They knew the heartbreaking reason why …
Published on Aug 14, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Tiny Moo was found abandoned and taken in by Wonky Hearts Animal Haven. The rescue sees abandoned animals all the time, but Moo was unique — he was covered head to toe in paint.
“Everyone was in tears when I arrived, but I was just SO excited to see people that I popped right out of the back and ran to give anyone and everyone kisses,” Wonky Hearts Animal Haven wrote on Moo’s adoption profile.
Since Moo was covered in paint, his rescuers had a feeling they knew exactly where he’d come from.
“This cat could have likely come from a fighting ring,” Megan Mannarelli-Martin of Wonky Hearts Animal Haven said in a video for The Dodo. “Bait kittens are the unethical use of kittens as bait in dog-fighting rings. They will paint or dye their fur some sort of visible color. It’s far more common than people realize.”
In addition to the paint, Moo was malnourished, reduced to just skin and bones. He clearly didn’t feel well, but despite his struggles, he gave kisses and requested cuddles from his rescuers, so happy to finally be getting the help he needed. Despite everything he’d been through, he was truly the sweetest little guy.
“He looked scruffy, like a little teddy bear, and like my little stuffie that I had as a child,” Mannarelli-Martin said.
As the team began treating Moo, one of the first orders of business was to try and get the paint off his fur. Unfortunately, that proved to be a lot easier said than done.
“We soaked him, and we tried oil that was cat-safe,” Mannarelli-Martin said. “After day three, we accepted defeat. Nothing worked.”
After 15 baths and a haircut, Moo was finally clean — and that’s when he really came alive.
“He was just the happiest, full-of-life kitten,” Mannarelli-Martin said. “As energetic as he was, he was just as cuddly and affectionate. He’s a snugglebug.”
Now, Moo is looking for his forever home, and his rescuers can’t wait to witness all of the joy he’s going to bring to his new family.
“If you are somebody who needs to feel loved and held, he is that teddy bear,” Mannarelli-Martin said.
If you’re interested in adopting Moo, you can contact Wonky Hearts Animal Haven for more information