Clare, a volunteer foster for the rescue group Saving Stevie, has dedicated herself to helping cats in need. A few years ago, a new feline appeared on her doorstep.
An orange-and-white stray, cautious and shy, began visiting Clare’s home in search of food. Although he was hesitant around people, hunger kept bringing him back. For some time, he remained distant, always running away when Clare tried to approach.
Despite his fear, Clare continued to work on gaining his trust. She mistakenly named him Phoebe, assuming the cat was female, and the name stuck.
As the days passed, Phoebe grew more comfortable with Clare. The gap between them slowly shrank, though he remained too nervous to be touched.
Clare recalls, “I could tell he was interested in me but too scared to let me pet him. I kept feeding him, and eventually, he let me pet him a little bit, mostly when he was distracted by eating.”
One day, Clare heard meowing outside her door and saw Phoebe peeking through the window. Soon after, he started climbing the window screens to catch her attention.
After two years of building trust and being drawn to Clare’s cat, Archer, Phoebe finally decided to leave the outdoors behind and become an indoor cat.
With the support of Saving Stevie, Clare welcomed Phoebe into her home, setting up a quiet room for him to adjust.
After exploring the space, rubbing his face on everything, Phoebe approached Clare, meowing and purring for attention.
Within two weeks, Phoebe transformed into a loving companion. Clare says, “He is the sweetest, cuddliest cat I’ve ever had.
He is the definition of a Velcro kitty. I work from home, and he’d sit in my lap, stare at my face, or give me head butts all day if he could.”
Phoebe was content to cuddle and relax on Clare’s chest, but he also had his playful moments, chasing balls and tossing toys around.
Choosing to leave his life on the streets behind, Phoebe quickly bonded with his foster family, soaking up their love and attention.
He became a permanent presence in Clare’s daily routine, attending her meetings and offering “supervision” as her loyal lap cat.
Phoebe, who thrives on human affection, would often drape himself over their chests or wrap his paws around them, compensating for all his time outside.
After months in foster care, Phoebe’s dream finally came true. He found a loving forever home. Within hours of arriving, he began following his new mom around, eagerly accepting pets and growing closer to her. That night, Phoebe snuggled up and flopped onto her chest as she got into bed.
Clare admits, “This has been the hardest and happiest goodbye of my time fostering. Phoebe will bring so much joy and laughter to his new family.”
Phoebe’s journey from a stray cat to a beloved companion is a heartwarming tale of trust, love, and second chances.
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