'Last year a stray cat jumped over my fence and into my life': CDS cat pawrent reminisces about a year-long journey with the fluffy feline addition to their family

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jan 12, 2026 1:00 PM EST

We love a good CDS success story.

When the Cat Distribution System succeeds in matching a cat and a person, it's a reason for celebration for any cat lover around the world. If you love cats, you know that joy that creeps into your heart when you learn of a sweet stray cat that found a furever home. It's a kind of happiness that's hard to explain in words. Sure, we can describe the happiness, the joy, the smiles that it makes our faces make - but it never conveys the true special occasion of a stray becoming a house prince or princess. It's a unique kind of happiness.

But it's not just the moment of adoption that matters. It's the thought of a cat's life-changing experience. Being adopted is what gives these cats a chance at the warmth of a home and the love of a family. But that's just the thought that sparks in the beginning, at the moments the CDS goes "You, human, you belong to this cat now. And they also belong to your heart." When it comes to actually knowing the wholesome journey that a cat like that went through, this makes our hearts smile in so many ways. And this is exactly what this kind cat pawrent did - they showed us what a year after adopting a stray cat looks like. And it looks absolutely adorable.

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  • 01
    Last year a stray cat jumped over my fence and into my life. A few months later he was inside and shortly after that cleared by my vet to join my household. This is the story of how we fell in love with Toby, my CDS gift.
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 02
    the moment we met
    via AbjectFoot8711

  • It's rather cute to have a picture from the first time a person met their cat. We don't have pictures from the first moments we met all of our cats, but they were truly cute moments we'll remember for the rest of our lives. Everyone knows the moment they first encountered their future home fluffball, but not all have the photographic evidence. So the fact that this person has their first minute meeting with their future feline addition to their family is rather wholesome. They can always go back and compare - when their cat was at the point of the meeting, and where they are now (probably snuggled under a warm blanket in their furrever home).

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  • 03
    he just wanted to hang out
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 04
    I fell deeply in love with him
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 05
    he had cuts all over him but let me treat them the first week we met
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 06
    took some time for him and my cat Sebastian to adjust, the catio was helpful.
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 07
    buddies in the making
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 08
    but then it got really cold and he started sleeping in my bathroom
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 09
    I tuned my office into a safe space for him while waiting for a vet appointment
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 10
    he seemed to like it
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 11
    mobile vets are the best! our boy had some issues but was cleared to be with my other cat!!
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 12
    life inside was amazing. rope walls, robot litter boxes and machines to feed him!
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 13
    brothers
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 14
    brothers
    via AbjectFoot8711

  • Yay, brothers! It's sometimes really difficult to introduce a house cat to a new feline friend who joined the family. But it seems like that with these two, it went swimmingly well. They hang out with each other, they're physically close - which really, it says a lot about a cat's affection. Cats don't show affection exactly as we do, so knowing how to recognize these affectionate signs is crucial. Especially when introducing two cats inside the house.

  • 15
    I still get to go outside but from the safety of my catio
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 16
    now I'm safe I'm loved and I love my family
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 17
    Tina-Tuna That catio is amazing, wow what a great choice Toby made jumping over your fence! A robot litter box!! Good grief he's found Cat Eden I'm glad your other kitty aproved. Thank you for sharing his story
    via Tina-Tuna
  • 18
    AbjectFoot8711 His first time trying to use the litter box. He had no idea what to do and he started doing tumbles in the litter robot. He did much better his second time.
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 19
    Tina-Tuna imagine the sheer horror lol poor thing Jessfree 123 Does it work well?
    via Tina-Tuna | Jessfree123
  • 20
    AbjectFoot8711 I personally love it. The litter management was my least favorite part of living with cats and it's so easy now. It also lets me track and chart their weight and how often they are using the box over time. I can't figure out how to attach a screenshot of it though for you unfortunately
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 21
    HappyLiLDumpsterfire Would you be willing to share more pics of the catio? I have a lot of the wire shelves you used but have yet to figure out how to make it work :)
    via HappyLiLDumpsterfire
  • 22
    AbjectFoot8711 Feel free to dm me if you want to chat about catios, I can only attach one picture here. Cats come out the window to get in, there are a few parts where for stability I made boxes inside.
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 23
    Cheezburger Image 10595574272
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 24
    zerobleeps Where did you get that catio from? Love it!
    via zerobleeps
  • 25
    AbjectFoot8711 Technically it's a couple of bookcase kits and about a trillion weatherproof zip ties. It's just a bunch of 1 ft by 1 ft metal squares. With these plastic clips in the corners. It was really cheap but the zip ties make it very strong and sturdy. It's also highly customizable, incredibly simple to put together and very easy to change if you need to.
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 26
    AwfulFireKeeper Thank you for taking him in and making him your family I did the same with my girl Fia, someone locked her in their abandoned flat for two weeks.
    via AwfulFireKeeper
  • 27
    AbjectFoot8711 I'm so happy fia is with you! It's awful when people do that.
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 28
    electroriverside Bless him. Toby's story reminds me of our own feral cat Butty, seen here on the right. He domesticated himself over about a year and a half. In this photo, Butty is on the right with Dippy, who became his best friend. Because of Butty in particular, I know what it is to be blessed.
    via electroriverside
  • 29
    AbjectFoot8711 Aww thanks for sharing Butty and Dippy with me!
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 30
    faustcousindave Can't believe your two cats are the same names as my standard issue boys - Toby (short for Tobias) and Sebastian!
    via faustcousindave
  • 31
    AbjectFoot8711 That's crazy!! I love your boys!!
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 32
    TrueCrimeRunner92 Toby has a triangle just like my Jack!!!! So glad you two found each other wood you are beautifu
    via TrueCrimeRunner92
  • 33
    AbjectFoot8711 Omg our babies are almost twins!!!
    via AbjectFoot8711
  • 34
    TehPaintbrushJester Aww, this made me all teary eyed Thank you for taking Toby in and being such a wonderful cat parent
    via TehPaintbrushJester

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Tags

wholesome cat wholesome cats adorable adorable cats cds heartwarming cute Cat distribution system Cats
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