On July 27, 2025, Kyle the cat was fighting off a coyote four times his size in Escondido, California. Fortunately, an eyewitness intervened and took him straight to San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus. He had wounds to his neck and chest, but luckily, he survived.
However, that was only the start of his journey.
In California, a pet bitten by a potential rabies carrier must be kept in quarantine for six months to prevent the spread to humans and other pets.
So Rebecca Smith of the San Diego Humane Society set up a space for Kyle in her office. For the next six months, she — and a few other rabies-vaccinated staff members — kept a close eye on Kyle, helping him heal from his injuries and monitoring him for rabies symptoms.
“Kyle’s resilience has been remarkable,” said Smith, the organization’s associate director of guest relations and animal placement. “From learning to play with enrichment toys, to enjoying window time and treats, he’s shown us he’s a fighter.”
Smith said Kyle’s primary caretaker was Dani Strickert, an admissions specialist at San Diego Humane Society.
“Dani has been instrumental in his recovery and has become his biggest advocate,” said Smith.
Every week, Strickert offered him cuddles and Churru treats, and — on occasion — would take him for “indoor strolls” in an enclosed baby stroller.
On January 28, after six months of quarantine, Kyle was finally able to meet the rest of the staff. To celebrate the occasion, the animal shelter threw him a graduation ceremony, complete with a cat-sized cap and gown, Kyle cupcakes, and “Kyle-trivia.”
“Everyone finally gets to give him all the love and pets that he deserves,” Strickert said. “And I think everyone is as excited about it as Kyle is.”
“We love him so much. He’s such a sweet cat and he deserves the world,” she added. “Look at those cheeks! Everyone wants to squish those. Who wouldn’t?”
When the San Diego Humane Society shared footage of the graduation party online, people fell head over heels for the orange domestic shorthair.
“Happy graduation Kyle!” one person wrote on Instagram.
“You did such a good job healing and being patient!” another comment read. “Proud of you!”
“I would die for Kyle,” someone else chimed in.
The comments section was also flooded with people eager to bring Kyle home, now that he was cleared for adoption. But the staff members that saved his life had first dibs.
“He was adopted by one of our staff members!” The San Diego Humane Society shared on February 9.
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Header image via The San Diego Humane Society
