For the longest time, I proudly identified as a devoted “dog person.” Dogs were my passion, and I felt a natural connection with them. Cats, on the other hand, remained an enigma to me. Their behaviors puzzled me, and I felt uneasy in their presence. How could I anticipate their unpredictable actions like biting or scratching?
Everything changed when a family member implored my partner and me to adopt her cat. Reluctantly, I agreed, and from the moment we welcomed him into our home, my perspective shifted dramatically. This sweet, affectionate feline has become an indispensable part of my life, and I cannot imagine it without him. It appears that many cat owners have experienced similar unexpected companions entering their lives. Redditors have been sharing heartwarming stories of their feline friends finding them, and we’ve compiled some of the most touching anecdotes below. Take a moment to read through these stories and show your appreciation by upvoting those that resonate with you, reaffirming your belief in the serendipitous nature of cat companionship.
#1
A stray cat found its way to me. I had never desired a cat nor felt drawn to them until this furry kitten began showing up on my boat at the marina. His persistence annoyed me greatly. Every time I went fishing or carried out maintenance tasks, there he was. Despite my efforts to shoo him away, he wouldn’t budge. Reluctantly, I set up a feeder and waterer for him, and he ended up living on the boat for four months. One day, he followed me to my car and hopped in. That was 14 years ago. I now have four cats. This little guy has accompanied me on numerous fishing trips to the Bahamas and Dry Tortugas, among other adventures. Here he is at 14, the king of the boat, appropriately named Beagle after Darwin’s vessel.
(Image credits: Icthyphile)
#2
This cat’s mother gave birth in a utility closet at a group home for disabled individuals where I was recovering from an accident. The kittens were accidentally locked inside without their mother for a couple of days before being discovered. They were less than two weeks old. Despite my limited resources and physical challenges, I couldn’t bear to see them suffer. I returned gifts I had received to buy supplies and took care of the kittens, transporting this particular one in a basket on my walker. He learned to walk alongside me and is now peacefully sleeping by my side.
(Image credits: anon)
#3
My current cat mischievously snatched my key ring from my pocket while I was petting him and dashed off. After a brief pursuit, I managed to retrieve my keys and playfully “sentenced” him to life for his thievery.
(Image credits: RustyPShackleford)
To delve deeper into these stories
#4 A taxi driver heard faint meows coming from the bushes while on duty and discovered a box filled with kittens. He took them to the local shelter. Upon seeing their post, I decided it was time for my senior cat to have a companion. And that’s how little Ollie became part of our family. (Photos from the shelter’s post, his first days at home, to his first birthday.) Image credits: Viktorija O.
#5 One morning, a cat appeared on the roof, meowing loudly. It made its way into the house, jumped on the couch with a look that said, “I belong here now.” Image credits: Sunset_Kiddo.
#6 Initially planning to adopt a cat from a litter that had been living on a friend’s porch, I ended up taking two from the litter so they could keep each other company while I was at work. When I went to pick up my chosen cat, a shy girl from the litter surprised me by approaching, climbing onto me, and making herself comfortable. That moment sealed the decision to adopt them both, and they have been with me for over three years, bringing joy every day. Image credits: LaikaAzure.
The OP shared thoughts on why many cat owners have unique stories of how their cats chose them, emphasizing the intuitive nature of cats and how they gravitate towards certain individuals. Little_Manager2727 recounted how their cat found them on the streets, highlighting the feline’s innate ability to connect with specific people. The OP also noted their own experience of a cat choosing them over others, showcasing the intriguing ways in which cats demonstrate their preferences.
#7 While studying at university, a friend informed me that his sister had discovered a cat while mushroom hunting. This 7-month-old feline was wandering alone in the forest. Despite never owning a pet before, I was captivated and decided to bring him home. Patrick will soon celebrate his 10th birthday. Image credits: Viktorija O.
#8 Having grown up surrounded by cats, I developed a deep affection for them. However, my partner, unfamiliar with cats, was initially put off by my sister’s energetic felines. After months of searching on rescue sites, I found a perfect match for us – a kitty who craved constant cuddles. When I introduced him to my partner, he immediately expressed interest in meeting the cat. Upon meeting the cat, it was evident that he had found a special connection as the cat napped on his hand. My partner now proudly identifies as a “Benny person” when asked if he likes cats.
Here are the rewritten texts:
#9
Found in my grill in the ashtray, this dog named Ashe was discovered by heysundaysie. Despite financial concerns, the author couldn’t resist her and she eventually found her way home, as Hopeful_Metal3723 captured in the image.
