RAPID CITY, S.D. — Cleo has already done the hardest part. She raised her kittens, watched each of them find a home, and then stayed behind.

Cleo came into A Place for Meow Rescue in the spring of 2024 after board member Haley McAllister stepped in to help a mama cat and her kittens. At the time, Cleo was very unsure of people and kept her distance. For a long time, she wouldn’t come close enough to be touched.

Now, nearly two years later, Cleo is still waiting.

Her journey has been slow, but it has been steady. Since moving into a foster home with fellow board member Abbee in March 2025, she has started to change in small but meaningful ways. In the last few months, Cleo has begun climbing into bed at night, softly announcing herself with quiet mews. She curls in close, sometimes wrapping herself near your head, and has started to accept gentle pets on her terms.

She still startles easily with sudden movement, but she comes back. That’s what makes Cleo special. She is learning to trust, one moment at a time.

Cleo gets along well with other cats and seems to find comfort in their presence. She has always been content just having a safe place to land, asking for very little while giving what she can in return.

Rescue staff say Cleo doesn’t need much. Just a patient home, a calm environment, and someone willing to let her come around at her own pace. After everything she has done for her kittens, they say it’s her turn to finally have a place of her own.

Cleo is available for adoption through A Place for Meow Rescue. You can learn more at www.aplaceformeowrescue.org or visit them on Facebook by searching A Place for Meow Rescue.