When a soldier named Justin was stationed overseas in Romania he came across a little black kitten that caught his attention.
This sweet kitty appeared from out of the bushes and began to follow Justin everywhere he went.
![black kitten in tree black kitten in tree](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/black-kitten-in-tree.jpg)
Each day the little black kitten would wait for Justin to appear.
It would seem he had already decided that this man would be his forever human, so Justin named him Salem.
![salem and justin salem and justin](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/salem-and-justin.jpg)
He loved taking a nap on Justin’s lap, and if his lap wasn’t available, Salem would snuggle down into his combat helmet.
![asleep in helmet asleep in helmet](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/asleep-in-helmet.jpg)
The helmet was probably the closest thing this little black kitten could consider a bed.
![cat in helmet 2 cat in helmet 2](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cat-in-helmet-2.jpg)
Jason knew there was a huge problem with strays in Romania.
"They are everywhere," he said. "And this little guy just took a liking to me."
![salem on lap salem on lap](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/salem-on-lap.jpg)
It didn’t take long for this little black kitten to creep his way into Justin’s heart.
![cat in helmet cat in helmet](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cat-in-helmet.jpg)
When it was time to return to the US, Justin realized that he couldn’t leave little Salem behind but it wouldn’t be possible to immediately take his new buddy with him.
So he set up a GoFundMe page to help with the cost of transporting Salem back to America.
![black kitten black kitten](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/black-kitten.jpg)
It only took four days for Justin to raise $4,000 - there were people out there that really wanted to help.
This amount easily covered the cost for the little black kitten to be vaccinated and flown across country borders.
![black kitten on lap black kitten on lap](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/black-kitten-on-lap.jpg)
It was time for Justin to return home and thankfully he met a volunteer from a local animal shelter and she agreed to help get Salem to the US.
Just two months after Justin and Salem found each other, this little kitty traveled thousands of miles to his forever home in the El Paso, Texas.
![black kitten asleep black kitten asleep](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/black-kitten-asleep.jpg)
There he was welcomed by his new human mom and his future feline companion, Cheddar.
He was ready to start his new life in a loving family.
![black kitten in bag black kitten in bag](https://welovecatsandkittens.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/black-kitten-in-bag.jpg)
Related story: Kitten with Birth Defects Chooses Man and Finds Forever Home
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