When rescuers first spotted Ham, he was only four months old and already proving to be a handful.
Instead of making it easy for his rescuers to catch him, he turned the whole thing into a game.
The team would set up their humane trap, and Ham would stroll right up to it, roll on the ground, and show off.
That cheeky behaviour earned him the nickname “Ham.”
What Ham didn’t understand was that the trap wasn’t a threat at all. It was his way to a safer, healthier life.
If only he had realised, he might have walked right in.
Dana, a TNR rescuer in Brooklyn, was determined not to give up on him.
Her team had plenty of kittens to care for at the time, and as much as it pained them, they had to add Ham to their “come back later” list.
For the next two years, Ham managed to live outside as a feral cat. He survived with the help of a colony caretaker who kept an eye on him.
Things seemed manageable until one day, everything changed.
Within two weeks, his eyes became cloudy and swollen. He was bumping into things, no longer able to fend for himself.
The team knew it was now or never.
This time, when they set their trap, Ham walked right in. Hunger had left him with no choice.
Dana couldn’t stop thinking about what might have been if they had rescued him sooner.
“When he turned up with bulging and swollen eyes, bumping into things, I couldn’t help but feel like if I’d just been able to get him 2 years ago, I could have saved him from this fate,” Dana admitted.
Despite the sadness, there was also hope. Ham was finally safe, and now he could get the help he so desperately needed.
His eyes were examined and treated. Thankfully, tests showed no signs of tumours or viruses.
The damage was most likely caused by an injury.
Ham also received his vaccinations and was neutered. While his sight had been compromised, his life was no longer in danger.
The real challenge, however, was trust.
Ham had lived outside his whole life, wary of humans. At first, he kept his distance.
But slowly, he started to understand that these people were here to help him.
Dana worked patiently with him.
She began by petting him with a spatula, then with the back of her hand, and eventually, Ham allowed himself to be cuddled.
Treats helped too, of course. Bit by bit, he adjusted to life indoors.
To everyone’s surprise, he began to enjoy it. The once untouchable feral cat was becoming a snuggly housecat.
And then, something remarkable happened.
Ham met Biscuit, another cat in foster care. The two bonded almost instantly, as if they had been waiting for each other all along.
Biscuit was affectionate and calm, the perfect companion for Ham, who was still adjusting. Together, they wrestled, played with toys, and napped side by side.
Their bond grew so strong that Biscuit naturally became Ham’s “seeing-eye animal.”
Whenever Ham struggled, Biscuit was there.
It was as though Biscuit knew his new friend needed him.
For Dana, the connection was too special to ignore. She decided they had to be adopted as a pair.
“Ham has his best friend Biscuit by his side now, and they’re ready to move into their next phase of life together! These boys are a package deal,” she wrote.
After eight months in foster care, the day finally came.
A couple named Susan and Andy stepped forward. They met Ham and Biscuit and instantly knew they were the ones.
The feeling was mutual. Dana, though heartbroken to let them go, knew she had found the perfect match.
“Ham and Biscuit have found their humans! I truly could not be happier with the home that these boys have found,” Dana shared.
Now, Ham and Biscuit live together in a loving forever home.
They play, cuddle, and enjoy the warmth of family life. Susan even sends regular updates, letting Dana know just how well the pair are doing.
From a playful kitten who refused to be caught, to a feral cat battling health problems, Ham’s story could have ended very differently.
But with patience, compassion, and a little help from his best friend Biscuit, his life took a remarkable turn.