16-year-old cat known for being massive, combative, and getting banned from a Canadian municipality for crimes finally decides it's time to retire and chooses a single human, a cat and a puppy as his home

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 4, 2026 7:00 AM EDT

The Hound has been a feral cat for nearly his entire life. He got into trouble, got banned from some places, made himself a reputation… until he got older, decided to retire, and chose the one and only human that he wanted to live with. 

Life as a stray cat is hard. You have to look for shelter, look for food, face the weather. There is a lot to do, and although many cats do it, probably because they don't know much else, we, as owners of cats, know just how much happier they would be getting spoiled at home. Cats love their cozy blankets that they curl up in. Cats love cuddling with us - occasionally, when they deem us worthy. Cats love being fed endlessly, having as much water as they could ever need, and always having a warm spot to warm up in. 

Some cats spend years outside, living that harsh life and facing every difficulty that comes with it. And these cats seem to like it. But there is a reason that house cats live longer, and some street cats come to that understanding. Like the Hound did. He understood that it is time to retire, and now, he is living his best life, being spoiled, loved and telling all of his stories, from inside a warm home. 

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  • 01

    "Meet The Hound. 16 years old, and that's the youngest estimate. Ex-Feral, banned from two communities for crimes, toothless, and unapologetically massive."

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  • 02
    Common FAQs: He looks like he fought a lawnmower and lost He may well have fought several lawnmowers. The Hound lived outside and beneath an elderly lady's front patio for over ten years and had a well-deserved reputation of extreme aggression. He looked like this when I got him and nobody will ever really know where each scar is from. His white speckles are scar tissue that grew white fur after the fact.
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  • 03
    Is he…... is he okay? Yes. The Hound is, per his veterinary team, "shockingly healthy" and "possibly immortal". He did need to have all his teeth removed when I first fostered him - the rescue had been unable to do a thorough exam due to his attitude problem, and it turned out that he had extensive dental damage. He doesn't appear to have ever noticed that he lost his chompers.
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  • 04
    How does a cat get banned from a Canadian municipality? The Hound was a special case that required this rescue to travel 5+ hours to pick him up. As mentioned above, The Hound was extremely aggressive during his outdoor days, and had attacked many cats, dogs, kids, and even grown a men who passed 'his' house. It took three experienced feral rescuers to transfer him from a live trap to a crate.
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  • 05
    Is he still angry Sometimes, but he has a deep passion for me, his chosen human being, and has learned to tolerate my other pets with minimal fistfighting.
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  • 06
    How large is The Hound? When I adopted the Hound he was approximately 23lbs of unneutered male muscle. He's currently 25lbs of FAT because he is a criminal who steals puppy kibbles. Regardless, The Hound is genuinely huge even when he's not enjoying a retirement of obesity.
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  • We… cannot even tell you how fast and how hard we have fallen in love with The Hound. We are obsessed with him. He is everything to us. A glimpse of his story, and we instantly became invested. We want him to be immortal. We want him to live on long enough to tell his story to generations upon generations of kittens. After that, if he ever crosses the rainbow bridge, he will live on, both in the cat world and in the human world, as a legend. Because that is what he is. We will remember him until the end of times. 

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    dar1710 I love his story and I love the Hound! What is his favorite thing he enjoys now that he is living large inside?
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    whenjacksattack OP So on his very first night at home, the Hound crawled into my bed and laid his head on the pillow right next to mine and spent a solid hour just staring at me and making this godawful sound that I eventually realized is his attempt at purring. It was snowing pretty badly and sometimes he'd look at the window and snuggle a little closer with his paws tucked in just so.
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  • 10
    Now, about four years later, Hound has his own special pillow with memory foam and a cooling side for the summer. It stays right next to mine, and he still spends most nights sleeping right beside my head, usually with one paw touching me to make sure we're all good and safe. If I get up to get a drink, he comes with me and guards my back just in case goblins are waiting, and will follow me right back to bed and go back to sleep. The only time he won't sleep with me is if he decides he wants to
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  • 11
    So his favorite thing about living inside is probably the constant access to affection and love and having a special somebody who takes care of him and makes sure he's safe and happy. And also snacks. MF loves snacks.
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  • This has to be one of the most heartwarming instances of the cat distribution system. He has clearly chosen you. He has chosen you hard. After a life of fighting for survival, he has finally found his human, and the thought of him lying there, trying to purr, most likely after not having done that in the longest time, is the sweetest thing that we have ever heard of. He is an angel. He deserves everything. This honestly might be one of the cutest cat stories that we have ever, ever come across, and believe us when we say that we have come across many. 

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  • 13
    Swimming-Sand6166 I had a boy like that. He had a sweet face but was returned four times from foster families. Veterinarian came to my house so my darling wouldn't k l others. He eventually became my lap cat.
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  • 14
    whenjacksattack OP The Hound had a request from the rescue for a "professional" foster, which is always a good sign that you're in for a rodeo. I was working at a vet clinic at the time with a special interest in behavior, so I jumped at the chance ②
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    ShipComprehensive543 How long did it take for you to tame the beast (Hound)??
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    whenjacksattack OP Not very long at all, honestly! As soon as he swaggered out of his crate looking like he won a fight with a weedwhacker and adopted my tiny black cat, I knew just who he was
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    Fair-Background8894 what a legendary story. how's he with other cats now
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  • 20
    whenjacksattack OP He gives what he gets in spades. If a cat is polite and friendly to him, The Hound is a gentleman and even quite affectionate (him and my smallest cat, Goosetopher Jones). If a cat wants to talk sh, they're gonna get HIT (him and my other cat, Barracuda, who also has a bit of an attitude). But generally he's pretty laidback and taking retirement in his stride.
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    MarsScully Additional Q: what crimes has the hound committed? He is very handsome. I'm happy that he's living out his chonky retirement
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  • 23
    whenjacksattack OP The Hound was extremely aggressive towards other animals that wandered too close to his territory, which happened to be a lady's front porch. So he was notorious for attacking cats, dogs, kids, men.... you name it, and The Hound has probably taken a shot at it in the past
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  • 25
    Albuons Long Live The Hound!!!!
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  • 26
    whenjacksattack OP His veterinarian has informed me that he appears to be immortal at the moment
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  • 27
    a svelte king
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  • 28
    TIFSTUPID88 I hope you are a inside kittty?
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  • 29
    whenjacksattack OP The Hound goes outside on supervised excursions but has absolutely no desire to go further than the nearest sun patch
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