It was during a heavy typhoon when I received a call that changed the course of my day. Someone told me there was a cat trapped inside a box at a temple. The wind was picking up, rain was pouring down, and the roads were nearly flooded, but I knew I had to go. There was no time to think twice.

When I first met Ding Ding, she was known as the “fierce cat.” Everyone warned me that she was difficult, that she would hiss, swipe, and hide from anyone who tried to get close. She had been isolated for some time because of her behavior, and people around her had quietly given up hope that she could ever change.

When I first found Burrito, he was a tiny kitten barely clinging to life. He had been abandoned in a box on the streets of Malaysia, weak, sick, and crying out for help. His condition was heartbreaking. Most people would have walked by, but something about his fragile cry made me stop. I knew I could not leave him there.

I have always believed in “adopt, don’t shop.” Like many Hong Kongers, I love animals deeply and do what I can to help cats in need. But recently, I encountered a shocking experience that showed how some people exploit this kindness for money.

Burrito’s Story: The Cat Who Reminded Me That “Impossible” Is Only a Word When I first met Burrito, he was lying in a small cardboard box, injured and barely holding on. The vet suspected he had been bitten by a dog. His body was weak, his wound was deep, and his spirit seemed almost gone.

Known for her animal-focused YouTube channel, MeloCat, who already cares for multiple cats, recently stepped in to rescue a pair of white laboratory rats that were once being used as live feed for other animals.

When I first met DingDing, she had already been labeled as “aggressive.” It’s a word that sticks unfairly to so many scared animals. In truth, she wasn’t aggressive at all — she was terrified. Her reactions were born from fear, not anger.

When I first found Burrito, he was just a tiny kitten abandoned in a cardboard box — trembling, dehydrated, and barely able to drink. His little tail was badly injured, and he looked so fragile that I wasn’t sure if he would survive the night. But there was something in his eyes that said he wanted to live, and I knew I couldn’t walk away.