College student falls for affectionate ginger stray, but school, housing rules, and allergies make a furever home feel out of reach

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
May 24, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

This ginger kitty is clearly the cat's meow! While most of the stray siblings skitter away away from people, one friendly feline in Detroit has stolen hearts at a local workplace. Unlike his feral family, this orange fluffball purrs at people, rolls over for belly rubs, and struts right inside when it's cold like he owns the place. He's basically meownifesting his dream life as a house cat.

Now, the dilemma: a college student is smitten with this snugglebug but isn't sure if adopting him is the right move. With 7–8 months away at school, roommate allergies, and a sneezy grandma back home, it's not a purrrfect setup. The cat's never had a vet visit, and while he clearly craves indoor life, there's concern he might still have a bit of outdoor adventurer in him.

The cat-loving student thinks this little guy could help fill the paw-shaped hole left by the family dog's passing, but wants to be sure it's best for both the cat and the fam. The comment section is full of warm fuzzies, allergy hacks, and suggestions for fostering or rehoming because when a cat chooses you, it's not just adorable… it's destiny.

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  • 01
    Hello everyone! There is a group of stray cats at my work in Detroit, and they all hang around because we give them food. They all come from the same mom, but all have different fathers we think. Anyways, most of them (there are about 9-10) are super skiddish
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 02
    around humans, except for the orange one you will see below. He is super friendly, clearly loves being inside and around people, will be hand fed, takes scratches including rolling over on his back, and will let you pick him up. He
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10509067008
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 04
    also meows like crazy when he's hungry and wants to be fed. It's funny because he's the only one out of his whole litter to love scratches and humans (other than his 7 year old mom who is basically a house cat).
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 05
    I feel so bad for it. It clearly loves people and would make a great per, but it is obviously a stray and has never been in home living, so im a little worried it might WANT to live outside. But it is the only cat that willingly comes inside when it is cold. It also definitely hasn't been checked out by any vet, so there's always a concern it has health issues.
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 06
    I'm currently a college student working at home with my parents, so if I were to take it home, I would be away from it for about 7-8 months of the year. I don't want to bond with it as if it were "my cat" and then leave it for my parents for months and it forgets about me or loses my trust as his
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 07
    owner. I unfortunately cannot take it to my house at school because one of my roommates is very allergic to cats and I don't want to make his living situation h I.
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 08
    Budweiser
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 09
    Lastly, my grandmother is also allergic to cats. She gets the typical allergic reaction (itchy eyes, scratchy throat) but I've honestly never seen her around cats nor know if it's still a problem. My mom is super worried about her not being able
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 10
    to be in our house while the cat is here, but I told her there are ways around that like keeping the cat away upstairs when she is over and doing deep fur cleaning when she does. Is this a concern for me getting the kitty at all?
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10509067264
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 12
    All in all, I want this cat so bad and I know my parents would love it. We've been without a pet for almost two years (my dog tragically passed two years to this day), so I think this would be great for them for the next two years until I can have a place of my own and live with him as my cat.
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 13
    Let me know what you guys think, I'll post some videos and photos below of the little guy! I think he's about 1-2 but there's no way to tell!
    via u/pattyice1119
  • 14
    Fluid-Impression... I'd take him home. He sounds like a lovely little fellow and you'd regret leaving him behind.
    via u/Fluid-Impression3993
  • 15
    Winterpollen Absolutely. You'll both be the richer for it.
    via u/Winterpollen
  • 16
    UltraGlitterCat My boyfriend is allergic to cats. We have 3 rescues and a feral friend. We buy Allegra frequently, it's doable. Please bring this cutie inside.
    via u/UltraGlitterCat
  • 17
    MindFluffy5906 He loves you. You love him. No problems here. Please take him home. Vet check and vaccines. You want a health kitty and he needs a good long, healthy life.
    via u/MindFluffy5906
  • 18
    Frequent-Pea-1986 He's so darn cute!
    via u/Frequent-Pea-1986

  • That kitty is absolutely adorable! His little face is so sweet, and that pink nose? 100% boop-approved. He looks like the kind of cat who gives the best head nudges.

  • 19
    Creative_Cat7177 He loves you. I think you have to do what you can. My brother is horrendously allergic to cats, but when he visits my parents (who have a cat), he has to s k it up and take antihistamines. He doesn't seem to mind and it doesn't stop him coming to visit. I'm allergic to cats too, but I still have one.
    via u/Creative_Cat7177
  • 20
    Somehow I seem more allergic to tuxedo cats than tabbies (my rescue is a tabby, but I had three black and whites before and my parents one is black and white, so a small sample but still I rarely get allergies from my tabby)... so there's a chance he might not be as allergenic to your grandma as you think.
    via u/Creative_Cat7177

  • Allergies can be managed with meds, cleaning, and keeping kitty out of certain rooms. But missing out on giving this sweet furball a forever home? Now that’s unfixable.

  • 21
    Glibasme I would take him in. Even if you're away, he will adjust to being with what will become his other humans. He will eventually adjust to being an indoor cat, especially if fixed. He's much better off in a home than out in the streets where he will suffer and his life will be short. I would give him a home.
    via u/Glibasme
  • 22
    hattenwheeza Grandma can situationally take zyrtec to control for allergies on visit day and kitty can stay upstairs. No worries on the cat forgetting you. They choose their ppl and that's that. They can love other people but they don't unbond with the chosen.
    via u/hattenwheeza
  • 23
    maggiemae3612 Take him home
    via u/maggiemae3612
  • 24
    Fujoshranger Congrats on your new kitty
    via u/Fujoshranger

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Tags

ginger aww cute cats adopted advice kitty Cats stray rescue
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