Cat found outside ‘in frigid’ weather, stuffed in a backpack. Then his luck changed
A tough cat in Indiana is on his way to start a new — and warmer — chapter of his life after he was found fin a dire situation on a freezing winter’s day.
Mr. Satchel, as he was dubbed by the staff at Humane Fort Wayne, an ebony cat with ivory markings, hasn’t let his past determine his future, despite facing probable death after he was abandoned outside the group’s former shelter.
The staff had no idea how long Mr. Satchel was in that cold scenario.
“Mr. Satchel was abandoned in a backpack in the cold outside of our former shelter on Hanna St,” the shelter said in a Jan. 23 Facebook post. “Since the majority of our staff are currently working at our other locations, no one had been at this property in over 24 hours. Thankfully one of our staff members spotted the backpack and, to her shock, found a cat inside.”
The cat was cold and frightened and was “covered in his own waste,” the shelter said.
“But now, he was in safe hands,” the post continued. “Our medical team attended to him right away and was relieved he didn’t show any signs of frostbite despite the frigid temperatures.”
Word spread quickly about the cat’s situation on social media — including Instagram — and Mr. Satchel was even featured in People magazine.
“Mr. Satchel was clearly shaken up after being abandoned by his owner. He wasn’t eating well and had diarrhea. But that hasn’t stopped his love for people one bit. In fact, Mr. Satchel cares more about head scratches and attention than food,” the shelter said. “According to our staff, they would have to give him a whole lot of lovin’ in order to get him to eat. And while he’s eating more now (wet food is his jam), we know he needs to be in a loving home as soon as possible.”
His fortune turned quickly. The shelter posted on Facebook on Jan. 27 that Mr. Satchel didn’t have to wait long for a family of his very own — he was adopted.
“Our medical team is working hard to set Mr. Satchel up for success in his new home. He’s currently at our shelter receiving some final medical tests and care, and his adopters will be taking him home later this week!” the shelter said.
For information on other adoptable pets, visit the shelter’s website.
Fort Wayne is about a 125-mile drive northeast from Indianapolis.
This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Cat found outside ‘in frigid’ weather, stuffed in a backpack. Then his luck changed."