This stray cat refused to leave an empty house for 8 months, even after everyone else was gone — the reason is beyond heartbreaking

The cat was a beloved companion to his owner, who took in as many as 30 strays in the area.

PUBLISHED OCT 25, 2025

(L ) An abandoned house ; (R) A sad cat (Representative Cover Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) Peter Baker ; (R) Rafa Elias)

When an orange cat refused to leave an empty house, everyone grew worried. But when a new owner discovered the feline and learned the heartbreaking reason it had been left alone for eight months, the story moved her to tears. Courtnie Burke (@courtniescats) shared her experience on June 16, 2025, of adopting a cat who had a tragic backstory.

Man with his orange cat. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Elizabeth Livermore

Kurt, an orange cat, was left alone in a house for eight months after a tragic incident. Courtnie Burke, who was scrolling on Facebook, found a post from a rescue she followed, making a plea to adopt Kurt. There she learned the heartbreaking story behind the orange cat. Kurt was a beloved companion to an owner named James, who took in as many as 30 strays in the area. Unfortunately, James passed away, and his daughter searched for adopters for his "favorite cat, Kurt," but no one came. All the other cats fled, except Kurt. According to PEOPLE, James's sister, who lived in another state, spent eight months trying to get Kurt a home while she hired someone to leave food and clean his litter box. The caretaker, however, never interacted with Kurt during any of their visits. After Burke saw the post, she immediately went to pick him up the next day.

Cat net window protection. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | cabuscaa)

When adopted, Kurt had an infection from being scared and sitting in the litter box. On TikTok, she shared pictures of the cat's journey after adoption. She revealed that Kurt had not only stopped grooming himself but also had cuts on his face. "I couldn't imagine an animal being alone in a house that long… after losing their person," the overlay text on TikTok read. However, after the initial hesitation, Kurt soon bonded with Burke, her boyfriend, and her other cats, Dicky and Lucky. She added, "In no short time, he was making biscuits in the sun." Within a few days, Kurt began grooming himself.

Playful orange cat with woman distracted from laptop. (Representative Image Source: Getty | Elena Perova)

Burke and her boyfriend, who had moved houses, were concerned about Kurt adapting to a new change, but he did not care as long as they were with him. Thanking Kurt's beloved owner, James, Courtnie concluded the post saying, "Thank you, James, for all you did for the strays in your town. And for giving us Kurt." In a 2024 study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science, researchers explored grief-like behavior in domestic cats. The study showed several changes observed in these felines, including eating and playing less, sleeping more, and spending increased time alone. Being left alone was Kurt's way of coping with the loss of his beloved owner, James.

An orange cat is sitting on a chair and a woman is sitting beside it on the floor (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by cottonbro studio) — An orange cat is sitting on a chair and a woman is sitting beside it on the floor. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by cottonbro studio)

The video garnered 1.1 million views on TikTok, and online users flooded her post with sweet messages. @ghost wrote, "If there’s an afterlife, I know his old owner probably felt so relieved when you adopted him." Meanwhile, @lfitz221 commented, "Alone for eight months. That’s so sad. Thank you for saving him and giving him the best furever home." "I can’t even imagine what this poor guy went through during those eight lonely months. Thank goodness he now has you as his forever family," penned @kansas.

For more such pet-related videos, follow @courtniescats on TikTok.