Woman goes to work on her day off and ends up rescuing a sweet dumpster kitty who steals her heart

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Oct 25, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

You know you're a cat person when you can't walk past a stray without stopping to say hello. It doesn't matter if you're running late, carrying groceries, or supposed to be somewhere else. If there's a kitty nearby, you're going to spend at least five minutes trying to make friends with them.

Sometimes, those five minutes turn into a whole rescue mission.

We've all heard stories about people going out for groceries and coming home with a cat instead. One minute they're minding their own business, and the next they're buying litter boxes, picking out toys, and trying to figure out how to explain the new family member to everyone at home.

Stray cats have a pretty impressive talent for finding the right humans. Some are cautious and take weeks to warm up to people, while others will march right over, start meowing, and act like they've known you forever. Those friendly little faces are particularly hard to resist, especially when you know they're spending their nights outside.

One cat lover recently found themselves in exactly that situation after spotting a kitty near the drive-thru at work.

They'd come in on their day off to make up for missed shifts when they noticed a beautiful cat hanging around between a dumpster and a wooded area. Naturally, they went over to investigate.

The cat was incredibly friendly, meowing, rolling around, and making air biscuits. Coworkers explained that she'd been living around the property for months, with people occasionally leaving her water and food. Someone had previously mentioned fostering her, but nothing had come of it. With nighttime temperatures dropping into the 30s and a highway nearby, her new human decided she'd spent enough time outside.

The plan was to return the following day with supplies, catch the kitty, and take her straight to the vet. There was just one problem: they forgot the carrier.

Luckily, a coworker had one they could borrow. After a failed attempt to lure her inside with food, they managed to scoop her up using a jacket.

The cat wasn't thrilled about being in the carrier, but she handled the vet visit surprisingly well. She had no microchip, received her shots, and got a clean bill of health.

Now named Mitski, she's settling into her new home, where two other cats will eventually get to meet their new sister.

We'd say that's a pretty successful trip to work on your day off.

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  • 01
    Meet Mitski! Yesterday, I went into work on my off day to make up for some sick days. As I was walking in through the parking lot, I see this beautiful princess near the drive- thru and ofc I walk over to her to say hi!
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  • 02
    To set the scene, my place of employment is a retail food chain right off of the highway but also half in the middle of a large wooded area?? She was hanging
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    around the wooded area and there were some cups out where someone had been giving her water. She was essentially hanging out in the spot between the dumpster and the woods,
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    hence the title "Stinky dumpster baby." I got pretty close to her and she is just yapping and flopping and making air biscuits
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    I took a video and told all of my coworkers and apparently she's been hanging around for a few months and my boss even held her one time and fed her a pastry
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  • 08
    item that we sell (would not recommend ofc). A friend of another coworker had said they were going to take and foster her, but clearly that did not happen. I
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  • 09
    decided then and there that she was coming home with me the next day when I would have supplies (carrier/cat food). The low at night where I live is getting down to the 30's and I was afraid
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    she would freeze, someone would either call animal control, take her to the shelter or worse, she gets injured or killed by a car
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  • 12
    And I'm also in the position. financially to take home a third kitty, it was honestly perfect timing.
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    I unfortunately forgot the carrier and food but luckily my coworker had one in his car that I could borrow. I planned to lure her in after work and go straight to the vet to check for microchips/wellness check/shots.
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  • 15
    We tried luring her with the same pastry my boss fed her some of, but she wouldn't get too close to the carrier. I ended up waiting until she was rolling around and
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  • 16
    was able to grab her with my jacket so she had something warm in the carrier and just in case she had ticks I could maybe have less** **ticks jump ship
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    #8 6
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    from her to me immediately if she had any on her. She wiggled a bit, but she didn't hiss, bite, or scratch when I caught her and she was pissed being in the
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    carrier but was very brave on the car ride to the vet. She even snuggled with me while we waited on her results. I was able to get a same day
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    appointment within the hour to a reasonably priced urgent care veterinarian that only opened F- M in town. She was so good at
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    the vet too and she was healthy according to the tests and was unmicrochipped (MY baby now) and given her shots.
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    And ofc after the vet, I took her to the local pet store to buy essentials, way too many toys and also some wet food for all my fur babies to try with their dry
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    food. I have two other cats at home and I'm starting the process of introducing them slowly but I am very confident that after a slow introduction that
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    they will all get along. I don't have any photos yet of her in my house, as I've been letting her settle in and giving her space to sniff everything and explore.
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    I'd had suspicions that I would be awarded another fur child, and the CDS never disappoints!
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    NmbrdDays Yay 3rd cat!!!!! Hopefully they all play and snuggle together.
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  • Hurray for new cat siblings! Mitski isn't just getting a warm home and a loving human, she's getting two furry siblings to grow up with, too. We hope the introductions go smoothly because we'd love to see all three kitties become best friends. Just imagine the cuddles, playtime, and trouble these three could get into together!

  • 30
    jeanb23 you are a good human! she's a beauty. you saved her life.
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    whatthewhat3214 What a sweet, beautiful baby! Thank you for saving her!
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    anubis_cheerleader Wow, the stars really aligned with this one!
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  • We're convinced it was fate that brought these two together! What are the chances of going into work on your day off and finding a sweet little kitty who needs a home? If they'd stayed home that day, they might never have met Mitski. Luckily, the Cat Distribution System had other plans. Sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them, and this little rescue is proof!

  • 33
    theseventyfirstnoel She looks so relaxed and pleased about her new sitch. Amazing job, Mitski's mom!
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    DesignerGapo Thank you for saving her!!
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    clemmie33 What a gorgeous girl! Thank you for giving her a home!
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    1000puns You are the saint of the day, thank you for your huge heart and willingness to plunge in.
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  • Can we just appreciate how amazing this human is for rescuing Mitski? They saw a little kitty living outside, knew she deserved better, and actually did something about it. Not everyone would go through the trouble of catching a stray, arranging a vet visit, and welcoming a third cat into their home. Mitski is one lucky girl, and we're so glad someone cared enough to give her a chance!

  • 37
    jmkul She looks delightful! Congratulations on your expanded family
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work felines adopted pawrents Cat distribution system Cats rescue
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