In just a couple of months, a video showing a cranky cat’s transformation to a household pet has been viewed over 1.5 million times. That’s partly because even though Barbara has softened up towards her adopted mom, she’s still in the running for the grumpiest looking cat.

Meet “Grumpy Barbara”:

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on May 1, 2020 at 4:50pm PDT

Ever since the untimely passing of the original Grumpy Cat (aka Tardar Sauce) in 2019, the world has been on the lookout for more furry frowns.

Barbara is happy to oblige.

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Dec 14, 2019 at 2:24pm PST

And while she’s now a loving pet, Barbara was once labeled un-adoptable by the shelter she was in. She was as aggressive as she looked.

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on May 7, 2020 at 6:54am PDT

Then one day a woman named Sarah showed up and decided she was up for the task of taking the cat home. But she didn’t know quite the extent of the cat’s demeanor.

“So at first, she hid completely and I could barely get to her. And then she decided she would be chasing, literally chasing me around the room.”

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Apr 14, 2018 at 11:45am PDT

It wasn’t a friendly chase though. Barbara would bite and claw.

“I had to wear knee-high boots,” Sarah told The Dodo.

But over time, Barbara lightened up. And in those first few flickers of appreciation Sarah saw, she knew that perseverance and hard work could calm the cat down and make her feel at home.

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Apr 29, 2018 at 8:03am PDT

While most people would push the issue, Sarah was smart enough to give Barbara some space and let her grow into her feelings of safety and any desire for attention she might eventually have. And that’s an incredible thing to do for an animal – we should all applaud people who take on these tough customers and put in the love and effort that eventually heals them.

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Mar 15, 2020 at 6:52am PDT

Sarah gave the cat “her own timeline,” putting aside her “selfish need to smother her.” And it paid off!

“Then one night at like 4 o’clock in the morning or something, I woke up and she was all over me. And the rest was history.”

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Mar 8, 2019 at 4:12pm PST

Just like that, Barbara had come to the conclusion that this was her home and her person and that life would be better if it involved a little less aggression.

Of course, that didn’t change her face.

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Nov 8, 2019 at 10:21am PST

Even when she’s snuggling, she looks like she wants to claw someone’s eyes out.

But that’s just a quirk – and one that’s earned her nearly 70K Instagram fans!

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Sep 14, 2019 at 4:05pm PDT

Barbara is not the first animal Sarah has saved. In fact, she dedicates much of her time to helping rescue animals around the world.

She is currently raising money for Lanta Animal Welfare, a rescue center working on the treatment, adoption, and sterilization of animals on the island of Koh Lanta in Thailand.

You can even buy a Grumpy Barbara shirt to help out the cause by clicking here.

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A post shared by Barbara (@grumpybarbara) on Apr 20, 2018 at 4:23am PDT

If you’re loving this sweet furry frown as much as we are, be sure to follow Barbara on Instagram.

And you can scroll down to hear more about her rescue story.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: The Dodo via YouTube, @grumpybarbara via Instagram