Story time:
A bit less than a decade ago I had a friend who had a cat, a tiny void who was pretty skittish and not fond of strangers. I grew up with cats and have always had a “green thumb” like for gardening but for cats. When I started hanging at his and his GFs place at least once a week me and the cat became comfortable with each other, but I also saw that they had no idea how to actually care for a cat.
They bought the cheapest food, even though they definitely weren’t strapped for cash, almost never played with her, didn’t know how to read cat body language etc.
I tried teaching them, giving them (well her, the cat) toys but they just ended up collecting dust in a drawer, I told them what cat foods I knew were good and to test different kinds to see which she both likes and were good for her health but they never changed.
When I moved apartment to one a lot closer to where they were living they asked me to pet sit whenever they went abroad and I happily obliged. The first day the first time wasn’t easy for her, she had never been outside their apartment since they got her, but the very next day I was woken up by her climbing onto of my chest and dragging her cheeks all over my face and licking me almost like I was catnip, we were best friends after that and I loved having her with me and seeing this new comfortable and happy side of her. I played with her daily, had nice (as in good for her, not just more expensive) food, treats every now and then etc. Then after 10 days they came back and as soon as I opened the door and she noticed it was them she darted under my bed and pressed herself up against the back wall… It fucking broke my heart, it’s not like I could say “hey, I don’t think you guys are good pet parents, so I’ll take her and give her a better life”. And that first time I wasn’t completely sure if it was specifically them she reacted like that to but after pet sitting her a couple of more times that was definitely the case, if other people came over she wa shy but not even close to what she did whenever they came to get her. I tried talking to them about caring for cats, or just being a fucking human being and understanding animals are “people”, living beings with feelings, but I think they didn’t have it in them to understand that. We stopped being friends over other differences, and then I learned she had gotten sick and passed away. I mourned her more than I think they ever did, I’m of course not gonna say it wasn’t a hard thing for them at all but as far as I’m aware they never grieved and just got another cat right after. I still miss her and think about her every now and then, she deserved better.