Man braced for a ‘brutal’ allergy when his family brought home a kitten — but weeks later, a ‘magical’ reaction stunned them all

For one Boise-area family, what started as a simple wish to adopt a cat soon turned into something truly unexpected. In July 2025, Jon and Krista, along with their two children, welcomed a six-month-old orange tabby kitten named Jib-jib into their home. Despite his allergies to felines, Jon was prepared to take medications for the new family member. But what they didn’t know then was that this small rescue would bring about a “magical” reaction that none of them saw coming.

According to the Idaho Statesman, Jib-jib was adopted from Happy Jack Cats, a rescue organization in Meridian, Idaho. The kitten, originally named Saffron, had a mild heart murmur and had gone several weeks without visitors before Jon’s family decided to meet him. “I’m not even exaggerating when I say we fell in love instantly,” Jon expressed. “All four of us.” After briefly visiting a few other cats, the family returned the next day to bring Saffron home, renaming him Jib-jib, a name their 12-year-old daughter had come up with on a family trip. The family prepared themselves for extra care and vet visits due to Jib-jib’s condition, but after moving in, the kitten’s heart murmur disappeared. His veterinarian later confirmed he was completely healthy, calling it "the best possible outcome" for a cat once considered fragile.

Before adopting Jib-jib, Jon’s cat allergies had been the biggest reason they didn’t have pets. During a vacation earlier that summer, he learned that daily allergy medication might help him manage symptoms if they decided to adopt. Encouraged by his children and a persuasive presentation from his daughter listing ten reasons they needed a cat, Jon agreed to give it a try. “Both kids have been wanting a pet for as long as we could remember, so we decided to just go for it,” he said. Expecting a “brutal” allergic reaction, Jon stocked up on allergy pills and prepared to suffer for his kids’ happiness. But to his surprise, the reaction never came. “I bought allergy pills, mentally prepared myself to be miserable for the sake of my kids’ happiness, and... nothing,” he said.

As Jon marveled at his unexpected immunity, the family faced another twist; both children began showing allergic reactions instead. For weeks, the kids took allergy medication daily while the family worried whether they would be able to keep their new pet. Then, almost as suddenly as the allergies appeared, they vanished. “I have no idea what the science is behind that, but it was like magic,” Jon said. Everyone in the family could finally enjoy time with Jib-jib without discomfort, and the cat quickly became the heart of their home.

These days, Jib-jib is a playful and affectionate member of the household. He spends most mornings sitting beside Jon in his home office, chasing the computer cursor or sprawling across the keyboard. When the children return from school, he loves to ride in his stroller for walks or play with anything that catches his eye, from toys to simple household items. “It’s like he knows we’re his family, and he enjoys that,” Jon said.