A Cry for Help on Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day in Quebec, while many people were celebrating love and warmth indoors, one woman heard a different kind of cry — faint meows drifting through the icy air of her backyard.
When she stepped outside, she saw an orange tabby cat standing in the snow. His fur was damp and matted, his eyes sunken with exhaustion, and his body trembled from the cold. But more than anything, his expression carried a desperate plea.
The cat pawed at her back door, meowing as if he were asking to be let inside. It was clear he wasn’t simply wandering — he was searching for safety, comfort, and perhaps for someone who would finally care for him.
The woman who discovered the stray happened to be a foster volunteer for Un Chat à la Fois, a small but devoted kitten rescue in Quebec. Though the rescue primarily focused on kittens, she felt compelled to reach out to its founder, Marie Simard, for guidance.
She sent a photo of the orange tabby, unsure whether the rescue could help, but hoping someone would see the urgency in his eyes.
“As soon as I saw the picture, my heart broke,” Simard later recalled. “His face said everything that needed to be said.”
Despite the rescue’s focus on kittens, Simard immediately instructed the woman to take him to their partner veterinary clinic. She knew that if he was asking for help in the dead of winter, his condition had to be serious.
A Troubled Past Written on His Body
At the clinic, veterinarians confirmed just how dire the situation was. The cat — later named Aslan, after the courageous lion in The Chronicles of Narnia — was in rough shape.
He was covered in old bite wounds, a sign that he had fought hard to survive on the streets. Fleas and ticks clung to his skin, draining what little strength he had left. His teeth were rotten, his paws showed signs of frostbite, and he was diagnosed with diabetes, a condition that requires careful monitoring and treatment.
For most strays, untreated injuries, infections, and harsh winters are often fatal. Simard knew with certainty that had Aslan not approached the door that day, he would not have survived another season in the freezing Canadian cold.Despite his suffering, Aslan surprised everyone at the clinic with his demeanor. Far from being aggressive or skittish, he was gentle, affectionate, and eager for human touch.
“He was so sweet with the staff,” Simard explained. “He would reach his paw out through the cage bars, just so someone would pet him. He was desperate not only for help but for love.”
It was as if Aslan understood that the people around him were trying to give him a second chance — and he welcomed it wholeheartedly.
After receiving initial treatment and beginning his recovery, Aslan was placed in a foster home. His new foster mom already cared for cats, and she welcomed him into a safe, warm environment where he could heal both physically and emotionally.
It didn’t take long for Aslan to settle in. He relished sleeping on soft blankets, enjoyed meals without having to fight for food, and began to bond with the household’s other cats.
His foster mom quickly noticed how affectionate he was. He followed her around the house, curled up beside her at night, and purred endlessly whenever he was near people. For a cat who had clearly endured so much, his ability to trust again was extraordinary.
An Unbreakable Bond with a Fellow Rescue
In foster care, Aslan formed a particularly close relationship with Cleo, another rescue cat who had also overcome a rough start to life. The two became inseparable — sleeping side by side, grooming each other, and offering the kind of companionship that only animals who have endured hardship can fully appreciate.
When the time came to consider Aslan’s adoption, the rescue quickly realized there was no way to separate the pair. Their bond had become a source of healing for both of them, and it was clear they belonged together in their forever home.
Simard explained, “It just made sense. They had each found comfort in one another. After such difficult beginnings, they deserved to continue their journey side by side.”
Aslan’s foster mom soon decided that her house was already his true home. She officially adopted both Aslan and Cleo, ensuring they would never face abandonment or hardship again.
Now, instead of wandering alone in the freezing cold, Aslan spends his days snuggled up inside, enjoying warmth, safety, and the constant affection of his family.
“He is such an affectionate cat,” Simard shared proudly. “He loves to be near his mom, always close to her side. He’s grateful every day to be safe and cared for.”
For his family, Aslan has become the best Valentine’s gift they could have ever imagined — a reminder that love can be found in the most unexpected places, even at the back door on a snowy night.
Why Stories Like Aslan’s Matter
Aslan’s journey highlights a painful reality: countless stray cats struggle to survive brutal winters, untreated illnesses, and neglect. Many never find the compassion they so desperately need.
But his story also shows the incredible resilience of animals and the life-changing impact of kindness. A single moment — opening the door to a shivering stray — can transform a life forever.
Organizations like Un Chat à la Fois depend on volunteers, fosters, and donations to continue giving cats like Aslan a fighting chance. Every adoption, every act of compassion, helps reduce the suffering of animals abandoned or forgotten by society.
Today, Aslan is unrecognizable from the battered cat who once pawed at a stranger’s door in desperation. His fur is healthy, his eyes are bright, and his days are filled with warmth, companionship, and security.
He has not only found a forever home but also a forever family — one that will never let him face the cold again. And in return, he gives boundless affection, proving that even the most broken souls can become the most loving companions when shown patience and care.
For his adoptive family, Aslan isn’t just a pet. He is living proof that love and second chances can heal even the deepest wounds.
