‘He went from hiding and hissing to purring so hard he fell over’: Found Hungry, Matted, and Alone, One Semi-Feral Kitten Made a Fierce and Fragile Bid for Love

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Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 13, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Love, no matter what scientists say about brain development or the soul, love exists across all species and spectrums. There is no creature on this planet who does not feel it in some shape or form and not one creature on this planet who does not let love lead their life. And this concept is purrfect characterized by the cute kitten that this story centers around.

As many of you cat connoisseurs will know, a feral feline is a whole different kettle of fish from a domesticated one, and the chances that their transition will go smoothly are almost nill. But this clever catto did not let his feral nature get in the way of the love he sought and so this story has a happy ending. An ending which exemplifies what can be achieved with a little love, an ending which gives hope to the hopeless, an ending which shows that anything is possible.

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    via miassecret
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    I just couldn't leave his sweet scared wide eyed face there! Background is that he was trapped with 4 other siblings outside a local hotel 5 weeks ago, he's 5.2 months old and he's the second to be adopted out.
    via miassecret

  • Jheez, there is nothing more demoralizing than sleeping rough in the street next to a hotel. It’s much like how you are unlikely to find someone who is allergic to cheese waiting in line at a fondue food truck. The feeling would be utterly heartbreaking. Luckily, their story gets so much better from here on out. 

  • 03
    This is my first experience with taming a feral and from what I've read we are out of the "ideal" window for socialization at 22 weeks. Would those of you with experience with converting these little guys into house cats have any advice or tips for me? What
    via miassecret
  • 04
    advice would my future self want now? YouTube has been helpful for sure. There was a great tutorial from the NYC Urban Cat League we watched the first day.
    via miassecret
  • 05
    He's been here for 6 days today and I have him set up in his own room with all the appropriate accessories and a pheromone diffuser. We take shifts with him so he gets lots of one on one time. We have another kitty who
    via miassecret
  • 06
    is about a year old that was distributed to us via the driveway 5 months ago and they are kept separate for now. We take turns spending time with him and have definitely seen him make great progress.
    via miassecret

  • Wowza, what a dedicated couple, it is hard enough acclimating one kitten to a new home, but to acclimate two at the same time and at different stages of acclimation is a big deal. It is like two people doing two sets of dishes, one of which are freshly filthy and the other that is soapy and sudsy, and you just keep switching between the two. Madness. 

  • 07
    He allowed me to touch him on day 4 and honestly the ferocity of his enthusiasm was terrifying! That was definitely the first time he has ever allowed pets in his life. He loved it but I could tell he
    via miassecret
  • 08
    felt conflicted at the same time, like I want to eat this lady but damn this feels good! I'd been avoiding eye contact for days and here he was looking me dead in the eye and purring like a Bobcat!
    via miassecret
  • 09
    I was surprised last night that he hissed at me again despite the fact I'm using the same about of caution and respect I have used since day one. Is it normal for him to regress a little here and there?
    via miassecret
  • 10
    He's very play motivated but I'd like to calm him down as the murder mittens he is sporting are terrifying, I introduced him to a brush and toothbrush yesterday and he was very receptive to those. I was thinking some grooming activities might be soothing? What else should I try?
    via miassecret
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    via the_tails_of_three_kittens
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    I really want him to be a success story and lead a long boring life here as my captive~ beloved indoor cat. What can I be doing better to earn his trust? Thank you in advance... I'm going in!
    via miassecret
  • 13
    Ok-Introduction-470 Yes all of this is normal. It just takes time but it seems like everything is going well. He is still adjusting to the different noises of being inside so I wouldn't be concerned about the hissing at all
    via miassecret
  • 14
    browneyedgirlpie Forget the myth of an age window. Personality is what matter most. Keep doing what you have been. It sounds great so far. Remember that progress includes some backwards steps at times, it's almost never straight improvement.
    via miassecret
  • 15
    Be consistent and bring calm affectionate energy. Try not to react if he hisses or swipes. In time he will feel safer. Also keep in mind that he may or may not ever be a lap cat. Having him safe and content in your home is the ultimate goal. His eyes are gorgeous
    via miassecret
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    Here was Tom's ferocious first pets and purrs It was so 0-60, I'm going to hide and hiss at you then suddenly pressing into my hand so hard he was falling over. I know I sound like a big baby but it actually scared me a little!
    via miassecret
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    It earned him the name "Tom-Pett-Me" after Tom Petty and because of his sudden and wild insistence on getting these pets!
    via miassecret
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    freya_kahlo Gorgeous kitty!! My partner & I have tamed a bunch of alley cats. If they've had any socialization at any point, it's much easier. It takes a few weeks to tame a previously-socialized cat who's reverted to feral behavior. I use all the
    via miassecret
  • 19
    Jackson galaxy methods - non-threatening body language and slow blinks. Also food, food and more food-worry about regulating their food intake later. The kitty's appetite evens out after a few weeks.
    via miassecret
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    First thing is to determine if the cat has had any socialization - if they have, they will interact with you a little bit either vocally (a good sign) or by otherwise acknowledging your presence and not just hiding as much as possible. Hiding for several days is normal.
    via miassecret
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    Do not handle the kitty (if you can help it) until they let you touch them and you'll develop trust much faster. We spend many hours in the cat room when we have a new rescue — mainly just hanging out working and ignoring the kitty. We'll talk to them a bit in a soft voice and try to engage them in any type of play as soon as they decompress. Often,
    via miassecret
  • 22
    these kitties have to learn how to play with toys & are scared of them at first. We make sure all their needs are met & they have all the amenities for a "kitty hotel" including: two litter boxes, a water fountain, a noise machine, places to sleep, a climbing tower, scratching surfaces, and a variety of safe toys including catnip &
    via miassecret
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    silver vine. This system has worked really well, I have yet to meet a stray kitty who couldn't be wooed by the cushy indoor life. :)
    via miassecret

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fierce hungry hard found cat stories kitten reddit story love feral purring fragile alone hiding fell hissing
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