The Impact Of The Magical Story Of Yoda, The Persian Cat Lives On Even After His Demise

"He smelled like what I imagined Heaven would smell like"

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• September 30, 2024

This is the story of Yoda, a cherished Persian cat who was rescued. Numerous other cats and people have benefited from his existence and still do.

The New Yorker and rescuer Beth Stern referred to her Persian pet, Yoda Stern, as the family's "elder statesman," and the two had a unique bond. He turned into an internet celebrity, "one of her best friends," and her very own "marshmallow man."

In the end, rescuing Yoda resulted in the success of numerous more animal rescues as well as an innovative children's book series. When Yoda's time came to say goodbye, Stern shared the experience with thousands of followers, and love and support flowed beautifully.

As many of you are aware, Yoda the Persian cat is the star of children's novels written by Beth Stern, a best-selling author, TV personality, rescuer, and spokesman for North Shore Animal League America (NSALA). Along with several of the ninety kittens they rescued and fostered together in a single year, Beth's husband Howard named the cat Yoda.

He regularly assisted in grooming the Persian cat. The first book told the story of how the North Shore Animal League had adopted a malnourished and depressed Yoda.

The shelter benefits from the book sales as well. However, Beth claimed that Yoda had been in the shelter "way too long."

Here is Stern and her Persian Cat

Stern then found out that the cat had a heart ailment which meant that it couldn't last for up to six months. Stern made the decision to give the cat the best possible life as a result.

“He had probably three to six months left"

It was spring kitten season when Stern brought him home, and the Persian had a thing for the foster kittens right away. Remarkably, he never left the foster room and went on to become a proud papa to several kittens.

Yoda had "a new spring in his step" after providing care for foster kittens. Yoda's health significantly improved after that and his heart strengthened to the surprise of the veterinarians, who took him off cardiac medication.

“I truly believe that love and purpose healed his heart,” Stern said.

Stern desired to share the “magical” cat's story with the whole world

“He had probably three to six months left,” Beth told Yahoo about Yoda, who was diagnosed with a heart ailment. ‘He was a sad little guy — his fur was shaved, he was super skinny, and his eyes were ucky.

Around that time, I brought home a litter of kittens and Yoda followed me to the foster room. His eyes were wide as saucers, his ears perked up, he ran in and started grooming each kitten from head to toe. He pushed them over to the food bowl. If one escaped, he’d chase after her and corral her back in. He has not left the foster room in six months!'”

Check out this YouTube video about Yoda

The following year, Stern also shared a follow-up about Yoda and his foster kitty Buddy, who is blind. “I literally sit in the foster room and observe, and miracles are happening in there,” Stern said.

Numerous other pets have been saved, thanks to these books. The world's largest no-kill rescue organization, the NSALA, benefited entirely from the sales of the books.

“Resting and purring💙”

The Sterns found out in October 2022 that Yoda had lung cancer and would not be living for long. Howard and Beth were inconsolable.

In her NSALA blog, she detailed the emotional rollercoaster. He had displayed fast weight loss, dysphagia, and irregular breathing.

Over time, the fluffy cat began to resemble a baby kitten more and more, but he continued to keep a close eye on the foster kittens. With medicine to make him comfortable, the Sterns provided him with the best possible last few days.

Yoda would not be allowed to suffer

The other cats in the house appeared to know once they returned from the veterinarian. They began showing Yoda more affection and love.

Online, Yoda and the rescuers received love, prayers, and healing purrs from hundreds of followers. When Yoda was finally ready to leave, the Sterns were grateful that they had been able to provide a peaceful crossing for him.

"Yoda needed us to help him go and what a gift that we were able to.”

“I always told him he smelled like what I imagined Heaven would smell like…💙 Thank you @sagharborvet for making this day so calm and peaceful for us. And to everyone reading this: we miss him already but we are ok. Yoda needed us to help him go and what a gift that we were able to.”

Buddy, the blind foster kitten, too crossed the rainbow bridge not too long after. They can now be reunited together and you can share this heartwarming story with your cat-loving family and friends.

Maryjane