They say cats have nine lives, but Garbanzo, a spirited orange tabby, needed just one extraordinary second chance to prove that love — and TikTok — might just conquer all.

What began as a foster kitten’s rocky start blossomed into a viral saga of resilience, reunion, and the kind of slow-blink progress that would melt even the coldest internet heart. Rachael Robertson first welcomed Garbanzo as a tiny foster kitten in 2021, alongside her littermates Pinto and Fava — affectionately dubbed “The Beans” for their legume-inspired names.

Garbanzo. Photo from TikTok

“Garbanzo was the sweetest baby — of the three, she was actually the kitten I wished I could’ve kept, but my household was at capacity already,” Robertson said, talking about the round-the-clock care required for the trio. Though she reluctantly sent Garbanzo to a new home months later, updates from the adopter seemed promising. “She even thanked me for bringing Garbanzo into her life and expressed that having Garbanzo was one of the greatest things that had happened to her,” Robertson said.

Everything seemed wonderful.”

But fate had other plans. Earlier this year, Robertson received a call from a local shelter: Garbanzo had been found as a “stray.” “I was standing there staring at my three cats, so I knew it had to be one of my former fosters — I keep their microchips in my name just to be safe,” Robertson said. Her heart sank when she realized the truth. “I got a sinking feeling in my gut and realized this was no accident. She wasn’t found as a stray — her former adopter had dumped her there.”

@rachaelraerobertson Replying to @imforeverhilary This was the Garbanzo I knew💔 #greenscreenvideo ♬ take a moment to breathe. – normal the kid

The cat who returned was a shadow of her former self — hissing, hiding, and bearing physical and emotional scars. “That broken feeling lingered with me for quite a while,” Robertson admitted. Undeterred, she chronicled Garbanzo’s recovery on TikTok, where millions rallied behind the skittish feline.

Garbanzo after his fur was shaved to remove all the matting from his previous owner. Photo from TikTok

“This amazing community has popped up overnight and I am in awe of the love, generosity, and support of everyone who has seen her story,” Robertson said. “My faith in humanity was a bit broken when I picked Garbanzo up from the shelter — and in so many ways, this community has healed me. And they’re also healing our sweet Garbanzo girl!”

Progress was slow but profound. Early videos showed Garbanzo flinching at human contact, but soon, tentative trust emerged — a loafed pose here, a slow blink there. “I’m finally seeing the kitten I fostered and raised coming back, and all that fear and trauma is steadily melting away,” Robertson shared in an update. “She’s losing weight, happy, confident and learning to trust people again.”

Though Garbanzo’s future remains a question, Robertson is adamant: “Garbanzo would do best as the only animal in the household. The ideal family will come along for her — I just know it.” Still, she hopes the spotlight on Garbanzo’s story will inspire others to foster. “Pets like Garbanzo deserve a chance. It just takes time,” Robertson said. “If you’re in love with Garbanzo, know there’s probably a cat just like her at your local shelter. Consider opening your heart and home up to them!”

@rachaelraerobertsonFoster momma is feeling super sentimental today🥹❤️♬ 오리지널 사운드 – 나만듣GO – 김쇼츠 music

Sources: People | Pet Helpful