Man rescues and falls in love with starving stray cat, who completely changes him from "stubborn dog person" to feline fanatic with only a cute face and cuddles

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 30, 2026 8:45 AM EDT

All it takes is one cat to convince you that you've lived your whole life as a lie.

We grew up in a multi-pet household, but probably not what you're imagining. We grew up with 3-5 dogs at the same time, around two cats, and two horses. Everyone thinks it's really cool to have horses as pets, until you tell them that it's your job every Saturday and Sunday to muck their stalls, but we digress. All of this is to say that we grew up loving animals, but we were always partial to our dogs.

That was, until we adopted our first cat as an adult. We had always pictured ourselves adopting a dog, but our lifestyle wouldn't allow it, so we went for the more independent choice - a cat. And from that meowment, everything changed.

We realized, like our now-cat-dad below, just how meowrvelous cats truly are. You don't have to take them out three or even four times a day to go to the bathroom, they can give you just as many cuddles and emotional support, and they're just as happy to see you come home at the end of the day. It's like all the purrks of having a dog, without any of the downsides.

Now-cat-dad goes on to list even more reasons why he was happily converted to being a feline fanatic, and for any of you other former dog-lovers out there, we think you'll resonate purrfeclty with what he's saying.

Cats are better pets than dogs, and that's a statement we'll defend until our last breath.

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    Cheezburger Image 10619472640
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  • 02
    The Cat Distribution System chose me, a formerly stubborn dog person, to adopt a cat. It was the classic I can't just watch a poor cat starve, so I'm keeping him. Here are some misconceptions I had about cats and their owners:
    via ILoveMeltyCheese
  • 03
    1. The smell of a cat owner's home: I've known a few cat owners with cat-smelling homes. I always assumed it was the cat. Turns out it isn't; it's very much a result of poor ownership and bad cleaning habits.
    via ILoveMeltyCheese

  • The easiest solution to not having that “cat smell" in your home is to clean their litter box frequently. That's it! Cats, themselves, smell wonderful, like freshly-baked cookies or fresh laundry. It's the litter box that causes the odor, so if you take care of that, no more smell!

  • 04
    2. Dogs are more affectionate than cats: Also not true! To my surprise, my cat is so cuddly that I occasionally call him "Cat-dog."
    via ILoveMeltyCheese
  • 05
    3. A Cat's Barbed tongue hurts: I don't know why I thought this, I just assumed it would hurt when they lick you.
    via ILoveMeltyCheese
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    4. Litter boxes are disgusting: Not at all, it's just a clump or two of sand. If you scoop it. often, it never gets gross.
    via ILoveMeltyCheese
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    5. Cats are just as hard to take care of: Actually they're much easier, haha.
    via ILoveMeltyCheese

  • Cats are so much easier to take care of. You can't really leave a dog alone at home for 8+ hours, but you can leave a cat with enough food and water alone for days. We don't recommend doing that, of course, but they will be okay. And scooping litter is far preferable to picking up a doggo's #2 with just a thin plastic bag protecting your hand.

  • 08
    That is all, here's a picture of my cat that I love dearly. (He's lost weight since the picture, don't worry) Anyone else relate? What did I miss? Edit: His name is Pawl
    via ILoveMeltyCheese
  • 09

    A not-so-farfetched tale

    Cheezburger Image 10619474432
    via InformalEgg8

    "Same! I grew up with dogs and my entire family thought cats wouldn't be as cool. WE WERE SO WRONG. My fiancé came with his cat as a package deal. I fell in love twice with this package deal. Then we got another cat. She's so cute and silly with her own personality but same sweetness. Then I started spotting homeless cats and rescuing them last year. With all seriousness I am working harder and happier now because I'm glad to earn so I can help all the cats I can! So many of them get dumped on the streets because they are so misunderstood by so many."

  • 10
    Metroknight I was an only dog owner till I got married and met my wife's cat. The cat, named Patty, never lived with us since it lived all it's life at my wife's parent's house and my wife insisted on getting a cat so we went to the local animal shelter.
    via Metroknight
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    SEP 0 2001
    via Metroknight

    "This is Kallie. She was the only survivor of her litter. Most of her ribs were broken. She was partial deaf and had vision impairment (partial night blind). When we walked into the kitten room (she was maybe 2 months old then) and looking at the kittens, I felt pinpricks climbing up my leg. I looked down and she was climbing my leg. She saw me looking at her and in a faint voice she said "Me".

    When I took her off my leg, I felt her ribs shift (she was still healing) so I told the wife this was our cat and I wanted to call her Crunchy. Wife said no so she got named Kallie (short for calico). The volunteer told us that since she was brought in, she never left her spot unless it was to eat or litter box. We were told also that they did not expect her to live more than 6 months due to the damage done to her.

    6 months later we got our first dog and she raised that pup (another rescue). In total she had raised a total of 4 dogs (all rescues) and 1 child (our son) in her 16 years of life (remember they said she would not live past 6 months - they lied) when she passed away in my son's arms as she sought him out.

    We are a furever house so when a cat or dog comes in, they get to live their life to the best they can."

  • 12
    Good-Butterscotch498 He came into your life specifically to teach you these things. And to make sure you get plenty if cuddles.
    via Good-Butterscotch498
  • 13
    ElmasAburrido I was a dog person too until 1 void decided my home was his and now I have 5 cats lol
    via ElmasAburrido
  • 14
    trackfiends This is really nice to read. People that have no experience with cats have such a low opinion of them. They're some of the sweetest animals and the fact that they do it on their own time makes it so much better. Dogs are cute and fun but the training behind them always makes me feel like they're simply programmed.
    via trackfiends
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    whats13-j42 The cleanest dogs still have dog smell. Not bad or offensive but it's ... dog smell. Indoor cats can smell like clean laundry. Unless you pick them up right after they've been bathing. But never like dog smell.
    via whats13-j42
  • 16
    Stoned4days I was a dog person my whole life (I grew up with outdoor only farm cats though too) but last December I found this little nugget dumped in the forest in a taped shut cardboard box.
    via Stoned4days
  • 17
    She totally changed my mind. Such a sweetheart and honestly super easy maintenance. She takes care of herself pretty dang well. I have 2 feeders and waterers and 2 litter boxes and I dont notice any smell, any mess only the cuddles and goofy kitty behaivors.
    via Stoned4days
  • 18
    When I scooped her up and out of the box cold and shivering barely a few weeks old I put her up on my dashboard heater in the truck and pressed play on the next song. Jolene by Dolly Parton came on and I knew then and there her name would be Jolene.
    via Stoned4days
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    Jolene

    Note
    via Stoned4days

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stray cats dog person stubborn feline fanatic cuddles cat rescue cat person Cats animals
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