'[He] showed me a passenger seat full of kittens': Starbucks barista gets handed a kitten through the drive-through window, instantly falls in love with it and takes home the sweetest order of the day

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Sep 14, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Here at ICHC, we always talk about how the CDS can catch you anywhere. The cat distribution system runs on its own servers in its own meowsterious ways. We, mere humans that we are, are living by its rules, not by ours. That is the only thing that explains cats breaking into houses randomly and adopting humans, and cats stopping cars and adopting the humans that are driving, and cats showing up during midnight picnic dates and stealing all of the attention. 

Cat adoption just kind of- happens to most of us. We swear, it is a rare scenario to hear about someone actually choosing their cat instead of the cat choosing them. And the human in this story definitely did not choose the cat. They were looking for a kitten already, which definitely made it easier to say yes, but we would bet one million dollars that they were not expecting to find their soul cat in the middle of a shift at Starbucks when one of the cars pulling up to the drive-through has a passenger seat full of kittens. 

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    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 02
    This Cecil. I adopted him through the Starbucks drive thru. The customer showed me a passenger seat full of kittens and said "do you want a kitten?" And I said "absolutely I do". I took the kitten, put him in my apron pocket, and asked to go home early. Cecil is now six.
    via Ok_Flow_8679
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    Cheezburger Image 10552453632
    via Ok_Flow_8679

  • Honestly, this might be one of the craziest ways that we have ever heard of to end up with a cat, and we have heard of a whole lot of them. Just being handed a kitten in the middle of work through a drive-through window. Why are we not that lucky?

  • 04
    AGeneral Discharge How is kitty adjusting?
    via AGeneralDischarge
  • 05
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP I should have said, this was six years ago. He is my husband's shadow and is never more than three feet away from him. He is super food motivated and likes to tap my foot when he food bowl is empty. He is super gentle and sleeps curled up between my husband and I every night. He is a pain of the a during road. trips. We adore this little guy
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 06
    see332 Does Cecil have a dark tail? The eye color and head markings look like Turkish Van
    via see332
  • 07
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP He does actually. He has his eyebrows and then the tip of his tail has a dark spot
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 08
    taylrbrwr He's adorable. I hope you comp'd their drink for giving you a kitten!
    via taylrbrwr
  • 09
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP I did! Best trade ever
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 10
    illarious666 Quick question is he deaf?
    via illarious666
  • 11
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP He is not, he does a pretty good job responding to his name
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 12
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP A couple follow up comments because I didnt expect Cecil to get this much attention. •I was already looking for a kitten when Cecil was offered to me, it made saying yes easier.
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 13
    •The customer was a regular of mine. We were by no means close but I wasnt a complete stranger. •My manager was a friend and was more than happy to let me leave my shift early. •Cecil is very loved and spoiled rotten
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 14
    STUART TURTON BESTSYN HARDCASTLE 7 DEATE EVELYN R THE LAST RDER THE END OF WORLD THE LAST MURDER AT STU
    via Ok_Flow_8679

  • We are so happy that this happened, we have to say. The fact that this kitty ended up in such a warm and loving home is a miracle. There is no way of knowing who he would have ended up with otherwise. We can only hope that the rest of the kitties ended up in homes as good as this one. 

  • 15
    Alarming_Jicama2979 Sweet story! Did you neuter him or was that included? Bonus, if yes!
    via Alarming_Jicama2979
  • 16
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP He is neutered. He is a pampered, indoor prince.
    via Ok_Flow_8679
  • 17
    razor_eddie Great looking cat. It seems to have a nose (like, not a muzzle, a nose). Don't forget to sunscreen his pink snozz, in summer.
    via razor_eddie
  • 18
    Ok_Flow_8679 OP He is strictly and indoor cat. We move too often to let him roam outside. I would be too worried about him getting disoriented
    via Ok_Flow_8679

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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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