Woman Begins Feeding Stray Cat in Backyard—Two Years Later It's Her Home

The heartwarming story about a stray cat's journey to becoming a pet has gone viral on TikTok.

Racking up over 355,000 views since April 27, the slideshow of images illustrates how a black cat, now called Seb, was taken in by Jess Cavendish, 28. Each image has text explaining a timeline of what happened, but despite Cavendish's best efforts, Seb was reluctant to be fussed over. It took a whole year for the feline to feel safe in her new home.

Cavendish told Newsweek: "At one point, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to stroke her."

The 12-year-old cat made her first appearance back in May 2022, when she was spotted asleep on grass nearby Cavendish's house in Liverpool, England. At first, she assumed the cat was someone's pet, but as the days passed, it was clear she was living on the streets.

"I noticed her there again and again, then one night, I decided to go outside and give her some cat biscuits in my pajamas and dressing gown!

"She was starving and when she was eating, it was so fast, it was like she was choking a bit," Cavendish told Newsweek.

In the comment section, Cavendish wrote: "I do think someone abandoned her because she's too friendly to have been feral all her life."

The concerned woman shared photos of Seb on social media in a desperate bid to find out if she had an owner. But nobody recognized her, so Cavendish continued to feed her for three months. Then, in August 2022, the black cat made her way into Cavendish's garden.

The text over a photo of Seb laying on her grass reads: "She was very nervous and didn't like being approached."

Cavendish and her family built an outdoor home for Seb using wood from the fence; it had a waterproof roof, heated pad, and carpet.

"She absolutely loved the house," said Cavendish. "But I decided to let her into my kitchen when winter came as it was too cold.

"I used to handfeed her pieces of food, and she would gently eat them out of my hand so I was able to stroke her while she ate or took a treat."

Cavendish added that gaining Seb's trust was no easy feat, taking a year to achieve. It was only in this past winter that she finally felt settled.

In March 2024, she was finally able to get Seb into a cat carrier so she could visit the vet for vaccinations. The feline was also registered to Cavendish, making her an official owner.

Cavendish said: "I didn't think I would end up with another cat as I already have two house cats that are little princesses.

"But I would never give up Seb, or my other two cats, Lilo and Loki," Cavendish added.

An extract from the slideshow's caption reads: "I wasn't going to see a cat suffer so, over two years, I've gained trust.

Cavendish also refers to it as a long process, but highlights how it has been worth it as Seb is now "the most friendly, beautiful, happy cat."

So far, the clip has racked up more than 32,000 likes and over 1,280 comments.

One user commented: "You have a good heart for not giving up on her."

"You're a lucky person. Black cats are one of the most intelligent and affectionate. Thank you for taking her in. I took one in who's now almost 19," posted another.

A third commenter wrote: "Omg [Oh my god] this made me cry thank you for saving her and showing that humans can be kind. My two Mumbai delinquents. Send head bumps."

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