Pierogi the cat spent freezing nights outside a sanctuary, desperate to get in but too afraid to try; now he won't stop cuddling every single cat there, proving no stray is ever a lost cause.

Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor

Oct 4, 2026 6:15 PM EDT

When a cat is too afraid to take the first step, it's good that there are kindhearted hoomans there to help.

It's a known fact that some cats adopt themselves. They barge in with the sheer force of cuteness and the need for a shelter, and just meow as if saying, "I belong here now, hello family." Cats have this audacity built into them, but that's not a foolproof hereditary chain pased down to all cats. Some cats are more shy, others might be resistant to being captured (for understandable reasons, if they don't understand the concept), and some are just too afraid to make the first step into their forever home, despite knowing deep down that they need to be helped off the streets.

That's basically the description of Pierogi, the cat who eventually found a warm welcome in the cat sanctuary he hung outside of in the freezing cold. That's his wholesome story.

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Just a side note, Pierogi is not just a cool name. It's a Polish dumpling cooked in hot water, served savory or sweet, but always warm - and that's why it's the perfect name for a cat like him. Being stuck outside in the cold is the classic situation you want to get cats out of, and into a home. Like you'd cook the pierogi in boiling water, encompassing it with heat. Exactly what should be done with a cat stuck outside in winter.
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It's very critical to get cats out of freezing weather. Despite their thick fur coats, cats aren't built to brave blizzards. Think about how much they seek heat at home - your body heat, lying down next to an electric heater, searching for a purrfect sunbeam - these are all testimonies to how heat makes your cat well. Outside, when it's freezing cold, a cat can experience hypothermia and get frostbite. It's really not ideal weather for a cat.
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Seeing a cat so cuddly, you just know he was missing the company. Some cats prefer to love from afar and are very touch-averse. But other cats are true lovebugs, the most cuddly creatures you'll probably meet. It's a borderline crime leaving such cats with no company. All cats should have a home, safety, and a constant supply of food and love - but some cats need this extra friendship level.
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