Written by African Tails – Adoption Manager: Sandy Clifton
Professional photography by Pet Focus Photography
This is the tale of a little cat named Needle – affectionately nicknamed Noodle – whose journey came to my attention in December 2024, thanks to one of our fosters, Lauren Edwards.
Needle had originally been taken in, rather half-heartedly, by Lauren’s neighbour when she was just a kitten. Unfortunately, the novelty wore off quickly, and Needle was left to fend for herself on the streets.
While Lauren couldn’t adopt her permanently, she formed a bond with Needle and eventually reached out to ask if she could become one of African Tails’ adoption cats.
Needle was taken to the vet, where she was given a full check-up. She tested negative for Feline AIDS and Leukaemia, was vaccinated, microchipped, and it was confirmed that she’d already been sterilised.
She was added to our website and featured on our social media platforms a few times. At that point, she was still wary of people – especially men – which wasn’t surprising after having spent so much time on her own. Still, she slowly started to come out of her shell, even choosing to sleep inside Lauren’s apartment and responding when Lauren called her. She was becoming more comfortable – but still happiest when she had the freedom to wander.
I’ll admit, I was worried about her chances. Finding loving homes for adult cats is hard enough, and Needle wasn’t going to be the easiest match.
Then, one Friday afternoon in February, I received a call from Giselle Schneider asking if Needle was still available. I immediately put her in touch with Lauren to go and meet Needle.
After Giselle and her daughter met Needle, Lauren sent me this message:
“Needle LOVED Giselle and her daughter. She’s usually so nervous around strangers, and while she was a little cautious at first, she came right up to them and hopped onto the couch for chin scratches.
I’m not sure what they’re thinking yet, but I was blown away by how drawn Needle was to them. I really hope they decide to take her.”
On the 7th of March, Needle was collected by her new family and taken to her new home.
The rest of her journey is for Giselle to tell…
Giselle shares...
When we adopted Needle from African Tails Rescue in March, she was a shy, delicate grey tabby with beautiful green eyes. I knew she’d need time, space, and patience to adjust. What I didn’t know was that our journey together would test every ounce of hope I had, and ultimately, prove just how miraculous love and perseverance can be.
We had her for just three days when disaster struck.
In a moment of forgetfulness, while letting one of our other cats in through a side door, Needle slipped past, silent, invisible almost – and was gone. Vanished. We searched the entire garden and neighbourhood in disbelief, hoping she was just under a bush or hiding up a tree. But the night closed in and so did panic. She was lost.
For the next five weeks, my hubby, kids and I lived in a fog of heartbreak. We papered the neighbourhood with posters, called into drains and trees, shook her food bowl late into the night, and scoured gardens, the streets, and rooftops. We left no corner unchecked. At night, I lay unable to sleep, fearing the worst! I kept an eye on all the lost pet groups on Facebook, and I realised I wasn’t alone. So many beloved pets go missing; not all are found. Strangers celebrating the return of pets we’d never met. But then one day, I broke.
A call from someone who’d found the body of a badly injured, deceased cat. They thought it might be mine. I rushed over in tears, but luckily the chip scan showed it wasn’t her. I sobbed openly so much that the vet staff gently asked me to step away from the reception area. I didn’t care who stared.
In that moment, I felt I’d failed everyone, Needle, my children – even myself.
Over the following weeks, I received photos, sightings, and leads. I ran towards every one, filled with hope, but always returned home empty-handed. A kind woman on Facebook suggested I repost the missing ad, just to keep Needle’s story alive in people’s minds. I was worn down, but I did it.
Then the miracle happened.
Out of the blue, a stranger sent me a photo: “Is this your cat?”
My heart knew immediately – it was Needle. The people had seen her late one night while walking their own cats. She was so affectionate – they were sure she belonged to someone. They snapped a photo and, after getting no response from their neighbourhood WhatsApp group, turned to Facebook. That’s when they found my ad.
The very next evening, I went to the property. Nothing. I returned for three nights, each time hopeful, each time heartbroken.
Then, on the fourth night, they called. They had her.
I raced out in my pyjamas and socks, eyes full of tears, to pick her up. And here’s where the universe threw in one final twist: these kind strangers lived just five streets from us. Their home? It used to belong to my late father. He’d sold it less than two years before to these new owners, via an agent, so we’d never met. My father had passed away only a few months before we adopted Needle. She’d never been to his house.
Some say it was just a coincidence. Others believe my father was guiding her home, to a place connected to us both. Call it angels. Call it fate. I call it a miracle.
Settling Needle back into our home wasn’t easy. She was skittish, terrified of our other cats, and needed to be reintroduced carefully. But once again, African Tails Rescue came through. They offered advice, emotional support, and even connected me with a cat behaviourist to help ease the transition. Sandy from African Tails shed tears with me more than once. Her compassion reminded me why I believe in rescue work, and why I always will.
Today, Needle is fully part of our family. She curls up on the couch, greets us at the door, and watches the garden through the safety of a window. We’re still cautious and make sure her environment is peaceful and safe. But more than anything, we’ve learned what resilience looks like, in a little cat who found her way back, and in the hearts that never gave up on her.
To anyone considering adopting: understand that sometimes the path won’t be easy. There may be fear, setbacks, even heartache. But if you stay the course, if you believe, sometimes – just sometimes – you get a miracle.
Thank you, African Tails Rescue. Because of you, our miracle found her way home.
