Person rescues a stray polydactyl cat from a Target parking lot, the kitty then becomes the best foster dad to the feral kittens at home, teaching and leading them: 'The kittens really look up to Charlie'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 2, 2026 7:00 AM EDT

After rescuing this stray cat from a Target parking lot, this person brought him home and hoped that he would get along with the two feral kittens inside. Things ended up going better than expected, with the rescued cat becoming a foster dad to the kitties. 

Rescuing stray cats is always more difficult than adopting a cat out of a litter. These are cats with experiences, with knowledge about life that indoor cats will never have. It's difficult to change cats like that, difficult to get them used to their new way of living. Of course, some cats do get used to it. A lot of cats love to be spoiled and taken care of. But not all of them. Some stray cats lose a little bit of their purpose once they are inside, and it is up to us to find a new purpose that will be fulfilling enough for them. 

For Charlie, that purpose was becoming a foster cat dad to two feral kittens. We are sure that he did not know that he had that in him, but he is doing amazing. He is using all of that knowledge about life outside that he has both to bond with the kittens and to teach them, to lead them. And they are following each and every one of his movements. 

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  • 01

    "Last week found this guy in a Target parking lot. He’s home now."

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    Dr Teals
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    Monday 08:50 Remember the cat at target? Yes Is it at your house?? It's at my house!! Dr Teal
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    Last week I found this guy at a target parking lot. Snapped a photo and thought "oh maybe I can let his humans know where he is." (Very rare to see stray or feral cats where I live.) Nothing online. so next day I go back and he's sure there. Not microchipped so he spends the night at my house. (Text is to my brother who went to Target with me.)
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    I've spent the last week thinking about him. I got kittens in august that are pretty feral. I'm hoping he can be a good dad figure to them eventually. Maybe help them feel safer. It feels so right to have him back. Last two pics from today. Taking names!
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    His tentative name is Charlie Moonstone. My kittens are named after nature, Skye, Ivy. (Which also happens to both be Kristen Cashore book characters. lol so bonus points if you can fit that in ). He's this beautiful sturdy mountain! He's been so brave. I like the idea of naming him after a rock. My kiddo wants him to have a tree name.
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    Edit TLDR: Oct 4 I saw this cat at Target. Oct 5 I went back, sure 'nuff he was still there. I trapped him and took him to vet (no chip) and then home for that night. Oct 6 I took him to the shelter (he wasn't safe to have around my feral-ish kittens). Oct 6-11 I'm thinking and talking about him all week. Oct 11 he went up for adoption at the shelter. Oct 12 my kid and I went to go see him and decided to adopt him forever.
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    Last edit: his full name is Charlie Jasper Moonstone. (Named after Charlie Chaplin, red Jasper and that he was sound during a supermoon!)
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    He and the kittens are getting used to each other (tension, but so far no fights since the fourth cat--me--keeps intervening to cam everyone down). He also seems a little dismayed to no longer be as free I keep reminding myself that this has to be better than a Target parking lot at least
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    I love hearing everyone's stories of their own Jaspers and well wishes for my mammal family. Thank you all so much
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  • This has to be one of the most beautiful and unique strays that we have ever seen, and we are so glad that you took him in, because with looks like that, someone else might have, and you never know who that someone might be. He's stunning. And he looks very ready to be spoiled and loved until the end of his days. We are also sure that he is going to be a great foster dad. With experience like his in the real world, he is going to have plenty to teach these kittens, and actually, chances are that he, as a kitty who came from the streets, is going to get along with feral kittens much better than any other cat who hasn't - who wouldn't understand the situation they came from. 

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    "Update: Charlie, found in a Target parking lot"

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    >
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    hadow down the hall, it wasn't nhouses and classes she'd miss iall say so, it was almost annoy right. It was nice having a friend better. Henna wanted to return nlikely the school would take her ervant and thorough. Their guard They would discover her crime every uld soon replace Henna with a new of the smarter ones she'd originally and a moment later Henna heard a door Henna
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    Sometimes I have to remind Charlie that we're the only two adults in the house (with two kittens and one human child) and I need his help. Look at this guy. He's waiting for me to get myself together.
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    Wow do I love him with a special passion. He loves under chin scritches the best. He has sat in my lap exactly one time it was magical.
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    Otherwise he'll sit next to me on my work from home day. He and the kittens sleep under the bed together at night. He'll meow to get what he wants, he'll take a bat at you as a warning and hiss when he's ped off. He leaves his fur around the house like magical fairy dust. He likes butter and ranch dressing and loves tuna water.
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    He has been expensive so far. □ He knows he's worth it. In December (two days before holiday), the little bump on the outside of his ear turned out to be an abscess. He bit the vet tech and had to be fully sedated to get it dressed. He also had been having litter box problems so they tested his urine and he has crystals!
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    Struvite Crystals grow in his urine and if they get too big they can get trapped in the urethra and be life threatening. It can happen with all cats but male cats have longer urethra so it's a concern mostly for them. He just finished a round of crystal dissolving food. And now he'll just need to eat crystal discouraging food for the rest of his life
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  • Honestly, we don't even need to read the update to know that he is absolutely thriving. Just looking at these pictures is enough. Tummy up, exploring new places, being comfortably himself around you… We couldn't ask for anything better. And although we're generally against letting cats out, we do understand the situation that you have with this guy. As long as you're keeping him safe the best way that you can, we can comfortably say that we are so, so happy that the two of you have found one another. 

  • 30
    The kittens really look up to Charlie. The introduction was rough but everyone worked it out. A month after being in the house, Charlie started playing, it was so special I might have cried. He is the king and the kittens know it. He often takes the high ground and always eats first. They want to be with them and sometimes he has to get stern. He also grooms both of them and it's so special.
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    The rescue took his balls (and a chip of his ear I legitimately cried ♡) but he hasn't noticed them missing really. He gets visits from a special lady friend who woke me AND my neighbors up at like 3am one time.
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    Charlie knows the taste of outside freedom and I can't take that away from him and keep him inside permanently. I know some people may have strong opinions on the matter, but I choose to respect Charlie's agency to make choices for his life. I thrust myself upon him initially, but he chooses to come home every time and often stays close by the house when he's out.
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    He often comes when I call him and I love his trill. When he's been in recovery and can't go outside, he gets very antsy. I also think it may be possible that he only likes to use the toilet outside.
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    I'm sure my wallet will pay the price. He recently grew back a messed up claw. He didn't meed to be sedated for that one (3rd vet visit)! He was "brave" for his pain med shot. Aka | held him tight in his carrier and spoke gently to him while he got the shot. He was not happy
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    Charlie is such an important part of our household ❤❤ Love you Charlie Jasper Moonstone, aka Charlie, Chuck, Thumbs, King Charlie, Doctor, but mostly Chahhhhleeeeee
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