#10
MiaMiaPP’s beloved dog, found at the dumpster, is the love of their life.
#11
Rescued by kind Redditors, a kitten was picked up by the author’s husband from another state, as kevnmartin’s image credits show.
#12
Velveteenelahrairah’s cat decided to stay with them after the neighbors moved away. Despite her attitude, the cat seems to have a soft spot for the author.
#13
The author’s boyfriend’s cat, Cleopatra, found her way into his house from the neighborhood, choosing him as her owner, as documented by dingleberry_mustache.
#14
Tiny Cat and Ceasar were welcomed into the family in unexpected ways. Tiny Cat was found by a friend, while Ceasar was abandoned and adopted through the vet, as sassykittygurl’s image credits depict.
#15
In search of a companion for her elderly dog Mac, the author’s mom found a sassy tortie in a tiny town alley, as beautifully captured in the image.
I received her as a gift and she was a wonderful companion to my Mac. Sadly, Mac has passed away (the best cat in the world, it still hurts), and now she is my constant companion. She can be mischievous, but I adore her.
The original poster also mentioned how much they appreciated the responses to their post. They found them to be positive and heartwarming. They particularly enjoyed the expressive personalities displayed in the photos of the cats. Little_Manager2727 expressed a desire to advocate for adopting animals and spreading kindness, especially to homeless pets. They shared their belief in the special bond that can form between a person and a pet, which can be truly remarkable.
One person shared their story of finding a stray cat during a walk, who is now relaxing on their bed. Another shared the journey of rescuing and adopting their three cats, each with a unique story. Many others also shared heartwarming tales of finding and caring for their beloved feline companions.
Little_Manager2727 also revealed their dream of opening a shelter for homeless dogs and cats in Mexico, emphasizing the importance of saving even just one animal. They expressed gratitude for the safety and love their own pet, Sylvie, receives, despite the many animals still in need of homes and care.
The stories continued with encounters of abandoned or injured cats being rescued and nurtured back to health, showcasing the kindness and compassion of those who provide loving homes to these animals in need. Each tale highlighted the special connections formed between humans and their feline friends, demonstrating the beauty of caring for and being loved by a cat.
Here are the rewritten texts:
1. A cat showed up in our yard, eating the food we left out for another cat in the neighborhood. As the weather turned cold last December, she became more vocal, leading us to realize she wasn’t an outdoor cat. We thought she might be a lost cat of someone we knew, but she turned out not to be. She was four-paw declawed. We searched for her owner but couldn’t find one, so she won us over and now she rules the place. We named her Holly, as it was a week before Christmas.
2. My kids, in high school at the time, found a little black kitten hiding in a car’s wheel well on their way home from school. They managed to rescue the kitten and brought him home, surprising me while I was at work. River, as we named him, is still beloved by all of us and will turn ten next year.
3. In early 2017, a cat appeared in my late grandmother’s driveway. Despite being chipped, no one answered the registered numbers. It seemed he had traveled far and found a new home with us. We suspect he was abandoned by his previous family. Six years later, he has become my best friend and soul cat. I took him in after my grandmother fell ill, fulfilling my promise to care for him. He has been with me for almost two years now and is very happy.
4. Our first cat came from a farm, where we went for horseback riding and ended up bringing home one of the barn cat’s kittens. Our second cat was from a feral mother who gave birth in a window well, and we chose one of the ginger kittens. I’ve always hoped to have a sleek black kitty come into my life.
5. I found my cat in the parking lot where I work, injured from being hit by a car. I took him to the vet, who initially thought he might not survive but later recovered. His original owner abandoned him due to high medical bills, and I gladly took him in. We named him Rhodey, inspired by his road accident and the comic book character who had to learn to walk again.
6. Among the cats we have now, two are from rescues. Unfortunately, we recently lost one of our shelter cats to end-stage renal failure at the age of 16. It’s been a tough loss, and I’m still grieving. Those who have experienced this kind of loss will understand the pain.
