Through the challenging streets of Philly and a battle with pneumonia, the resilient and friendly cat named Chapo defied the odds and survived, all because the power of love showed up in his life.
hapo, the friendly orange tabby, was struggling on the streets of Philadelphia near a worksite. There, a kind man was feeding and keeping an eye on him. But one day, he started having breathing difficulty, and the man and his wife knew he needed help fast!
A man feeds Chapo near a worksite in Philadelphia. Images and media via Facebook/The Black Thornberry
Initially, a local animal shelter took Chapo in through TNR (trap, neuter, return). Like most shelters, they were overcrowded, returning him outdoors shortly after. But once back on the streets, he continued breathing heavily. Then, he stopped eating. Once again, the couple reached out for help, this time reaching a Philly rescue, The Black Thornberry.
“Special thanks to the family who takes care of him daily and noticed something wrong after he was released. The best gift was being able to help him, 💕💐” the rescue shared.
Chapo Had Pneumonia
Although the rescue was also at full cat capacity, founder Nina Love made room for Chapo and rushed him to an emergency vet. Then, she fostered him to health with specialized equipment.
“We gotcha Chapo 💜,” Love said.
An X-ray confirmed Chapo had life-threatening pneumonia and required multiple medications and an oxygen tent treatment.
Thanks to Love, the veterinarians, fellow rescuers, and supporters, he got everything he needed just in time. You can see he was the friendliest cat ever and was so thankful to his foster mom.
A Charmed Life at a Cat Café
After foster care with Nina, Chapo’s charmed life continued when Cats in Bloom cat café in Bloomsburg agreed to take the four-year-old kitty. Ameowzingly, the determined foster mom/rescuer traveled three hours in a storm to get him to his destination safely. There, the tabby quickly won over everyone at the café with his charms.
“Dangerous. Angry. Rough and tumble. Unfriendly. You’d expect all of these words to be true of a cat named Chapo. What our boy is in reality couldn’t be further from those descriptors. The only thing that matches is sweet Chapo’s rough start in life as an outdoor cat on the streets of Philly,” the café shared.
Nina Love with Chapo
He soon claimed a pink wall box as his favorite spot to “survey the lay of the land.”
“He always comes out for pets, and absolutely loves head and chin scritches. Chapo is such a laid-back cat who hasn’t let his rough start in life taint his outlook,” they said.
Chapo hangs out at the Cats in Bloom Cat Café
After graduating to the ‘Gen Pop,’ he even met a girlfriend named Fruitcake, who was later adopted.
“Chapo wanted the world to know he made it to Gen Pop and he’s now a free man! Haha!…this is the true definition of living his best life!” Love wrote.
The handsome kitty even appeared on the news as the cat café celebrated their 1000th adoption!
Video about Cats in Bloom Café reaching 1000 adoptions by WNEP:
‘Because You Mattered’
After five months, the happy ending everyone had hoped for arrived. A man and woman came in specifically wanting to give an adult cat a chance! Chapo came right down from his perch to tell them “he was their guy!”
“Thank you, EVERYONE, for helping me help Chapo. I’m not crying 😭😭😭😭😭😭. This is what makes it all worth it! We were fighting for you dude, because you mattered,” Nina Love wrote.
Family adopts Chapo from the Cats in Bloom Cat Café
Later, Love shared a wonderful update, showing the kitty snuggled up with a Halloween pillow.
“Chapo has settled into his forever home 🥹 Thank you all for making this happen for him!” The Black Thornberry shared.
