Darius, the cat, had likely spent his entire life on the streets before being spotted by a concerned passerby.

He was in rough shape, with an injured eye and a wound on his neck. An animal rescuer responded to a post about the cat and tried to bring him to safety, but by then, he had disappeared and was nowhere to be found.

At the end of winter, the cat returned to the neighborhood and appeared on a resident’s deck. Starving and desperate, he was ready for a change.

Darius scarfed down the food the resident had provided, gazing through the window, intrigued by the life on the other side of the door.

The rescuer set up a humane trap in the area and waited for the cat to arrive. Darius was so hungry that he went straight to the food with the door shut behind him. “Given his condition, he wouldn’t have survived much longer outside,” Chatons Orphelins Montreal shared.

“He was finally able to spend his first night in the warmth and comfort of a home.”

Darius came with a host of health issues and was treated for fleas, parasites, and ear infections. He needed surgery for his eye and a full dental. Estimated to be nine years old, Darius was finally on the mend.

“He went to his foster home to heal and regain his strength. His gentle side came out after just a few days.” When he accepted getting his ears cleaned and treated by his carer, he quickly grew fond of petting.

With a cozy room and an abundance of food, he came out of his shell and showed interest in his people. He watched them go about their day and switched on his purr motor when they stroked him.

“This teddy bear with big bear paws was able to have surgery for his eye and teeth. Now, he no longer endures pain when he eats.”

Just as things seemed to be getting better, life took an unexpected turn when his condition declined overnight. With a visit to the emergency vet, they were able to stabilize him and treat him for a complication.

“After two days at the hospital, he bounced back on his feet and started eating on his own again.”

With a new routine and diet, his levels returned to normal, and his fur became soft and gleaming. “He has been through quite a journey full of trials, and now he is enjoying his new life, and his teddy bear personality is shining through.”

Darius sports an adorable permanent wink. He is a stocky cat with large polydactyl paws and a heart of gold.

“He likes to snuggle in our arms, purring and rubbing his face against us. He has a great need for love and purrs as soon as we cuddle him.”

“Every evening, he comes to nap near us or asks to be held like a baby. At night, he joins us in bed and snuggles close. He has a soft side that melts hearts.”

Darius relishes his life as an indoor cat, basking in the warm sunlight by the window without a care in the world. He’s still a kitten at heart, making the softest meows when he seeks attention.

As soon as the feather toy comes out, Darius springs to life, pouncing and running with youthful energy. “He is very playful and loves that we take the time to play with him.”

“He is so sweet. We couldn’t imagine him living alone outside. He loves his life with endless cuddles. He constantly wants to be close to us and doesn’t like the bedroom doors shut.”

When Darius needs comfort and reassurance, he leans into his people and buries his face in their arms, and all is good again.

After many years wandering the streets alone, Darius is thriving, living out his dreams as a spoiled indoor cat.