From Injured and Starving to Living His Best Life, Gustavo Never Lost His Unique Charm

In April 2025, a young cat and two dogs were found by the NYPD living in inappropriate and unsanitary conditions. The animals were brought to the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center for urgent treatment and care.

Upon examination, the cat, later named Gustavo, was noted to have several fractured teeth and a wound on his chin. He also would not put any weight on his back right leg while walking. When radiographs were taken, it was discovered that he had a fractured pelvis. Gustavo’s injury would not need surgical intervention, but he was placed on cage rest for six weeks to allow it to heal.

In addition to his injuries, Gustavo was underweight and ravenously hungry, weighing only three and a half pounds. Normally, healthy kittens at that age are expected to weigh at least six pounds..

Due to his condition, it was determined that Gustavo would need to be placed on a modified refeeding plan. This type of controlled diet is implemented to prevent refeeding syndrome, which can have devastating impacts on an animal’s metabolic health. Due to his young age, the medical team also made sure that the diet would account for the increased daily caloric needs of a growing kitten.

Over the next six weeks, Gustavo stayed in the Animal Recovery Center to heal, rest and recover. Thanks to his sweet, gregarious personality, he quickly became a staff favorite, receiving a lot of socialization time with his new friends in his kennel while he waited for his fractured pelvis to heal.

By mid-May, Gustavo had attained a healthy weight, and new radiographs showed that his fracture had healed. That meant he was ready to move to the ASPCA Adoption Center and find a home of his own!

Finding a Missing Piece

In June, Jacob L. and his wife, Dana, were considering adopting a cat. Their previous cat, Mia, had sadly passed away from cancer a few months prior. Mia was Jacob’s beloved companion, and he had even introduced her to Dana when they first met. Dana had since come to love cats as well.

When Mia was no longer there, they knew that something was missing from their home.

“We realized our apartment just didn’t feel the same, and we decided to look for another friend to join our family,” Jacob says. “We both work in the healthcare field, and it is always so wonderful to come home to a loving animal after work.”

Soon enough, they were browsing online listings of adoptable pets.

When they found Gustavo’s profile on the ASPCA website, the couple immediately loved his name and were taken with his photogenic face. After visiting the ASPCA and meeting several wonderful cats, , they knew no one could match the connection they quickly formed with Gustavo. They also found themselves quite inspired by his rescue and healing journey.

“He was very vocal and loving at the ASPCA, and we were so happy to take him home that day,” Jacob says.

Welcoming Gustavo Home

When Gustavo first entered his new home, he initially hid under the couch. Jacob and Dana then moved him into the bathroom, where he could safely acclimate to his new surroundings little by little. Fortunately, it only took him a couple days to become more comfortable and confident.

As with many young cats, Jacob and Dana discovered some behavioral challenges with Gustavo, but nothing that they couldn’t handle. He gets overstimulated easily, which would lead to him trying to nip or bite.

“One of the ways that we have worked on this is giving him treats when we pet him, to help him associate treats with positive interactions,” Jacob says. “We also use the treats as a way to help Gustavo lick instead of bite.”

Gustavo also gets the zoomies at about 5 a.m., running around the apartment excitedly. Coincidentally, Jacob and Dana both get to work early, so his zoomies serve as a well-timed morning alarm!

Enjoying Life to the Fullest

These days, life is good for Gustavo and his new family.

“A few months into his time with us, he owns the entire apartment,” Jacob says, “often sprinting from one end to the other with unrivaled speed.”

Gustavo’s favorite pastimes are watching pigeons through the window, playing with his toys and exploring his very own cat castle. Naturally, he’s a big fan of treats, and he loves to lean and nuzzle into his friends when they’re walking by. At night, he enjoys curling up on Jacob and Dana’s legs.

Since Jacob is from New York, Gustavo has also come to love watching the Knicks on the couch with Jacob. However, Dana is from Philly, so they watch different games together!

“We are a split household, so Gustavo is also becoming a big birds fan,” Jacob says.

For anyone considering adopting a cat like Gustavo, Jacob recommends just going for it. When bringing a cat into your home, he also says to be patient, since it may take a few days for them to warm up to their new environment.

“We cannot recommend the ASPCA enough,” Jacob says, reflecting on their adoption experience. “Gustavo fills our apartment with joie de vivre and positive energy. He’s always exited to start the day, and it helps us keep ourselves motivated!”