Austin Cat Adoption Success: Messi story

Hi, I’m Quin Whiddon and probably by now you already know a little bit about me. And as you know, along with my husband Alex Whiddon from A Whiddon Construction we are building my dream Sanctuary, Sydney’s Lounge, a safe and loving space for rescue cats in Austin. But what I really want to share in this special blog post is the story of a very lucky cat named Messi. 

It all started one morning while Alex was working at the construction site. When was opening the area, a tiny gray-and-white kitten passed him and hid in a ditch. He was clearly in bad shape, scared, and malnourished. Although the kitten ran away before Alex could help, he knew he couldn’t just leave him like that. He had a chance to take a photo and send it to me. What a coincidence to see a feral cat in a place that soon will be a cage-free heaven for cats!

Over the next few weeks, Alex began leaving food two or three times a day. This is the first step to adopt a stray cat. Slowly, the kitten started warming up. He was still small, frightened, and unsure, but eventually he let Alex and the workers pet him. Every morning, the kitten would be waiting for his meal, his trust growing a little more each day. It was clear that he didn’t have any owner because apparently he stayed at the construction site with no other place to go.  

After about three weeks, the kitten finally allowed me to pet him and the first thing you want to do in this case is take the cat to a vet so they can take a closer look and check if it’s female or male, the age, if it has a chip and health status. I took him across the street to PAZ East Veterinary Clinic, which will be our partners once Sydney’s Lounge opens. At that point, I didn’t know if the kitten was a boy or a girl, I just wanted to make sure he was all good because I saw he didn’t have hair in his nose and some parts of the ears. 

To our surprise, the vet discovered he had a microchip. The scan revealed that he had once been part of the Austin Animal Center (AAC) system—and that his name was Messi, just like the soccer player! 

Following protocol, we contacted AAC through Austin’s 311 line and filled out the required forms. But the process was slow and frustrating, and we worried about what would happen to Messi. The thought of him being forced back into a cage was heartbreaking and that’s when my husband sneaked Messi into his office.

Once I came back from work I saw him as a surprise. My husband thought that leaving Messi alone in the streets, even if it was in the construction site, was not what Messi deserved. Or any cat without home! 

On Monday, I discovered the Austin Lost and Found Pets Facebook group. I posted Messi’s photos and his story, hoping to connect with his owner. Within minutes, a volunteer named Shelly Liebham recognized him. She remembered Messi well—she said he was one of the sweetest cats at AAC and deserved better than a cage.

Shelley explained that Messi had once been adopted by someone who loved soccer, but sadly, something happened, and Messi ended up abandoned. Learning this devastated us. It meant Messi had been left behind not once, but twice in his short life? I couldn’t believe it. 

Shelley became our hero. She worked with AAC staff and advocated for Messi to stay with us. Eventually, AAC confirmed that his previous adopter had relinquished ownership, and we were given the chance to officially foster him. We decided to take further steps and start the adoption process. 

Thanks to my husband Alex, Messi is now in his home office and he has a safe place to stay. And that’s where Messi has been ever since—loved, cared for, and finally safe. That’s why we said he is a very lucky cat, because he ended up receiving so much love from all the staff from my husband’s company and from us. 

Messi will now be the very first resident of Sydney’s Cat Lounge. His story is a powerful reminder of what happens when abandoned animals are given patience, love, and the chance to live outside of a cage.

We believe every cat deserves that opportunity. While Messi has already found his forever place with us, Sydney’s Lounge will be home to many more cats still waiting for theirs. We invite you to visit, meet the adoptable cats, and maybe even find your own Messi.

Watch the full video of Messi story here.