Would you ever expect a simple trip to work to turn into a life-changing rescue mission? What if a meow in the gardening aisle led you straight to a new family member?

In this AI generated newscast about abandoned cat rescue, we dive into a story that’s melting hearts across the internet. Last week at a Lowe’s store, employee Ryan Finchum was just doing his job in the outdoor section when the unexpected happened—a mysterious meowing caught his attention. As he glanced around, he locked eyes with a cat peeking out from behind a fence, almost as if she’d been waiting for him.

But this wasn’t just any stray. As Ryan continued working, the cat chose him as her person, following his every move and plopping down right in the aisle, meowing for attention. The big question: Was she lost or had she been abandoned? Ryan soon noticed a rusty, battered animal crate nearby, discarded in the grass, confirming the heartbreaking truth—she was dumped and left to fend for herself.

Without hesitation, Ryan called his fiancée, Makena Waldrip, sharing the story of his feline shadow. Even though Makena was hanging out with friends, she immediately rushed over to help rescue the cat. And, as if written by fate, Ryan told her, “I have a feeling about this cat. There’s something about her. I just feel like she’s supposed to be ours.”

Bracing for a challenge, the couple was surprised to find the cat, later named Tilly, was more than ready for a new start. She glided into the carrier with no fuss, chirping and purring all the way home. Clearly, Tilly was done with street life.

Once at their home, Makena and Ryan set Tilly up in her own little sanctuary, separated from their two other cats. Makena spent an hour with Tilly on the floor, earning endless head boops and a purring ball of fluff in her lap. It’s hard to imagine how someone could abandon such a gentle soul, but Tilly’s fate had clearly changed for the better.

Within days, Tilly had claimed her favorite spot on the couch, wrapped in blankets, quickly adapting to her new life as the ultimate couch potato. “Every day when I get home, she’s still in the same spot she was when I left for work,” Makena laughs. Tilly’s love of cozy naps is rivaled only by her excitement for laser toys. In the end, while Tilly found a loving home, Ryan and Makena believe they’re the lucky ones—because sometimes, it’s not just the pet that gets rescued.

This AI generated newscast about abandoned cat rescue is a reminder: sometimes, the family you’re meant to have finds you first.