Two brothers were found abandoned in a crawlspace by my sister-in-law. We have been caring for them since they were 4 weeks old. The third cat, a stray who appeared on our back deck, has now become part of our family. Despite our efforts to locate her previous owner, she is now ours. Another cat we had in the past was found as a kitten in a parking lot and eventually moved in with us after being neglected by his previous owners. Another cat was rescued from the woods by my ex-husband, who couldn’t bear to leave the old cat behind. The sweetest and most loving cat I’ve ever had turned out to be diabetic and have a heart murmur, making him quite expensive to care for. Additionally, two kittens were discovered in an apple tree trunk by my dad at my grandma’s house, and they found a new home with us. Another two cats followed me home one day, one from a feral litter and another from my aunt’s house. We also care for several strays, including three cats who were left behind by previous neighbors. We are working on finding them new homes. Two cats were adopted from a shelter, one was rescued from an egress window as a kitten, and another was found in a hedge during a stormy night. Despite not all getting along, they are all beloved members of our family. My kitten, Nova, found her way into my life unexpectedly.
1. I quietly slipped in through the screen door and entered my mom and stepdad’s condo one night. They already had 5 cats, and I had been wanting a kitten, so I decided to take her. As it turned out, she was really sick, which made me feel like she chose us because she knew we would take care of her. Luckily, she’s on the mend now!
2. My husband chose our cat, but the cat ultimately chose me. After our wedding, he went to the shelter to pick out a cat as a wedding gift for me (this decision was mutual, not a surprise). Although he had a couple of cats in mind, one named Puma caught his attention. Despite Puma’s fearful and aggressive behavior, my husband had no trouble interacting with him. This surprised the shelter staff. Later, my husband took me to the shelter to see if Puma was the cat for us. When he handed Puma to me, the little cat immediately snuggled into my arms, and I knew he was the one. We named him Rajah, and he has become my best companion, sweet and loving, always cuddling with me.
3. Growing up, my family preferred German Shepherds, but I found myself drawn to jumping spiders and snakes. During university, I even raised a little snake. Cats were never on my radar as my family preferred chickens for their eggs. However, my first cat ended up being a lifesaver. I encountered a litter of abandoned kittens, and one fateful day, she prevented me from making a drastic decision by biting my skirt. Since then, she has been my companion. My second cat was rescued from a dreadful situation where cats were bred for consumption. I took her away from that cruel environment, enduring hardships in the process.
4. My oldest cat was born right outside my house, while the youngest got herself stuck up in a cedar tree, crying for hours until I managed to rescue her.
5. During a walk near our home, a tiny, malnourished kitten approached my wife, meowing pitifully. We checked for her mother and decided to take her in. She has since become very attached to me and fiercely protective of our family, even chasing away a large dog that threatened me. It’s been almost five years, and she now lounges on my desk as I type this.
6. Initially, she was my sister’s cat until her boyfriend’s allergies became a concern.
Our mom now has a cat, and since I currently live with her, so do I.
I had wanted a cat, and my dad saw a newspaper ad giving away 6-month-olds. Eight years later, he’s still my best friend. He was the most shy cat of the bunch, and I was worried that no one else would give him a chance. He has a big personality around people he’s comfortable with.
Our cat was found in an abandoned old barn with a litter of kittens by a rescue. While her ‘real’ name is Harriet, we started calling her Mama Cat, which later became Mama, and that’s what we call her now.
Mama cat gave birth to a litter under a woman’s shed in Southeast Louisiana. She put them on Craigslist, and I picked up two torties from a cardboard box on the woman’s kitchen table. I had them for 18 and 19 years, respectively. So, basically, they were considered trash.
We live on a rural road near a housing development, and the barn is the closest building to the road. We suspect that people dump kittens there, as we often see different cats hanging around. Just recently, a big fluffy grey one appeared, but none of them are tame enough to approach.
My daughter found our cat online on Petfinder from a rescue near us. She was at a foster’s home, and it took her a whole year to adjust to us. Finally, she loves us, and I believe she was found on the street due to how long it took for her to trust us.
We went to dinner at a local farm/restaurant where three kittens started following us. The farm owners mentioned that they had another litter on the way and suggested we take the kittens. That’s how we ended up with three cats at once.
One of my cats walked in through the open back door as a likely 3-4 month old kitten, jumped on the couch, and fell asleep. That was over a year ago, and he remains the sweetest little Noodle.
I found my old boy Monty in an alley near some dumpsters. He had likely been on the streets for a while, and though I never knew his exact age, he was the chillest little weirdo, and I cherished our time together.
I found my cat under my friend’s porch. They were from the neighborhood stray’s last litter before she was fixed.
