“It was heartbreaking” 🥺
Paula Cuesta expected an ordinary morning when she arrived at a local high school in Colombia before sunrise to volunteer during election day. Instead, she found herself beginning a life-changing friendship with a wounded stray cat.
At around 6:45 a.m., the school was still quiet as Cuesta walked through the nearly empty hallways toward her assigned classroom. Before reaching her destination, she noticed a tabby cat watching her from farther down the corridor.
As she approached, she realized the young cat was in far worse condition than she had first imagined.
He had suffered a large wound behind one ear, one of his ears was missing, and one of his eyes showed signs of injury. The sight immediately broke her heart.
Although the cat appeared frightened at first, Cuesta chose not to approach too quickly. Instead, she crouched down and patiently waited, allowing him to decide whether he felt safe enough to come closer.
Her calm approach worked.
Little by little, the injured cat began closing the distance between them until he was comfortably standing beside her.
After spending a few quiet moments together, Cuesta reluctantly headed to the classroom where she was scheduled to help voters. To her surprise, the cat followed her through the hallway as though he didn’t want to be left behind.
He remained with her outside the classroom, repeatedly rubbing against her legs and seeking affection while other election volunteers gradually arrived.
Curious about his situation, Cuesta asked people nearby whether anyone knew who the cat belonged to. No one recognized him, and despite the growing crowd, he showed no interest in interacting with anyone except her.
Once voting officially began and the school filled with visitors, the sudden activity frightened the cat. He ran away before Cuesta had a chance to secure him.
Throughout the day, she searched for him several times around the school grounds but found no sign of him.
By the end of her volunteer shift, Cuesta had begun to accept that she might never see him again.
Then, just as she was preparing to leave, the tabby suddenly reappeared.
The moment he spotted her, he walked directly toward her, greeting her affectionately by rubbing against her legs once more.
A nearby police officer, who had been familiar with the stray cat, watched the interaction in amazement. He explained that he had spent the entire day trying to catch the animal without success and had never seen the cat allow anyone to touch him.
Soon afterward, a school security guard shared even more information. According to him, the young cat had been living around the school for at least one or two months, surviving on his own while consistently avoiding every rescue attempt.
Hearing that confirmed Cuesta’s decision.
She knew she couldn’t leave him behind.
Carefully wrapping the cat inside her jacket, she carried him home and gave him the name Pocillo.
To help him settle in safely, Cuesta initially kept him in a separate bathroom where he could rest while preventing the fleas covering his coat from spreading throughout the house.
The following day, Pocillo visited the veterinarian. Despite his injuries and parasite infestation, the examination brought encouraging news. With proper medical treatment, his condition was expected to improve.
Over the following weeks, daily care, medication, and plenty of affection transformed the once-frightened stray into a healthy and confident companion.
His head wound gradually healed, and new fur began growing over the injured area.
Although his recovery is still continuing, Pocillo has embraced his new life indoors.
According to Cuesta, he has become an exceptionally affectionate cat who constantly seeks attention. He enjoys cuddling, follows her around the house, and sleeps beside her every night.
What began as a chance encounter in a quiet school hallway ended with an abandoned young cat finally finding the safety, comfort, and loving home he had been waiting for.