“I really didn’t want to have another mean kitty, as our old cat wasn’t exactly friendly,” she said. “Hugo was great with us, but he hated everyone else. I didn’t want to go through that again, and I was still grieving Hugo, so my heart was fragile. I just didn’t know if I could take this again.

“I didn’t exactly sleep that night, diving into every cat forum and trying to figure out how to tame a wild kitty and fix a broken tail,” she said.

The shelter was running out of time, but it agreed to let Fortier foster Jax on a seven-day trial basis. She still had her reservations, but as soon as she left with him in her arms, she knew there was no way she could give up on him.

All her fears quickly dissipated when Jax settled into his new life immediately. Fortier said it was “clear he found his forever home.” He has continued to grow in confidence and is becoming even more playful with his new family.

“Despite his rough start, Jax turned out to be the sweetest, most affectionate little kitty we could have hoped for. He’s brought so much joy to our lives. We truly feel he was meant to be with us, and now he knows he’s safe and loved,” Fortier said.

It’s been a special experience for Fortier and her husband to rescue Jax and turn his fortunes around. Just days away from being released to the streets, he’s living his best life with his favorite humans.

Fortier shared his adoption story on Instagram, and the video has over 2 million views and more than 122,000 likes so far. Jax has certainly gained many doting fans since going viral, and Fortier is grateful for all the advice she’s received.

Social media users have been full of praise for Fortier and the loving bond she has formed with Jax already, leading to over 1,200 comments. One comment reads: “Thank you so much for saving him.”

Another Instagram user responded: “Awww, the trust he has in his human! Such a precious bond between them!”