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A man has looked back on the sweet moment he spotted and saved a sick kitten from a Californian roadside, melting the hearts of viewers online.
Sam Stalling had embarked on a road trip through the Southwest in what was intended to be a solo adventure, but it soon became a poignant tale of rescue after stumbling upon a kitten in need of help back in October 2021. Stalling, who has spent the last four years traversing the country in his van, had set off for Slab City in California’s Sonoran Desert. A few miles from his destination, he encountered what appeared to be a rock in the middle of the road, but upon closer inspection, Stalling discovered it was in fact a kitten.
The creator has relived that discovery by sharing clips of his first encounter with the feline to Instagram on October 10. The post, now viral, has been liked more than 3.4 million times to date, leaving viewers online moved by his act of kindness.
“I swerved to avoid it and saw it move,” Stalling told Newsweek. “It was not a rock; it was the smallest cat I’d ever seen. Her eyes were swollen and covered in pus, sealed shut by the desert heat.
“She couldn’t see a thing but ran to me because she could hear me.”
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Stalling wrapped the tiny creature in his sweatshirt and called every animal shelter and vet nearby, but found no immediate help. It was a Sunday, and the nearest open clinic was 2.5 hours in the opposite direction of his planned route. With no other options, the kitten, later named Scythe, spent the night in Stalling’s van, nourished with water and gas station cat food.
The following day Stalling brought Scythe to a vet, where she received medical treatment. As their journey continued, he realized he could not part with her, despite suffering from a cat allergy. The two traveled nearly the entire diagonal length of the U.S. back to Stalling’s hometown, where his allergen-friendly parents agreed to care for Scythe long-term.
“Today, Scythe is 3 years old and a very happy girl,” Stalling, who posts updates about the feline to Instagram under @scythe.the.stinker, said. “She loves being outside.
@scythe.the.stinker
“Her spirit is very adventurous; the wild calls to her, and she must go.”
Despite his allergy and the impracticality of taking her on the road full-time, Stalling found a way to stay connected. Scythe now lives with Stalling’s parents, enjoying the comforts of a stable home while Stalling continues his travels. The unique arrangement, which saw Stalling drive Scythe across the entire country to get her to his family home, has benefited everyone involved.
Stalling added: “I’m home often these days, so it turned out to be the perfect medium: Happy parents who aren’t allergic and could use some company, happy cat with a warm and loving home, happy Sam who doesn’t have to quit his job but still gets to raise and hang out with his furry little homie all the time.”
The video documenting Scythe’s rescue has resonated deeply with viewers online, leading to comments about how delighted they feel about the rescue.
“A blind cat walked up on you on the wild knowing it was going to be safe to approach you without even seeing you,” one viewer said. “I’m a whole heathen and this [kind of] made me believe we have souls. What kind of positive energy are you radiating.”
Another added: “The fact she found you lost and blind after being alone for God knows how long, and the moment you picked her up, she decided you were gonna be her best friend. She always wanting to be around you, you are her security. The videos of you two on the road as a kitten, she didn’t seem to care she was on the road in a van, as long as you were there, she was happy.”
“The Scythe story is still probably my most cherished,” Stalling, who is known online as @5am.paradigm, said. “Maybe because it’s still unfolding.”
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