Luna, an 18-year-old cat, is now living her best life after years confined to a small rabbit cage.

Her journey from a hoarding house to a cozy home in Boston when she was 12 has delighted the internet. In a TikTok video with more than 240,000 views, Luna's rescuer, Julie Nashawaty, shared the cat's heartwarming reaction to her new home.

Nashawaty discovered Luna at the Animal Rescue League of Boston on December 28, 2018. It was a serendipitous visit, as Julie was commemorating the adoption anniversary of another cat she had rescued. She had planned only to drop off her donations, but felt an immediate connection with Luna.

"She was tiny, frail, and had been through so much," Nashawaty told Newsweek. "After just two seconds together, I knew she was mine."

Luna's past was difficult—rescued from a hoarding situation with over 50 cats crammed into rabbit cages, Luna endured severe neglect. Weighing just six pounds and suffering from a respiratory infection, she bore the physical scars from her ordeal too.

Her teeth were broken from attempting to drink water from a rabbit bottle attached to her cage, and her once-white paws were permanently stained from years of filth. Yet, even after such a traumatic start, Luna has remained loving and trusting.

In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared with 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared with the same time the year before.

Around 850,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2023, a rise of 15 percent when compared to 2022. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

After a month of rehabilitation at the rescue, Luna was ready for adoption. Despite being warned about her severe litter box issues, Julie assured the shelter staff that Luna had found her forever home.

"She would never, ever be returned," Nashawaty promised.

Over the past six years, Luna has thrived in her new life with Nashawaty, her husband, and her feline brother Ollie. Now nearing her 18th birthday, Luna faces challenges like dementia and other health issues, but continues to embody joy and resilience. Julie describes her as "the happiest, most loving soul," and hoped that sharing Luna's story would inspire others to consider adopting senior cats.

"I want to bring awareness to the horrors some animals face before finding a forever home and show that love and trust can heal even the deepest wounds," Nashawaty said.