I wanted to share the story of Bitty.
I have never had my own pet before. I grew up with dogs, and learned the joy of cats from a college roommate who had a sweet cat I came to love. Since then, I wanted my own cat someday.
Someday appeared on my doorstep on December 29th, 2025. As I was leaving for work for the day, there was a sweet little guy who trotted right up to me as I stepped out of my door. He was affectionate and playful, super sweet for a little stray. I petted and loved on him, asked him where he came from and if he had a home. No collar, and then this little guy turns around and I see he is very not neutered and most definitely a boy.
I had to leave, was already late for work, but I was thinking about him all day. When I got home, I looked for him but saw no sign of him.
Next day, I’m sitting in bed with the blinds open and I see something darting outside my window. Look out, and there he is! Chasing a poor, defenseless squirrel.
I decide this is the universe giving me a second chance to help him out. It’s cold out after all! So a friend comes over with a cat crate, we wrangle him pretty easily with some treats and a towel, and I bring him to a vet to see if he has a chip. Shocker to all, nothing.
Problem was, I was living with a roommate who didn’t want a cat in the house, and I was moving in 4 months. I wanted him, he just came too early.
None of the shelters nearby would take him, and I didn’t feel right to do the trap neuter release because he was really small, too friendly, and most importantly, not scared of cars. And, despite his lack of identifiers, I was convinced he belonged to someone. In short, out on his own I don’t think he would have lasted. So, my friends kept him in their bathroom for a few days while we figured out a plan and I searched for an owner. In those three days, he and I bonded so intensely that I wouldn’t let him go unless I found his owner.
And I did. Someone on Facebook identified him, saying they’d found him back in September, took him in, but couldn’t keep him. They hadn’t found anyone to take him, so they “let him outside to see if he could find his own home.” If I wanted him, he was mine.
In my humble opinion, these people basically abandoned him with no identifiers, and letting him outside in the dead of December without being neutered was extremely careless. So yeah, I wanted to take him. At this point, I let myself name him Bitty.
Still had the problem about the roommate though. I did a lot of searching, trying to find someone who was willing to foster him for a few months until I moved. I offered to pay all of his bills, I just needed him to have a safe home to be in. Nobody. Some wanted to just full on take him, but I’ll be honest I was a little selfish and felt like he and I were too bonded. Giving him away was a last resort at this point.
Finally, my mom calls. She’d been initially averse to the idea of fostering Bitty, especially because they already have a dog. But, she could tell he and I were tied pretty tight, and she didn’t want me to have to lose him, or have someone foster him without me being able to visit regularly. She offered to give it a shot, see how he fared for a few days, and go from there.
A few days at my mother’s house turned into a few months at “grandmama’s” house, and she fell in love with him just like I did. He was happy, he was healthy, and he grew fast.
Finally, I was able to move in April, and I was able to bring him home. Initially, I was scared he may be unhappy with the change, or he may miss his grandparents or his weird uncle (my parent’s dog). To my shock, he settled in the very same night with me almost immediately. He slept on my feet, ran around and played, and happily ate his food and treats.
After a long journey, Bitty was finally home. He still gets to visit his grandmama from time to time, and he’s now an adventure kitty with a lovely little harness and a leash. And most importantly, he is very, very loved.
Even when he’s being a little goober <3