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By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
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A woman thought she wasn't a cat person—until a special feline changed her life.
Olivia Courtney (@livvywkd), from Newcastle in the U.K., had always had reservations toward cats, a sentiment shaped by her childhood experience with her grandmother's anti-social pet.
However, that all changed when she spotted a local black-and-white cat during her routine walk to the store. It was the start of an unexpected bond between the feline, named Boney Tony, and Courtney, which she shared on TikTok, garnering 76,000 likes and 453,000 views.
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"My boyfriend reassured me I'd be fine, so I put my hand forward cautiously and the cat came straight forward and started head-butting me and purring, she told Newsweek of the first time she met her friend. "I must have sat for half an hour just petting the cat that day."
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From that moment, Courtney found herself eager to pass by the same house on her walks, hoping to catch another glimpse of Boney Tony.
"I did a good 80 percent of the time, and he used to run over meowing. It was like a dopamine hit for me. I loved it so much, and Boney Tony was such a charming little character," she recalled.
However, after a time, Courtney stopped seeing her feline friend. Concerned, she reached out to his owners via a postcard.
"I was a little skeptical at first about reaching out to the owner, in case she thought I was weird, but I also thought that if I were in her shoes, I'd be flattered that someone was so concerned about my pet," she explained.
Courtney's concerns were alleviated when she received a heartwarming message from Tony's owners, who revealed his back story. The cat had entered their home 13 years prior as an abandoned pet with chicken bones stuck in his stomach, unable to eat.
On the brink of death, he was saved by his new family who took him to the vet. Tony's owners also explained that Boney Tony wasn't out much during the colder months, which was why Courtney hadn't seen him.
"Once it started to get a bit warmer, me and Boney Tony reunited," she shared in a TikTok text overlay.
Sadly, the reunion was short-lived. Nine months later, Courtney received a heartbreaking message: Boney Tony had passed away from a tumor in his mouth that left him unable to eat for two weeks.
"I was heartbroken when I heard the news he'd passed. I remember it so well because I woke up at my boyfriend's house and saw the message. I was genuinely sobbing all day," she shared.
"I think the fact that [Tony's owner] was grieving but still found the time to message me was so unbelievably kind and selfless. It totally broke my heart," Courtney said. "I had lost my childhood dog a few years prior, and while it wasn't the same, it was a similar kind of grief because I found so much comfort in Boney Tony and his affection toward me."
Now, Courtney approaches every cat she meets with open arms. She has since forged a special bond with Frankie, who belongs to her boyfriend's dad, and who she used to look after.
"She was quite shy at first, but she warmed up super quick. I genuinely love her like a mother," she said. "She used to crawl into bed between me and my boyfriend at night to sleep. My boyfriend has moved out now, and I don't think the landlord allows pets, but once we get a place together, it's an absolute must that pets are allowed."
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Helping timid cats feel comfortable can take time, as each one requires patience and gentle encouragement. For tips on building trust, the charity, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, recommends creating a calm environment, offering safe hiding spots, and allowing cats to initiate contact.
The story of Courtney and Boney Tony left commenters in tears.
"Fully crying, rest in peace Tony :(," one user wrote.
Tony's owner, Emrys, saw the viral video and said: "Hi! I'm Tony's owner, and this, along with all these comments, has me bawling. It's so amazing to know how loved he was."
Other users chimed in with their thoughts.
"Amazing how his love changed you," one wrote. "Cats are so full of love, but people don't understand them. Would you ever consider fostering or volunteering?"
"Everyone becomes a cat person eventually," said another.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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