Stray cats are not an uncommon sight, unfortunately. Too often, cats are left to fend for themselves with no one to guard them. While this might be okay during the warmer months, winter is a whole other story.
The cats hardly seem to mind, however, as they get to roam around and see new people every day. It seems as though some of these strays do want to find a forever home, though, and that's exactly what Socks set out to do.
Connor Manning spoke to The Dodo about his story with Socks, and how the loving cat chose her new home. Manning says he was walking home one night and was in a bad mood, dealing with a bad breakup. Socks appeared out of nowhere, and Manning decided to say hello. The stray cat jumped into Manning's lap and demanded love and attention.
"After about five minutes, I started getting up to head home and she was SUPER scared," Manning said. "So I crouched down and she ran right over to me again. And we repeated this process for about four blocks until we were on my porch."
Socks came inside Manning's house to explore a little bit before realizing the outdoors was more her style.
Manning had plans with a friend that night, but he decided to leave out a bed and some water for his new friend on the front porch, hoping she would choose to stay.
But when Manning came home, Socks wasn't there.
He figured the cat had just gone on her way, but about an hour later he heard something.
"I heard the tiniest meows from my door and she came back and I nearly died it was so cute," Manning said.
From that moment forward, Manning and Socks were inseparable.
The six-month-old kitten was now safe and happy. As for Manning, well he was a little more sneezy.
"I'm, like, super allergic to cats," Manning said. "My family had to get rid of one when I was little because of it. Driving home from our first vet trip, my throat started to close up, so at that point for my own safety I decided I'd give her to someone else."
But after a little bit of searching, Manning realized that Socks already had a home: his.
"I was in love," Manning said. "After a few days of having allergy medicine in my system, I started feeling fine! So, she was home!"
Socks was officially adopted and has been with Manning for two months, now. She's settling into her home quite nicely, but she's still scared when a door opens to the outside world. She's probably scared that she'll have to go back, but with someone like Manning taking care of her, it doesn't sound like that will happen.
Have you ever adopted a stray cat?