He’s Been Glued to His Rescuer’s Neck Since Day One — Now He’s a Big Boy with a Bigger Heart

When Camryn first found the tiny newborn kitten, he couldn’t even open his eyes. Barely the size of her palm and weighing less than a cup of sugar, he had been abandoned near a dumpster behind her apartment building. Cold, hungry, and too young to survive on his own, the kitten’s cries were faint — but Camryn heard them.

“I just knew I couldn’t walk away,” she said. “He was so small, so helpless. I didn’t think twice.”

With no sign of a mother cat nearby, Camryn wrapped him in a soft towel, placed him against her chest for warmth, and rushed to the nearest pet store to pick up formula and a kitten bottle. Thus began a journey that would change both of their lives forever.

She named him Fig.

“I remember holding him that first night, tucked into my hoodie, feeding him every two hours,” she recalled. “I was terrified I’d do something wrong, but all he wanted was to feel safe. And from that very moment, he wouldn’t leave my neck.”

What started as a newborn instinct to seek warmth quickly became a full-blown habit. As the days turned into weeks, and Fig grew from a wobbly little bundle into a strong, confident kitten, one thing never changed: his need to be close to Camryn—specifically, snuggled into her neck.

“Even when he got bigger, he’d climb up my shoulder like it was the only place he belonged,” she said, laughing. “I’d be working on my laptop or cooking dinner, and there he was, purring against my neck like a little scarf.”

Camryn’s bond with Fig only deepened during those early weeks. Raising a neonatal kitten is no easy feat—especially without the help of a rescue or foster network—but Camryn threw herself into the role of surrogate mother with complete dedication. She learned how to stimulate him to go to the bathroom, how to burp him after feedings, and how to track his weight gain each day.

“There were some scary nights,” she admitted. “Kittens that young can crash fast. I stayed up with him just to make sure he was breathing. It was exhausting, but I loved him so much.”

By the time Fig hit 8 weeks old, he was thriving. His once patchy fur had grown in thick and soft. His eyes sparkled with mischief. He started pouncing on socks, chasing shadows, and launching sneak attacks on Camryn’s feet. But despite his newfound energy and confidence, he never outgrew his obsession with being close.

“Most cats grow out of the whole 'cling-to-your-human' phase,” Camryn said. “Not Fig. He still climbs up onto my shoulder and nuzzles into my neck every single day—he’s just a lot heavier now.”

Indeed, Fig is no longer the palm-sized kitten Camryn rescued. He’s now a full-grown cat—13 pounds of fluff, personality, and love. Yet somehow, he still manages to wedge himself between her neck and shoulder like he did when he was tiny.

“It’s honestly the sweetest thing,” she said. “He’s grown so much, but when he’s in that spot, purring away, it’s like we’ve traveled back in time.”

Camryn shared videos of their journey on social media, and the internet fell in love with Fig just as deeply as she did. His clingy behavior, his signature neck snuggles, and his deep, rumbling purr became an online sensation. Thousands of followers watched him grow from a fragile newborn to a healthy adult—without ever losing the bond that started on day one.

“People always ask me if I trained him to do that,” Camryn said. “But honestly? I think he trained me. I became his world the moment I picked him up. And he became mine.”

Now, Fig is living his best life. He has cat trees, a toy box full of crinkly mice and jingle balls, and even a stroller Camryn uses to take him on walks around the neighborhood. But his favorite place remains exactly the same: snuggled into the crook of her neck, just like he’s always done.

“He’s my shadow, my cuddle buddy, my heart,” Camryn said, tearing up. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. I thought I was saving him—but really, he saved me.”

Fig’s story is a testament to how love, patience, and a little bit of closeness can transform a life. From abandoned newborn to beloved companion, he never stopped believing that home was wherever Camryn was—and he never let go.

And honestly, she hopes he never will.

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