r/formerlyferal

Plumpie was a "working cat" when we adopted him June 3. We really did think he would be an outside cat. He decided to be a teddybear instead. When we adopted him I could see his ribs, he was so skinny, and he couldn't lift his tail at all (he dragged it through his food, water, litter box). Now he is living up to his name (he eats like it's his J.O.B.), has learned how to hustle for Greenies from our 2 pre-existing inside cats, and he can lift his tail about half mast. He's so healthy and he's thriving, and we love him so much. #glowup #nebelung

I am utterly stunned right now.

June 12, 2026 to October 3, 2026.

She has been out and about so much that I mistook her for one of my other cats earlier, and had to double take.

Thank you guys so much for all of your support 💜

He decided to start making his first batch of biscuits! He’s never done it before!! I’ve known him almost a year, and he’s been in with us since May so this is huge!!

After being MIA for a few days, my buddy TabbyTom stopped by for some food and cuddles. Last time he visited there was a failed trap attempt, and he must have either forced his way out of the trap or it may have closed prematurely. I was worried that his trust in me would be shaken, and perhaps it was, but ehen he returned he was very cuddly and spent some time hanging out on the porch. I'm hoping that after TNR he stays more permanently in my yard and roams less; the last time I saw him he was spooked by a loud car and very nearly ran into traffic. So if he stays in my and neighbors' backyards he'll be much safer.

Guest appearance by my void kitten, Nyx, who in this clip is just a shapeless mass of darkness and a pair of eyes 👀

Jimmy is one of the community cats I care for.

A few months ago, he was terrified of both people and the other cats. Whenever I fed this colony, he would wait off to the side until the other cats had finished eating. He always made sure I was no longer around before he finally approached the food.

But over the past month, Jimmy has transformed into a sweet, gentle boy who loves lounging on the grass and enjoying peaceful naps.

His journey is a reminder that with food, patience, time, and love, even the most fearful feral cat can learn to trust.

Not everyone appreciates community cats like Jimmy, but to us, every cat matters... and every cat is special!

If you're someone who loves and cares about cats, we’d love to have you join our Reddit community, r/StrayCatHeroes. Feel free to share your rescue stories, post photos of your beloved cats, or simply show us how adorable they are. We look forward to meeting you and your feline friends!

You can also follow my rescue journey on Instagram: instagram.com/catsofmagdalena

Well, it looks like my tiny furry friend has decided to move in! I let him crash at my place during a downpour that could drown a fish, and now, even though he occasionally steps outside for a "nature break," he zooms back faster than a cat on a hot tin roof! I've already hooked him up with his flea meds, and soon he'll be taking a trip to the vet. On another note, he makes great biscuits!

I posted about a month ago when I first took in these two cats. They were rescues from a huge feral colony that got way out of control And they were given to me to be outside barn cats. But I decided it would be better for all of us that they be inside cats. So I made the mega cage inside and I put them in the dining room which is a high traffic area of our house to try to get them accustomed to us.

Every night I go to give treats and try to get them used to us and the girl is coming along nicely. She will take treats from my hand and almost get close enough to pet her, I can see it in the future with her. I'm very pleased with how she's come along in a month.

But the boy has not moved one iota. He still hisses when I get near. He has never taken a treat from me. Neither of them will play with any toys. The boy does occasionally eat in my presence but not often.

I started taking away the hiding caves + only providing boxes that are open to the front with the hopes that increased exposure might help the boy to get friendly, but what happens is the two pile on top of each other and because the girl doesn't mind as us as much she's always in the front and she's kind of the door and blocker so he doesn't have to be around us. And in fact she's always trying to get the treats so I can't get it to him.

I'm thinking about pretty soon. Maybe removing her from the cage and letting just him stay in the cage. Several people have come in my house and said it seems cruel and unusual to make them stay in the cage all winter and not get any exercise, but if I put them in a spare room I know we won't think to go in there very much. I don't know. Is this the right thing?? I might be able to still put them out for the winter in the barn and make them barn cats.

But the truth is when I said I would take two ferals I thought I was going to get old cats and not young cats. I don't know that I'm prepared to take on outside cats that might live 20 years. I don't know that I'm going to be here 20 years. Picture of mega cage attached.

Any advice? Or have you had a cat that you spent now 5 weeks around who hasn't made any move towards friendliness that eventually got friendly? I don't need a lap cat but if he's going to be indoors I want him to have some kind of quality of life and not live hiding under the bed all the time.

It's officially been one week since we brought Kali inside. She seems to be getting more comfy inside the room when she's alone -- she particularly enjoys the Ripple Rug, she naps and rolls around on it. Shes using the litter box like a champ every day, and she is eating well but for whatever reason will never eat wet food, even though she got it every morning outside and enjoyed it. Maybe it seems sus still because Churu was used to trap her.

I'm still sus to her though, she still freezes when I am in there, altho maybe a little less terrified. I sat in there a couple hours the other day and she didn't move but she did sleep (or pretend to sleep). Will try to spend more time in there for her to generally get used to me, hopefully can get back to the progress we made outside (eating treats from my lap).

Initially the first few days we blocked access to the rooms door from our cats, but since she seemed so scared, I was hoping letting the cats sniff the door might make her realize it's not so scary, her friends are here (she used to run up to our patio door and rub on it any time she saw the other cats when she was outside). She sniffs at the door sometimes when they aren't there but I don't think she has been on one side of door while one of them was on the other yet. I definitely don't want to rush introductions but wonder if I should move to the visual stage (tall pet gate where they can see but not really touch). It might stress my oldest cat tho (she will take the most convincing that this is a good idea)

Cheesy & Peri Peri! 6 month olds, the more feral two out of their litter.

Peri Peri especially had been very adverse to touch for a long time. Over the last couple of days, she started purring and rubbing on us more when we brought food, and today she allowed me to pet her (even scritch her head). Same with Cheesy, who tends to copy the nearest cat lol

They are so sweet!! I'm so happy they let me pet them now. I hope they'll eventually let me pick them up.

Excuse my gnarly hands, just TNRd another feral and had to search for kittens in thorns and nettles...