What started as an ordinary evening for one New Mexico man turned into a rescue mission he never expected and one that brought a tiny orange surprise into his life.
When Michael Gassaway returned home from work, all he wanted was to park his car and call it a night.
But as he turned into his reserved spot, something caught his eye. Lying right in the middle of it was a small, still figure.
From a distance, it looked like a crumpled toy or worse, a lifeless animal.
“I thought it might be dead or maybe even a stuffed animal someone dropped,” Gassaway told Newsweek via Reddit.
Concerned, he carefully swerved around the figure, parked, and stepped out to take a closer look. What he found next completely changed the tone of his evening.
There, right in the center of his parking spot, was a tiny orange kitten, very much alive, just fast asleep.
The little furball hadn’t moved an inch as cars came and went. It was clear he was exhausted and vulnerable.
Gassaway quickly went to the building managers for help, but after some discussion, one thing became clear, this kitten had no home and no one coming back for him.
So, without hesitation, Gassaway decided to step in. “I just couldn’t leave him there,” he said.
The man named his new feline friend Parker, after the unusual spot where their paths crossed.
But adopting a stray kitten turned out to be more work than Gassaway expected.
“I had to take a trip to Petco and research how to take care of a kitten,” he explained.
“I started bottle-feeding him and taking care of him, which initially was a lot of work, but it’s been worth it.”
He soon discovered that Parker was only about 10 days old, far too young to be away from his mother.
Gassaway took him to a rescue shelter to check his health, where staff confirmed the kitten was healthy but still needed round-the-clock care.
That meant bottle feeds every few hours, gentle cleaning, and helping the little one learn to walk, eat, and use a litter box.
The early days were exhausting. Parker was fragile and tiny, and Gassaway was learning everything on the go.
But within weeks, he started to notice small changes, stronger meows, playful pawing, and curious little eyes that began to follow him around the room.
“He started to perk up so fast,” Gassaway said.
“Watching him grow from that weak little kitten into a happy, playful cat has been amazing.”
Three months later, Parker is unrecognizable.
The once-tiny orange kitten now bounds around the apartment like he owns it, climbing furniture, chasing shadows, and curling up on Gassaway’s lap at the end of the day.
“He’s a lot of fun to have around,” Gassaway shared.
“He’s playful, affectionate, and just full of personality. I didn’t plan to have a cat, but I can’t imagine not having him now.”
Wanting to share Parker’s journey, Gassaway, who goes by @mgphotographs on Reddit, posted a video montage on the subreddit r/cats.
The video shows Parker’s transformation, from a helpless newborn lying in a parking lot to a bright-eyed kitten pouncing around the apartment.
The post quickly blew up, gathering over 25,000 upvotes and hundreds of comments within two days. People across Reddit couldn’t get enough of Parker’s heartwarming story.
“Looks like you’ve earned a fantastic companion with your kindness,” one user commented. “What a precious little furball.”
Another wrote, “They look in great health. Well done for saving them.”
A third added, “Omg, thriving and growing stronger every day. Thank you!!!”
The internet rallied around Gassaway and Parker, celebrating the man’s decision to stop and check instead of driving away.
It’s a story that reminded people how a single act of compassion can change two lives—one human, one feline, forever.
Now, months later, Gassaway says Parker has completely settled in. “He follows me everywhere,” he said.
“He’s curious, mischievous, and so full of energy. I can’t believe he’s the same little kitten I found in that parking lot.”
What began as an unexpected encounter on an ordinary evening became something much more meaningful.
Its a reminder that sometimes, the smallest moments can lead to the most life-changing friendships.