A woman recently gained widespread attention for her compassion towards a stray cat that appeared at her home, alongside a surprising message from the cat’s previous owner.
Meet Emily Stepp, a 34-year-old illustrator living in Spokane, Washington, with her partner Aaron Freeman, 33, and their pets. One night, they unwittingly became the guardians of a stray tabby named Ginger.
The cat’s name? It was stitched onto her collar along with a phone number.
When Emily’s partner reached out using the provided number, they were met with an unexpected reply: “Haha, that’s funny.” The previous owner explained that they had a family cat named Ginger five years ago but had since relocated, leaving the collar on the cat as a whimsical remnant.
Emily had imagined the owner would urgently want their cat back, but instead, they told her, “Do [with] that cat as you please, I’m really surprised that collar is still on.”
Realizing the situation at hand, Emily felt determined to care for Ginger and figure out the next steps.
Twitter/X @Emily_Art
Emily’s story took off on X (formerly Twitter), racking up over 240,000 likes after she shared it on September 16.
Despite initial worries for Ginger’s health, they took her to the vet, where she excelled beyond expectations, earning the title of “the perfect patient” from the staff.
Days later, the couple received fantastic news regarding Ginger’s health concerning Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)—both of which turned out negative. “I was bracing myself for bad news, but now she can live happily with us,” Emily shared.
Twitter/X @Emily_Art
As Emily’s update went viral, so did the support from the online community, including a GoFundMe to assist with Ginger’s spaying and medical costs. Comments flowed in, many criticizing the original owner’s dismissive attitude. One user remarked, “If my cat went missing for that long, there would be nothing stopping me from getting them back.” Another expressed hope that Ginger would finally know what a caring home feels like.
Emily never anticipated the post would resonate with so many, describing the experience as “overwhelming.” Many expressed their concern over the previous owner’s comments, interpreting them as possibly intentional neglect when they moved.
Though the details of Ginger’s past remain a mystery, Emily is optimistic about her future. “There’s still a lot to do, including spaying her and helping her acclimate to our other cats, Zuko and Mew. But we already love her and can’t wait for them to meet,” she said.