“The poor thing ran back toward her …”

Hiker Rescues Senior Cat Abandoned on California Trail

A routine hike in Riverside County Regional Park, California turned into an unforgettable rescue when Jess Estrada witnessed a shocking act of animal abandonment — and stepped in to save a cat’s life.

A Shocking Sight on the Trail

Estrada was decompressing on one of her favorite trails when she saw a car pull over. A woman got out, threw a cat into the bushes, and then tossed him again when the frightened animal ran back toward her.

“I was in complete shock,” Estrada wrote on Instagram.

Rushing to the bushes, Estrada found a senior cat later named Joey, cowering and crying for help.

Quick Action Saves Joey

Determined not to leave Joey behind, Estrada contacted Animal Control and connected with Riverside Park Ranger Jay, who immediately stepped in to help.

Together with another ranger, they managed to get Joey safely into a cat carrier. Throughout the entire rescue, the confused old cat cried nonstop — but he was finally safe.

With coyotes and snakes in the area, Joey would not have survived long on his own.

From Shelter to Forever Home

Joey was taken to a local animal shelter for care. A month later, Estrada visited him to check on his recovery.

“He is ready to be adopted,” she said in a video posted to The Dodo. “Look at how cute he is!”

Estrada couldn’t adopt Joey herself, but she made sure he felt loved after his ordeal. Joey clearly remembered her and was overjoyed to see her again.

Not long after, Joey found his forever home with an adopter who recognized how special he was.

A Happy Ending and a Powerful Reminder

Though heartbreaking to see Joey dumped so carelessly, Estrada said she felt grateful to play a role in his rescue and recovery.

“To whoever reads this: animals are not disposable,” Estrada shared. “Please speak up when you see something wrong. You might be the only chance they have.”