‘This cat isn't feral at all!’: Feline pawrents of five rescue “feral” tomcat from snowy winter weather, only to discover that he wants to be adopted into their warm, fuzzy family

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 12, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

When we're feeling cold, or hungry, we are not the nicest version of ourselves. And if that goes for us, it purrobably goes for all of the stray, feral cats that are roaming around in this pawsitively freezing winter weather. Imagine being stuck outside in an unfamiliar place, with nowhere to call home, no escape from the cold, no place to relax…you would also be one grumpy kitty, to say the least! That's why we love stories like the one below - it just proves our point that a little love and a warm place to sleep will do wonders for some "feral" cats. 

After feeding this stray cat for nearly half a year, this feline family decided to TNR (trap-neuter-return) this angry-looking tomcat. However, after they got him, they realized that this feral cat wasn't feral at all! He was as sweet as pie and wanted to be loved. He immediately fell in love with his new pawrents, and who are they to say no to a face like that? Read the full thread below and have a great day!

Give the gift of kindness this holiday season by donating to our Giving Tuesday fundraiser to help homeless pets and animals in need! It's time to pay your cat tax!

Advertisement
  • 01
    221
    via u/Calm-Egg1804
  • 02
    We've been feeding "Vince" since late summer when we first started seeing him around our yard. We even put out heated cat huts for him (which he used), but he much preferred sleeping under our wooden deck through the frigid winter days. He definitely got some frostbite to his ears but it seems to have healed mostly okay.
    via u/Calm-Egg1804
  • 03
    I trapped him 3 days ago with the intent to TNR, but when I went to release him this morning I discovered... This cat isn't feral at all! He's such a sweetie, loves to be pet and roll around.
    via u/Calm-Egg1804
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10478122240
    via u/Calm-Egg1804

  • Ooooooy, that face! We can't. We love it when cats make that lovey, tired face. That's a face that says “I'm safe and I love it here," and nothing makes us smile more than seeing our pets feel purrfectly comfortable in the home that we made for them.

  • 05
    I already have 5 cats but I've been saying to my husband for months that "we need a tiger cat because they're my favorite and then we'll have an even number." Should I make this guy #6? •
    via u/Calm-Egg1804
  • 06
    Turbulent-Suspect789 yes, six is an even number, this way when people ask how many cats you have, your response "i have three, and my husband had three". he is too too cute, please keep him
    via u/Turbulent-Suspect789
  • 07
    naonatu- do it. i mean, just look at him
    via u/naonatu-
  • 08
    Eaudebeau Totally looks like a Vince
    via u/Eaudebeau

  • Paws for a moment and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for exclusively silly cat content!

  • 09
    Dull-Ad-1258 He is your house lion. Get him chipped and examined by your favorite vet and keep him indoors. I'm pretty sure he is telling you he wants to be part of your family.
    via u/Dull-Ad-1258
  • 10
    5 cats or 6, what matters is how you feel about him, and how he feels about you. 6 is just a number. Would you really kick him out? No, of course not. Can you see the love in his eyes? He loves you.
    via u/Dull-Ad-1258
  • 11
    Glad_Island8295 absolutely make him #6! he looks like a sweetheart
    via u/Glad_Island8295
  • 12
    sldcam Let him be an indoor cat now
    via u/sldcam
  • 13
    muhnahser CDS appears to be working....
    via u/muhnahser
  • 14
    cptmorgue1 Oh gosh I could never say no to that face!
    via u/cptmorgue1
  • 15
    2of5 He's yours regardless of the decision you make. I don't think you understand how the CDS works. Your views are not relevant. One the other hand Vincent appears to have made THE decision. Congrats.
    via u/2of5
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10478137088
    via Syda Productions

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    just_flying_bi One of the best cats I have ever had was a TNR failure. He ended up being a TNK (Trap, Neuter, Keep). He lived the rest of his life indoors and was an amazing love bug. This guy looks like he is also just as
    via u/just_flying_bi
  • 18
    amazing. Btw, I currently have 6 cats. My friends applaud me for loving all of them. I had a few naysayers, but their opinions really don't matter. Keep this guy and love him forever!
    via u/just_flying_bi

  • That's right - their opinions don't matter! You can have as many cats as you want as long as it's not impeding your lifestyle. Now, we're not saying you go out right now and adopt 20 cats, but what's one more if you already have five? 

  • 19
    SansLucidity Cat Parent yes!!!! nothing is as horrible as a cat who had a home as a kitten & was cruelly left, abandoned to fend for himself or simply lost & forgotten.
    via u/SansLucidity
  • 20
    he doesnt belong outside. he belongs with you & your family. you wanted a tiger & one showed up! welcome home vince.
    via u/SansLucidity
  • 21
    demon_fae Look...he's not going to leave. If he was going to leave, he would have already. You're already feeding him and taking him to the vet, you might as well let him sleep in the house.
    via u/demon_fae
  • 22
    NellieLovettMeat Pies He deserves the coziest bed in the entire house. He deserves the sunniest windowsill. He deserves the warmest lap.
    via u/NellieLovettMeatPies
  • 23
    Reverend Derp I didn't want 4, then the feral that's impossible to catch momma had 2 litters back to back. We ended up with 5 after fostering both litters. On the way home from work on
    via u/ReverendDerp
  • 24
    Halloween, we came across a skin and bones baby in the middle of the road under an overpass in the rain. Her vet bills became quite a bit, so she's #6. The zoomies never end.
    via u/ReverendDerp
  • 25
    MajBEsser Of course he is! Just kook at that face! Those fluffy tomcat cheeks are too much!
    via u/MajBEsser
  • 26
    BrassyLdy Be a hero and love him forever
    via u/BrassyLdy
  • 27
    MorosePython700 Take him. Who are you to argue the decision of the CDS? You need this beautiful boy.
    via u/MorosePython700
  • 28
    GeorgeDukesh The number of cats that you need, C, is given by the formula C= N +1, where N is the number of cats you already have
    via u/GeorgeDukesh

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Tags

stray cats adoption animal rescue adopted tomcat feline cat rescue pawrents family feral forever home Cats loving animals rescue weather ice winter
Scroll Down For The Next Article