'He's actually so sweet and cuddly': Feline fan spends a year gaining the trust of the crusty feral cat that loves his lawnmower, finally settles into a well-earned retirement with pawrents that love him

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Apr 5, 2026 8:45 AM EDT

Sometimes, the ones that need the most love are actually the most loving.

We know how tempting it is to go out and adopt a kitten. Believe us. If there's one purrson who's a sucker for kittens, it's us. Our neighbor had an oopsie litter a few years ago and they asked us to take one, and we took three. But everybody wants kittens. Those big eyes, tiny mews, and awwdorable little faces… they're practically impawssible to resist. But if you look past those kittens and search through the other kitties that are looking for love, you're likely to find more than one senior cat who would just like to live out their life in a nice, cozy home.

Our feline fan spent one whole year trying to earn the trust of Tabs, the crusty, feral, senior cat who loved his lawnmower. After months of trying to get close and lots of treats, Tabs eventually allowed an ear scratch, and then Tabs decided to become their resident guard cat. After about another year of living on their porch, his pawrents decided to retire him to the cushy indoor life, and we're happy to report that Tabs is loving his new life of luxury.

Despite his rough appearance, Tabs is actually a cuddle bug. Don't judge a book by its cover, especially not a senior cat. Everyone deserves a Tabs in their lives, and we can honestly tell you that it's one of the most soul-nourishing and fulfilling things to give a senior cat some peace in their final years of life. It's hard, don't get us wrong, because you get attached and then they leave you, but the sweetness outweighs the sadness.

If you let knowing that you'll be sad because of something stop you from doing it, you're missing out on a life of pawtential love. And cats like Tabs are practically bursting with love.

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We know it sounds weird, but one of our favorite pastimes is watching our pets sleep. It's so comforting to know that they're at peace in the house we brought them into. It's even more special when it's a cat like Tabs, who knew nothing but struggle his whole life.
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