Orange Cat Spent 10 Years Waiting for a Home-His Freedom Ride Will Move You

Get ready to cry at this extremely emotional video about senior cat adoption, 10 years in the making.

In a new viral and heart-wrenching video, we meet a senior Orange Cat named Martin, who had been waiting to be adopted for 10 years.

When he had finally been chosen and was on his freedom ride to his forever home, the emotions ran high. As it turns out, this poor kitty had suffered from many health issues, and viewers everywhere are being moved by this sweet senior cat's beautiful journey.

@thelittlepawsiss

He gently placed his little paw on my shoulder, as if he was asking, „Where are we going?" We found Martin in a small village where everyone knew each other. We were visiting family there for Orthodox Easter when we came across him. People in the village told us about his story. After a separation and divorce, his previous owners had left him behind more than ten years ago. Since then, Martin had been wandering through the village without a home for an entire decade. Thankfully, one kind woman fed him from time to time and put a collar around his neck for safety although it was actually very dangerous because it had no safety release and he could have strangled himself with it anywhere. After hearing about his situation, we didn't hesitate for long. We picked him up and took him straight to the vet. There, we found out that he wasn't chipped. After so many years without proper care, his teeth had to be completely cleaned, and he suffered from several chronic illnesses (Kidney failure, severe arthritis, and fractured bones in his back and a vertebra that should have been operated on). He had cataracts and was severely dehydrated… Even the vet told us that most people would never take in a cat that old and sick. But we already knew we were going to do it anyway. We cared for Martin for two years, until he became a completely different cat from the one we had first found. In the beginning, he was apathetic, distant, and didn't even know how to play or cuddle anymore. Those were things he had to learn again over time. Taking him in was one of the best decisions of our lives. Had we not taken him in, he most likely would have passed away from kidney failure all alone in that village, with nobody by his side #rescue#rescueanimals#martin#orangecats

Sand Drawing - Judah Earl

If you managed not to cry when you saw that little foot on his new parent's shoulder, you are very strong!

The comments on this video about this senior cat adoption were almost as emotional as the actual video!

"Omg… And he looks like he feels safe and is seeing the world for the first time," one person wrote.

"Thank you for saving him," another wrote.

"I'm crying. Thank you for saving that sweet boy. I wish you and Martin a wonderful life filled with love," another person said.

Related: Senior Cat Claims Golden Retriever Puppy's 'Bedroom' As His Own, and Paws Fly

How To Help a Senior Cat Adjust to a New Home

Bringing a senior cat home, like Martin, can be extremely rewarding but also challenging.

Senior cat adoption is very rare. According to 11pets.com, only 8% of senior or elderly cats (7 years or older) are adopted per year.

The number of senior dogs adopted is closer to 14%, so it's tough out there for senior kitties.

In the video caption, it says that Martin had a number of health problems, including kidney failure, arthritis, fractured bones in his back, cataracts, and dehydration.

Most people wouldn't take in a kitty that sick, but Martin's new forever family was different.

If you're thinking of adopting a senior cat, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

Unlike kittens, senior cats already have established routines, so coming into a new environment can be overwhelming for them.

They can act out or hide and be very shy before finding their footing.

What helps them feel safe is providing a comfortable space, establishing a consistent feeding schedule, and just giving them love and affection regularly.

It sounds like Martin had a bit of an adjustment period, as he had forgotten what it was like to have a caring family, but once he felt secure and had a place in his new home, he thrived.

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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 7:55 AM.