'I think my dad sent me a cat': After suddenly losing her father, a cat mom and her litter show up on his heartbroken daughter's porch, and although she's not ready, she knows one of the kittens was sent to her by her father and has to adopt it

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Sep 13, 2026 2:15 PM EDT

"Has anyone ever received a cat from a departed one?"

Everyone deals with loss differently. The only thing that we all have in common is the pain that comes with it. There isn't anything that we can do to make it go away, not completely. It goes away slowly, over time. And although there isn't anything we can do to cancel it out, there are some things that we can do to lessen the pain, to distract ourselves from it. That's where cats come in. Distracting yourself with silly cat memes and wholesome pictures of cats on the internet does not have a single downside. It can only help. But we're talking about more than that. If you're someone who loves cats and is going through such heartache, then adopting a cat could be the best thing you ever do for yourself. 

Adopting a cat at any point in your life is a good thing, all cat owners would argue, but I can personally say that I adopted a cat during the worst time in my life, and it was the best thing that I could have done for myself. Suddenly, there was an itty bitty ball of joy in my house, small, chaotic, purring. Someone completely dependent on me, and the only thing that someone really wanted from me was love. It's hard not to smile at a cat. It's that simple. They really do change things. Cats bring so much peace into your life. And your loved ones know that too. They know the meowgic of cats. 

That is exactly what led the person in this story to think that their late father sent them a cat. He passed suddenly, unexpectedly, and it hurt. And then a kitten appeared in his daughter's life and started making things a little less bad for her. All of a sudden, she was smiling again. And for someone who's going through loss, smiling, even if it's just a little bit, changes things. She couldn't help but think that her dad sent this kitty to her, and we can't help but believe that she's right. 

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  • 01

    "I think my dad sent me a cat? Help"

    Cheezburger Image 10662651136
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 02
    We have been adopted and I have some questions for everyone cat lovers because I am newb. I have recently been selected.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 03
    So, the story is really long. and I don't know how sound I will be, but trust me that I am, I don't consume anything.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 04
    I buried my dad 8 months ago today. It was a quick one, he got a mild cold at 61, all healthy, and passed in 72 hours. I was in shock, I loved him beyond any possible words. It is impossible to describe.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10662652416
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 06
    About 3 months ago, a wild cat* came pregnant to our garden and went into chicken's coop and gave birth to 5 kittens.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 07
    Obviously my mom had no heart turning her away, so she provided food and water for her, thinking they will depart eventually, given that she was wild, but she was in pain and needed shelter.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 08
    At the time, I grieved and still do and couldn't really be bothered. Neither me nor my family was a "cat" person, we do have a dog my dad rescued 6 years ago.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 09
    My dad was not fond of either but he picked her and she is the most protective and loving dog ever and he liked her so much.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 10
    *Wild cat means she wasn't used to humans. She would run away when we put food for her and came back to eat once we left. We live in a small village and it is impossible to find any stray animals. I don't know where she came from.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10662652672
    via Unsplash / Robert Larsson

    Cute black kitten perched on a windowsill. 

    Licensed media provided as editorial context.

  • 12
    Anyway, long story short, 5 kittens appeared. We kept feeding them for about 3 months now. One of them, the culprit in the picture, chose us since he was born, literally. Since he could walk, he came in the house, been stuck to us
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 13
    The other four obviously were super cautious, we couldn't catch them initially to give them any treatment.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 14
    But this one, the only one entirely black (mom is grey, dad obv unknown, the rest grey or white and black mix), had zero fear.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888

  • These things happen sometimes. We don't know how the afterlife works, but we do know that every once in a while, we come across stories like this. Stories of people who are certain a loved one that passed away sent them an animal - a little angel to help them thorugh the difficulties of life when they no longer can. We come across these stories so often that we cannot help but believe in them a little bit. We are sorry for your loss. That is so important to say. But we are so happy that this little fluffball came your way to make the pain a little more bearable. 

  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10662652928
    via Unsplash / Nenad Novaković - nnx0r

    Fluffy black kitten lying on a soft bed.

    Model portrayal.

  • 16
    He came in the kitchen, first chance he had he went to my mom's bedroom and was sitting there like he belongs with us. Wherever I or mom goes, he follows.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 17
    In the picture, he is in my mom's armchair. Even though we have multiple free ones around, he MUST sit with her all the time.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 18
    She gets up to do something, he goes. He doesn't flinch, he doesn't scratch, he doesn't bite, and he must be within 5 cm of us at all times.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10662653184
    via Unsplash / Umar Farooq

    Scraggly black kitten with large ears.

    Not actual story subjects.

  • 20
    Mind you, that is an outdoor wild cat. His other 4 siblings never liked us much. We managed to befriend them and 2 found new homes now, waiting to relocate the other 2 as we cannot afford so many.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 21
    I cannot stop but thinking my dad sent him to us.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 22
    At 6 months, right on the day he did, we found two hedgehog babies in the heat, we took them in for 2 weeks and gave them water, food, and shelter until the vet told us they are ready to be released.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 23
    We had these cats here, but as I said, they were born and nurtured and we didn't interfere as mom is wild.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 24
    She now left us, we only have the kittens left, and none of them behave like this one. They are all fearful to get close, but this one literally just walked inside the house and saisd "This is mine."
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 25
    The cat is healthy, vet checked, all is good, he just loves eating and being attached to me or mom.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888
  • 26
    So, TLDR, has anyone ever received a cat from a departed one? I know it sounds a tad crazy, but he is so familiar with all of us and his behavior was so different, it just got me wondering.
    via Zealousideal-Mix7888

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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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