Chuck Hawley was driving to work on a dark Friday morning in Salem, Oregon, when something odd caught his eye. Cars ahead of him were swerving slightly, driving over a small black shape in the middle of the road. He thought it might be a box or a piece of trash. But as he got closer, he saw it move ever so slightly. What he saw next made his heart stop. Sitting on the cold pavement was a tiny kitten, trembling, her little body glued to the asphalt.
Most people would have kept driving, but not Chuck. He slammed his brakes, turned on his hazard lights, and stopped traffic. When he ran to her, he realized her paws were stuck fast to the road. The poor kitten was covered in what looked like rubber cement from her neck to her tail. She was soaked, freezing, and terrified. The sight of it was almost unbearable. Cars honked behind him as he carefully peeled her away from the road, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t believe that anyone could be so cruel. The way she was stuck made it clear this wasn’t an accident. Someone took the time to press her little body down into the glue. There were no footprints or signs that she had walked into it herself. Someone had placed her there.
Chuck brought the kitten into his car and turned on the heat, wrapping her in a towel. She didn’t make a sound, only shivered in his hands. At the animal shelter, the staff worked gently to clean her. They used mineral oil to loosen the glue and carefully washed the sticky residue from her fur. Beneath the grime, they discovered tiny puncture wounds on her neck. It was hard to imagine what she had been through before Chuck found her. The veterinarian who treated her said it was a miracle she hadn’t been hit by a car. The spot where she was found was in the middle of a traffic lane, where cars sped by without slowing down. Somehow, she had survived long enough for one kind stranger to notice.
Chuck couldn’t get her out of his mind. He had stopped to save her life, but he hadn’t expected she would end up changing his. After her treatment, he and his wife decided they couldn’t let her go. They had talked about adopting a cat just a few days before, and it seemed like fate had decided for them. They named her Sticky, a funny and fitting tribute to the bizarre way she had come into their lives. The name stuck, just like she had stuck to their hearts. Chuck joked that there were easier ways for a cat to find her family, but if this was how it had to happen, then so be it.
After a good bath, a lot of Goo Gone, and a warm meal, Sticky began to relax. Her fur softened, her eyes brightened, and she started exploring her new home. Chuck shared her story on Facebook, and it quickly spread around the world. People were horrified by how she had been found, but even more touched by the way she had been rescued. He created a page called “Sticky the Kitty,” where thousands of people followed her journey. Photos and videos showed her learning to play, cuddle, and trust again. In every picture, she looked a little stronger and more loved.
Sticky became part of the Hawley family, joining Chuck, his wife, and their two dogs. She still had a curious streak and often followed Chuck around the house to ensure he wouldn’t forget her. She loved curling up in warm spots, especially on his lap after work, as if she knew he was the reason she was safe. The story of Sticky the Kitty became more than a viral post. It became a reminder that kindness still exists, even when cruelty tries to take center stage. One small compassion on a cold morning changed a kitten’s life. And somewhere in Salem, a once-tiny ball of fur glued to the road now purrs herself to sleep each night in the warmth of her forever home.