We found our recently departed cat Lucy with an old couple. She was part of a litter born under their porch but was missing when we initially looked at them. The old couple’s grandson was trying to hide her, and she spent 17 happy years with us. As for our still living cat Riley, we found her in another old couple’s garden shed with her siblings after being rescued from a roadside box. She was the runt but has a big personality.
I found a kitten on the way to work for a school project, but that project
They escorted us to the neighboring kitten room and released the three adorable kittens. While two paid us no attention, one immediately climbed up my clothes to my shoulder, snuggling into my neck. I could sense I had been chosen, and that was that.
Back when I still resided with our parents, our dogs were causing a commotion outside. Living in the countryside, it was not unusual for them to come across a critter. Assuming it was a groundhog or something similar, we ventured outside to discover a tiny kitten hiding in the bushes. 🥺 Initially, we weren’t planning on keeping her as we already had a menagerie of animals, but we couldn’t find her a home, and she was so sweet and small (she only weighs 5lb as an adult!). Now that I have my own place, she came along with me (as she was scared of the other animals).
Someone abandoned her and left her in the back of my husband’s truck while he was working the night shift at Walmart. After finishing his shift in the morning, he discovered his truck was meowing.
I stumbled upon my cat abandoned in a parking lot near the woods.
I found my grandma’s kitten under a car.
In a trash can filled with sawdust.
Let’s see:
Cat 1: Adopted her from a shelter as she had asthma and no one wanted her. I took her in because she was so sweet and pretty.
Cat 2: Rescued him from a garage when he was a tiny, malnourished baby. He has grown into a big cat now.
Cat 3: Received as a gift from a friend who owned a pet shop. I purchased some fish from him, and when they fell ill, I bought medicine from one of his employees, which unfortunately led to the demise of my fish. Feeling remorseful, he gave me the cat.
Cat 4: Another gift from a friend, a mischievous little orange kitten.
I used to be a dog person and always had dogs. Moreover, my previous roommates had cats, and I was convinced that I wouldn’t be liked by any cat. Whenever I encountered a cat, it never ended well. However, last Thanksgiving while visiting family in Mexico (where there are many stray pets), a baby kitten approached my family but kept rubbing against me. It was evident that she chose me, knowing I was the susceptible one who would fall in love with her and bring her home to enjoy all the cat food in the world.
As I stood in front of boxes filled with kittens at the animal shelter, I bent down to inspect the lower row when suddenly five claws started playing with my hair. Looking up, I saw a beautiful white and red tomcat. It was love at first sight for both of us. His name was Robin, and he stayed by my side for many years, despite a chronic eye disease and
In one instance, the fosterer was taken aback when the cat emerged. This particular feline rarely interacted with people, even after three years of being in the home. It was this behavior that convinced the individual that this cat was meant for them. Originally spending two years in foster care or a shelter, this feline captured their heart. The trio of cats in their household each came from different rescue organizations – one from the SPCA and two from local shelters. Milo was discovered in a parking lot, and Ruby was sourced from a co-worker, though her exact origin remains a mystery. Their own furry friend was found outside their apartment, nestled up against a fence. Another cat was left behind by neighbors when they moved, and was discovered in some bushes nearby, radiating kindness. On a separate occasion, one cat advertised for adoption on social media captured their attention due to being a tuxedo cat with unique markings. The second cat was rescued as a newborn tossed aside to perish, cared for by the individual until they were old enough to be rehomed. Similar tales abound among all their past and present feline companions. In yet another scenario, a kitten born into a litter of healthy siblings became paralyzed one day. Facing the prospect of being taken to a shelter, the couple intervened and welcomed the special needs kitten into their home. Across the globe, their diverse array of cats have been serendipitously discovered. An orange tabby was adopted from a local shelter in the USA, a Chantilly-Tiffany was found on the streets of Dubai, and a Tortie was rescued after a serious injury in Kuwait. Eager for a Bengal cat in their future, the individual remains open to welcoming feline friends from any location. Their history with cats is a tapestry of unique journeys. The first tuxedo cat was brought to them by their aunt at six months, who later moved in with his littermate. The second white cat with heterochromia was a gift from their brother’s workplace, living for eleven years before disappearing. The third ginger cat came into their life injured, with a missing toe, and stayed with them for two years until a tragic accident. The fourth cat, a Siamese mix, entered their home as a kitten, later finding comfort next door during a storm. The fifth tuxedo cat was given up by an owner moving abroad, now four years old and thriving. Lastly, the void cat, a unique addition gifted by the same aunt decades later, has been a cherished companion for over two years.
