Life has a way of offering unexpected moments of wonder when we’re least prepared for them.
Erica and Cristian, a couple from New York preparing for their wedding, joined their parents for a visit to their chosen venue in Brooklyn. They anticipated nothing more than an ordinary evening of planning followed by dinner.
What unfolded, however, became a memory they would never forget.
As the meal came to an end, Cristian’s mother spotted a little bundle of fur tucked behind a flowerpot.
When everyone leaned in for a closer look, they discovered a tiny calico kitten peering back at them with wide, curious eyes.
An Unexpected Discovery
When they saw there were no other cats around, Erica and Cristian immediately knew the little one needed help.
The kitten was drenched and shivering. She needed warmth and comfort fast.
The couple gently scooped her up and began drying her off.
“[T]he venue manager came out with a dinner napkin and handed it to us to wrap her in,” Erica told The Dodo.
The venue manager suggested taking the kitten to a New York shelter, but the couple hesitated. Erica and Cristian already shared their home with a cat named Sushi, and Erica had always wanted to adopt another.
Cristian was initially unsure about bringing home another pet, but as soon as he looked at the kitten’s tiny face, he was smitten. The couple decided on the spot that she was meant to be part of their family.
They named her Rigatoni, inspired by the pasta dinner they had eaten just before finding her.
“[We] went to our wedding venue with our parents to show them and came home with a daughter,” Erica wrote on TikTok.
The Perfect Addition To Their Family
Once they got home, the couple gave Rigatoni a warm bath and a safe place to rest.
The kitten was exhausted, hungry, and covered in fleas, but she was finally somewhere she could heal.
Erica and Cristian stayed up through the night, taking turns feeding her small meals and keeping her cozy. They were determined to help their new little family member feel loved and protected.
The next morning, they took her to the vet for a checkup. When they learned she was healthy, they were filled with relief and joy.
Erica shared Rigatoni’s rescue story on TikTok, where it quickly captured hearts. Many viewers commented that the kitten must have been “their first wedding guest” who showed up a little early.
“She is your first wedding guest. It was meant to be!” one user wrote.
Rigatoni quickly adapted to her new home. She bonded with her new parents and even became best friends with Sushi.
Now, the once-lonely kitten has everything she could ever need: warmth, love, and the forever family she was waiting for all along.
