May 31, 2025, 5:48 am | Read time: 6 minutes
What terrible events must occur for a cheerful kitten to become a fear-filled cat that lashes out at anyone who dares to come near? This was the question Rachael Robertson pondered. The animal welfare advocate hand-raised the kitten, Garbanzo, and placed him in what she believed were loving hands. However, in his new home, the cat suffered severe abuse, becoming fearful and severely overweight. By chance, Garbanzo ended up back with Robertson at the animal shelter. Despite everything, Garbanzo eventually found her happy ending.
“She weighs twelve kilograms, is afraid of everything, and has peed everywhere.” When Rachael Robertson from Los Angeles picked up her former foster cat from a shelter by chance, she barely recognized the animal. She had lovingly bottle-fed Garbanzo as a kitten in 2021 and placed the young cat in a new home with the best intentions. But there, Garbanzo’s nightmare began: A new roommate mistreated the cat so severely that she became unclean, developed a panic fear of people, and gained a significant amount of weight.
Eventually, Garbanzo ended up back at the shelter. But because Rachel microchipped all her cats and the later owner never registered the cat, the shelter identified Rachel as the owner—unaware that she was the former foster parent. Thus, Garbanzo returned to Rachel. However, the sight that greeted the pet influencer broke her heart, as she revealed in a PETBOOK interview. Tens of thousands followed every step Garbanzo took back to life, thanks to Rachel. But the journey was not easy…
“I’ve Been Caring for Cats My Whole Life”
PETBOOK: Rachel, how long have you been caring for cats?
Rachael Robertson: “I’ve been caring for foster animals my whole life! I grew up in a family where animals were the focus. My aunt worked in wildlife rehab, and my mom helped rescue pets, so we often had foster animals of all shapes and sizes. I took in my first litter of newborn kittens when I was about ten years old. It was a great experience, and I’m forever grateful to have had such a wonderful family that taught me so much about animals at a young age!”
How did the name Garbanzo come about? Is there a story behind it?
“Garbanzo came to the shelter at just three days old with two siblings! I took them in as fosters and gave the litter a ‘bean theme’ for their names—they were called Garbanzo, Fava, and Pinto!”
What was so special about Garbanzo as a kitten?
“Everything! Seriously. She was so smart, cuddly, and eager to explore and enjoy the world around her. She was talkative, sweet, and loved to play and eat. As she got older, she would nibble on her wet food and then her dry food. Baby Bonzo had a big personality, and she still does today!”
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“When I Finally Picked Up Garbanzo, She Had Lost All Trust in People”
Do you know what exactly happened to Garbanzo?
“Unfortunately, I don’t. I only know that the former adopter let a roommate move in who—according to her statement—apparently took pleasure in tormenting Garbanzo and destroyed her trust in people. Even after this roommate moved out, things didn’t improve. Garbanzo was scared and stressed and urinated all over the apartment. When the former adopter’s new partner moved in with his own cat, it was apparently the last straw for Garbanzo. She continued to urinate out of stress in the apartment, had bloody stools for months (presumably also stress-related), didn’t get along with the other cat, and was massively overfed.
The new partner didn’t like any of this and demanded that the former adopter get rid of Garbanzo. So she took Garbanzo to the shelter, simply dropped her off, and claimed she had found her as a stray. When I finally picked up Garbanzo, she had lost all trust in people, was aggressive and completely terrified, her fur was matted, and she was covered in urine. It was terrible.”
“I Had Terrible Guilt”
What went through your mind when you saw Garbanzo for the first time again?
“I just thought, ‘How could this happen?’ I try to be open to every family that adopts a foster cat from me. I couldn’t understand why the former adopter never contacted me or asked for help. How could this happen to the bottle baby I raised, who was truly one of the sweetest cats in the world? It really broke my heart.”
Do you think Garbanzo recognized you again?
“Not for a long time. And even if she did, she was too scared to trust. She needed time to relax. But after a few weeks, she did remember me!”
What was the biggest challenge with Garbanzo for you?
“The guilt. As foster parents, we do our best to find the right home for our charges, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out, even though we did everything right. Garbanzo should never have experienced what she did. Still, I felt guilty. I wished I could have somehow protected Garbanzo from what ultimately happened to her.”
“I Cried So Many Tears of Joy That Night!”
When was the moment you knew things were finally looking up?
“One day I came to her, and at the very end of our visit, she chirped at me softly. Garbanzo had always been very communicative, but since I got her back, she hadn’t meowed once except for hissing and growling. This chirp was like a little glimpse of the kitten I once raised. It felt like she was saying, ‘I’m trying,’ and I knew: We can do this. I cried so many tears of joy that night!”
How long did Garbanzo stay with you?
“Garbanzo was with me for about three months before she found her new forever home!”
So she’s successfully rehomed now?
“Yes, she found her perfect home. She’s truly living her ‘happily ever after’ now! And the best part: In the coming weeks, I even get to look after her. I’m SO excited!”
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“No One Is Unlovable—We Just Need to Be in the Right Place with the Right People”
How does Garbanzo get along with other people?
“She’s sometimes unsure when there’s no one she trusts—someone to serve as a safety net. But honestly, for all she’s been through, she’s a real cuddle bug and gets along great with people. She just needs a little time to warm up.”
What do you think Garbanzo would want to say to all cat owners?
“I think she would say: No one is unlovable—we just need to be in the right place with the right people. Garbanzo’s story is about bad days, not a bad life. There’s someone out there for everyone—whether animal or human.”
Editor’s Note: Rachel has since been able to visit Garbanzo in her new home, where the cat has visibly lost weight. In the post from May 5, you can see her greeting her former cat mom with her tail up, letting herself be petted, and stretching out on her little bed in the sun—belly up, a sign of trust and well-being for cats. “She’s living her best life here,” Rachel says in the video. “Seeing Garbanzo again made my week.”