.

Tom-Tom’s Journey from Feral to Family by Katie Cat Sims:

Grandpa Tom-Tom Fosters the Kittens

With time, Tom-Tom learned to trust and even bonded with the resident kitties, Mila, Bru, and Evny, the cat who first spotted him. He realized he was truly loved and couldn’t get enough attention from Katie. His regal purrsonality emerged.

“I would describe him as a cross between a tabby cat, a lion, and a lemur,” Katie said. “It’s been amazing to see his progress.”

Although he never liked to be held, he loved being petted. But even more ameowzing, he became the sweetest Grandpa to the foster kittens in the home!

He was part of the family and won over a family of fans on social media.

“Overall, he’s becoming a softie,” Katie said.

Grandpa Tom-Tom with Hallie the kitten via Katie Cat Sims:

‘The Most Rewarding Thing’

After his health rapidly declined, Grandpa Tom-Tom perched in a window on a cat tree and remained there. He gently crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 8, 2023, knowing what it meant to be loved and cherished. And his story going from feral to family continues to inspire people worldwide.

“I would say it was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life was saving Tom-Tom,” Katie said. “I was going through a really hard time in my life when I found him, and so, he rescued me from my depression as much as I rescued him from the outdoors.”

Video about Tom-Tom by Dik Dik Do: