Woman feeds a tiny hissy cat who showed up on her porch, the cat refuses to approach her, but after a week, she waltzes inside and instantly gets adopted by the indoor giant Maine Coon: 'My Maine Coon thinks I got her a baby'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 6, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Sometimes, it takes a while for a stray cat to trust you. Other times, it's instantaneous. 

I'm sure that most of you already know this, but just in case you don't, let me tell you from experience: gaining a stray cat's trust is something that takes time. It is a rare thing for a stray cat to instantly walk up to you and ask you to pet them. Nearly never happens. Always an honor when it does. It's about giving them time, space and respect, and even then, it could take… forever. 

Even our building kitties, who a couple of neighbors and I feed daily, took their time trusting us. With one of them, it took a week. With another, a month. And with the third - our newest, a very loud ginger with a giant pair of puffballs - months later, I'm still working on it. Still, it's worth it. I know it is. Eventually, one of us will manage to get close enough to trust him and TNR him, which is what he really needs right now. And when it does finally happen, when they finally trust you, it always feels like the biggest surprise. 

It took a week for the kitten whose story was shared on r/CatDistributionSystem to trust her new human. Not long by all accounts. But to her new owner, it felt long. And in comparison with how fast the kitten bonded with the Maine Coon in the house, well, a week is downright forever. One day, almost out of nowhere, she decided that she trusted the human enough to walk into the human's house. There, the kitten met the Maine Coon, but instesd of being intimidated by the huge cat, she walked right up to him and decided that he was her new best friend. And the rest is history. 

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  • 01

    "Look at this thing that showed up this morning"

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    via Awkward-Initiative27
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    This creature showed up on my porch this morning. I've named her June Bug. She wouldn't come near me but I gave her fresh food and water.
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  • 04
    Hopefully she comes back because she's so small the idea of her wandering makes me anxious. I absolutely cannot keep her but ugh.
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  • 05
    Swipe to what the CDS dumped on to my porch three years ago last month. That Face! He lives inside now as a spoiled house cat but bringing him inside gave me 4 cats and 5 would be absolutely crazy. (that's me trying to convince myself 5 is too many)
    via Awkward-Initiative27

  • It always starts like this, doesn't it? We always say that we won't do it, we won't adopt the kitten who has clearly chosen us. And then we do. Because that's just how the CDS is. 

  • 06

    "The progression of Pepper deciding I am safe"

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    Churu Indoor Tuna Recipe HHH
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    Last week this tiny creature showed up on my porch. That post is here. She refused to come near me and has spent all week hissing at me (I've continued to give her food and water).
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  • 11
    This morning she stopped hissing and started yelling. Tonight she yelled AND approached. Here's the progression. Her name is Pepper now because she's been a spicy one.
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  • 12
    I am rapidly losing the battle and will absolutely have 5 cats inside soon. Because LOOK AT THIS THING.
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  • 13

    "Pepper Update: She’s Officially a House Cat"

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  • 15
    A few weeks ago I posted about the spicy delivery I got from the CDS. That post is here! The people seemed to want an update and I'm happy to report that Pepper is officially an indoor girl now!
    via Awkward-Initiative27
  • 16
    She had her first vet visit today and she's perfect at 10 weeks old and 2.5lbs. My Maine Coon thinks I got her a baby □ My boy is a little hissy but he's also even more outnumbered, so... lol
    via Awkward-Initiative27
  • 17
    So now I have 5 inside but she seems like a great addition so far. She is loud and energetic and I'm glad she picked my porch to hang out on!
    via Awkward-Initiative27

  • Sometimes, things are simply meant to be. It seems to us that she was just checking if you were safe enough to get to the other large catto in the house. 

  • 18
    Otherwise Tone_1370 ooh a classic tabby can you show a photo if her either laying on her side stretched out or her standing showing her side?. I would like to see her pretty patterns.
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    Awkward-Initiative27 OP She's never still but she slept for 10 minutes this morning so I got this ②
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    Impossible Door3564 We want pictures of her with the Main Coon who thinks she's her baby please!
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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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