Faces of No-Kill: Cat thrives after surviving wildfires

As wildfires ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025, Lucky was caught in the middle of it. As the hills burned, so did his home.

When Lucky was found, his paws were burned and his whiskers were singed — but he was alive. This brave boy’s will to survive and ability to love would lead him to a brand-new life.

Lucky’s sleek coat was as gray as the ash around him. After he was rescued, he went to a Los Angeles city shelter and then to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in L.A. to get the care he needed and to make room at the shelter for the next animal in need.

As soon as Lucky arrived, the Best Friends vet team got to work treating his injuries. All four of his paws were burnt, red, and raw. The team carefully cleaned each toe bean, applied ointment, and bandaged them up. Throughout the treatment, Lucky was friendly and easygoing, as if he knew these kind humans were trying to help him.

[Cats from L.A. shelters get special care at Best Friends]

As he recovered, Lucky went to stay with foster volunteer Bonnie Wease, who says he made himself at home right away. He started enjoying the finer things, such as eating off porcelain plates, drinking water from mugs, and sprawling out on plush bedding. But his favorite thing of all? Being petted and snuggled by Bonnie.

After a few weeks, Lucky’s paws had healed, and his whiskers had grown back. And before long, he was adopted and finally had a family of his own.

[An unexpected reprieve in shelters after the L.A. wildfires]

Today, Lucky’s life is very different from what it was just a few months ago, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, he wears stylish bandanas and waits by the door for his favorite person to come home. This chatty cat also loves having people to talk to and can even say the word “mom.” (It’s true — just watch the video above.)

It might seem like Lucky hit the jackpot, but his family would say they’re the lucky ones.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.