The internet has been captivated by a heartwarming story of love and dedication: the extraordinary journey of a Finnish couple to save a kitten that they found while on vacation in Crete. This touching story highlights how people are able to form a bond with animals that transcends geographic boundaries and provides a loving, forever home.
Katrina in Helsinki, Finland has documented her experiences (@perunakatriina On TikTok, she shared how her and boyfriend formed an immediate connection with a tortoiseshell kitten tabby during their visit to the stunning Greek island. It was as if the kitten had been drawn to her. She followed them all around and even made a home in their vicinity. The kitten was so attached to them that she made her home near their hotel.
Katrina’s boyfriend and she were overwhelmed by compassion. They knew that they could not leave behind their newly-found cat friend. Hera was named in honor of the Greek Goddess, and they decided to adopt her. Hera was placed in an animal shelter near them to get the medical attention she needed and to prepare for her journey to her forever home. The emotional story of Hera’s rescue has resonated online with countless people, garnering attention and reminding everyone about the goodness in the world.
@perunakatriina It’s been a while since we posted, but finally! 🌞 It was a great experience to leave Hera in Greece. The staff took care everything: vaccinations and quarantine; chip, passport and all papers. Her eye has been removed, but she is still a very happy pirate. 👀 It took her 4 months to get through the quarantine, recover from eye surgery and vaccinations. There was no flight partner willing to take Hera with them. When she finally recovered from her illness and was allowed to fly at the start of December we became impatient. ✈️ My boyfriend and myself decided in late December to arrange a flight to Greece for me. The flights were terrible with a thousand overlays, but I found one that met our requirements. I met up with her in the refuge, flew her to me, and then we both flew home together. All went smoothly and my boyfriend collected us from the airport. She is the happiest cat, she eats and cuddles with ease, is litter-box trained, is learning how to walk, is playing, eating, and even using the litter box without any problems. She is spoiled, cant lie 😆🥹 This was truly a long journey, but we are so happy everything is now okay and she is healthy and happy❤️ thank you to all of youu so much. Stay tuned for more content about her. Thank you all so much.🩵🩵 #cat #rescuecat #petsoftiktok #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #greece #kitten #catsoftiktok #adoption #update #shelter
Katrina’s heartwarming video showing them cuddling accompanied her statement: “It is safe to say that she has found her forever family.” Katrina added, “This journey was long, but now that everything is okay and her health and happiness are restored, we couldn’t be happier.” Hera’s journey home was a long one that required a lot of planning and effort.
Katrina arranged flights and then returned to Greece with Hera to pick her up from the shelter. Hera was transported in a comfortable cat carrier on the return flight to Finland. Katrina’s boyfriend and she were able to persevere despite the logistics involved in international adoption.
The process was not without its challenges. Hera required vaccinations, medical treatment, official documents, such as a pet passport and she needed to remain in Greece for a long period of time. Hera was diagnosed with an eye condition that required surgery to remove one of her eyes. Hera showed remarkable resilience despite this setback and recovered fully. She is now affectionately called their “little Pirate,” which is a testimony to both her strength and to the positive outlook of the couple.
Hera adapted perfectly to Finland within a month after arriving. Hera loves to cuddle with her humans and explore her cat tree. Hera was able to adapt well thanks to the patient and loving environment her new owners provided.
Katrina gave the Greek Animal Shelter high praise for Hera’s outstanding care. From administering vaccines and managing the quarantine to microchipping Hera, obtaining her Passport, and co-ordinating her vital eye surgery, they managed it all. Hera’s safety and preparation for travel abroad and adoption were all made possible by Hera’s shelter.
Hera spent four months at the shelter to receive all the necessary vaccinations and recover from surgery. She also met Finland’s quarantine requirements. Katrina’s boyfriend and she tried for weeks to find a companion who could fly with Hera. But they were unsuccessful. This challenge highlighted some of the difficulties faced when transferring pets overseas.
Hera’s medical clearance for travel was granted in early December. However, finding someone to fly with Hera remained an issue. Katrina, her boyfriend, and Hera decided in late December that Katrina would make the personal journey to Greece, to bring Hera to their home. The decision showed their commitment and willingness to work through the logistical challenges to bring their feline home.
Katrina was able to create a schedule that worked despite having multiple layovers. Hera and Katrina reunited in Greece for a few days before returning to Finland. This tale highlights the need for determination and creativity when it comes to international adoptions.
Hera was able to complete her long journey back home after Katrina met up with them at Helsinki airport. The culmination of many months of planning and perseverance was this moment.
Hera thrives in her forever house. Hera eats well, plays with her family and enjoys snuggling. She uses her litterbox without issue, is learning to walk, even, on a lead. Katrina admits to Hera being spoiled but is happy about the love and joy she brings into her family’s life. The couple is deeply grateful for everything working out well. Katrina thanked everyone for their support and pledged to keep sharing information about Hera’s life in Finland. She also promised that she would continue providing updates.
TikTok viewers were deeply moved by their couple’s devotion to saving Hera. Many shared stories similar to theirs and expressed their appreciation for the couple.
“You went back for her!” one user exclaimed, expressing admiration for Katrina’s dedication.
Kathrin said, “Hera is a tortie with one eye from Portugal. She lives in Helsinki.” Kathrin was commenting on Hera’s journey and unique physical characteristics. It was a great way to show the pet owner community who adopted pets with similar challenges and backgrounds.
“Aww. Two cats I brought back from Turkey. “They lived an extra 17 years of joy and happiness,” said another user, who emphasized the benefits that come with international adoption and pet rescue.
Oh, my heart! When we found our kitten, he was dying in a mountain town. We saved him from Cyprus. Anita thanked them for the kindness they showed and shared a connection with other international rescues of animals. The shared stories reinforce the hope message and inspire further acts of kindness.