Family that never wanted cats offers to take stray kitten to shelter but ends up bringing him home forever

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Oct 12, 2026 2:15 PM EDT

The Cat Distribution System has a habit of turning people who never wanted cats into people who somehow have multiple cats. All it takes is one unexpected encounter with a kitten, and suddenly the household has a new family member.

One family learned this firsthand when their 23-year-old daughter moved back home with her adopted cat, Monty. They'd never planned on having a cat, but now they had one. A few months later, while driving home from lunch, they spotted a mother and daughter chasing a kitten near a busy intersection. They stopped to help, caught the little guy, and offered to take him to the humane society.

Their daughter wanted to keep him, but her parents weren't convinced. Somehow, a trip to the humane society ended with the family bringing the kitten home instead. After a vet visit, they learned he was around eight weeks old and weighed just one pound. They named him Murphy, and before long, everyone was completely smitten. Even Monty, their older cat, warmed up to his new little brother.

We love stories about people who never imagined themselves owning cats and end up becoming completely obsessed with them. It's especially entertaining when someone goes from insisting they don't want a pet to being the person who takes the most pictures, buys the most toys, and worries about whether the cat is comfortable enough on the couch.

Plenty of people don't necessarily dislike cats. They've just never had the opportunity to get to know one. Maybe they grew up with dogs, weren't allowed to have pets, or simply never considered bringing a feline into their home. Then they spend a little time around one and discover just how entertaining these little creatures can be.

Kittens are exceptionally good at changing people's minds. They're tiny, curious, and constantly getting themselves into ridiculous situations. It's hard to maintain a firm stance against owning another cat when there's a one-pound fluffball exploring your living room and falling asleep in the most adorable places.

Once there's already a cat in the house, watching the relationship between the two develop can become a whole new source of entertainment. The older cat might not appreciate having an energetic kitten invading their purrsonal space at first, but seeing them gradually become comfortable together makes those early introductions worth remembering.

Murphy has since grown into an eight-pound cat, and he and Monty have become good friends. The family that never expected to own a single cat now has two, and judging by how fondly they talk about their newest addition, we doubt they'd have it any other way.

Sometimes all it takes is being in the right place at the right time to become a cat person.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Advertisement
  • 01
    We never thought we'd have a cat, let alone two'
    via nataliagolubnychaphotos / Canva

    Featured likenesses do not identify those mentioned.

  • 02
    Some gray cats tonight so I thought I'd share our little guy, Murphy.
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 03
    To start with, my daughter, 23, while living out of state and adopted a 6 yr old Russian blue mix, Monty, last year. He was a great cat and we were happy for
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 04
    her. Then, she decided to move home in March and all of a sudden, we had a cat.
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10670533120
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 06
    Then, in June,we were driving home from lunch. At a busy intersection, a young girl and mom were chasing a kitten. We thought it was theirs and stopped
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 07
    to help. We got the little guy and the woman turned to her daughter and said "we'll take him to the humane society but you'll
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 08
    miss volleyball practice." I said we were heading in that direction and we could take him there.
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 09
    My daughter wanted to keep him but my wife and I were not convinced. We never thought we'd have a cat, let alone two. We
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 10
    got to the humane society and some how they convinced us to take him. They gave us a crate and some food and we went to the vet to have him checked out.
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 11
    The vet said he was about 8 weeks old and was around 1 pound. We got him home and all of us fell in love with him so there was no way he was leaving. After
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 12
    keeping him separate from Monty for a little more than a week (worms, yuck), we slowly introduced them to each other. From the beginning, they got
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 13
    along very well. A little hissing and the occasional smack from Monty but the very quickly became friends.
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 14
    Fast forward to now and he's just over 8lbs and is an amazing little guy. The second picture with Monty was taken about a month ago.
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10670532864
    via NotVeryCleverOne
  • 16
    GennieP Funny how the system knows you need them before you know yourself.
    via GennieP

  • The Cat Distribution System always seems to know what you need before you do. You might think you're perfectly happy living without a cat, but the CDS has already decided otherwise. Next thing you know, a tiny kitten has moved in, claimed your favorite chair, and completely won you over. Murphy's family never planned on having two cats, but clearly the CDS knew better!

  • 17
    InstructionHead8595 Aaawwwe yay! Unexpected cate
    via InstructionHead8595
  • 18
    Inner_Swordfish7475 Monty and your little look perfect together. Some things are meant to be. It is funny how the CDS knows.
    via Inner_Swordfish7475

  • Some things are just meant to be! This family had absolutely no plans to adopt another cat, but then Murphy showed up, and that was that. They could've driven through that intersection five minutes earlier and never even known he existed. Instead, they stopped to help and ended up with another furry family member. We'd call that a pretty lucky coincidence!

  • 19
    USBlues2020 Beautiful
    via USBlues2020
  • 20
    jeanb23 Great rescue story. They look wonderful together.
    via jeanb23
  • 21
    MumSaidImABadBoy Aw, I like reading happy cat stories. It looks like they're getting along. They best buddies?
    via MumSaidImABadBoy

  • Seeing two cats become besties is just adorable. We love when cats go from being unsure about each other to spending all their time together. Soon they're napping side by side, grooming each other, and running around the house like they've been friends forever. Monty might have been a little annoyed with his new brother at first, but we're sure he's happy to have Murphy around now.

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

felines Cat distribution system Cats adopted family gray rescue
Scroll Down For The Next Article