Woman starts feeding stray cat in backyard – two years later it’s her home

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

The image slideshow has been viewed more than 355,000 times since April 27 and illustrates how a black cat, now named Seb, was taken in by 28-year-old Jess Cavendish. Each image has text explaining a timeline of what happened, but despite Cavendish’s best efforts, Seb didn’t feel like bothering. It took a whole year for the cat to feel safe in her new home.

Cavendish told it Newsweek: “At one point I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to pet her.”

The 12-year-old cat first appeared in May 2022, when she was spotted sleeping on the grass near Cavendish’s home in Liverpool, England. At first she thought the cat was someone’s pet, but as the days passed it became clear she was living on the street.

“I saw her there again and again, and one night I decided to go out and give her some cat biscuits in my pajamas and dressing gown!

“She was hungry and when she ate it was so fast it looked like she was choking,” Cavendish said. Newsweek.

In the comments section, Cavendish wrote, “I think someone abandoned her because she’s too friendly having been wild 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 no one recognized her, so Cavendish continued to nurse her for three months. Then, in August 2022, the black cat made its way to Cavendish’s garden.

The text above a photo of Seb lying on her lawn reads: “She was very nervous and didn’t like being approached.”

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

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

“I used to give her pieces of food by hand, and she would eat them gently from my hand so I could pet her while she ate or took a treat.”

Cavendish added that gaining Seb’s trust was not an easy task and it took a year to achieve this. It wasn’t until last winter that she finally felt in her place.

In March 2024, she was finally able to get Seb into a cat carrier so she could go to the vet for vaccinations. The cat 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 pet cats who are little princesses.

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

An excerpt from the slideshow caption reads: “I wasn’t about to see a cat suffer, so over the past two years I’ve gained trust.

Cavendish also calls it a long process, but emphasizes 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 more than 1,280 comments.

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

“You are one lucky person. Black cats are one of the most intelligent and affectionate cats. Thank you for taking her in. I have taken in one who is almost 19 now,” another posted.

A third commenter wrote: “Omg (Oh my god) this made me cry, thank you for saving her and showing people can be kind. My two delinquents in Mumbai. Send headbutts.”

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