A man named Carl from Gainesville, Florida shared a Reddit post about a black cat later named Midnight. This kitty clearly wants very much to be a house panther. And there were some telling signs to notice.
Midnight showed up at Carl’s home as a stray, and Carl did the right thing. He got the kitty TNR’d (trap, neuter, released) by a local rescue group. Afterward, the cat came indoors to recover for the night. The cat got a meal of wet food and experienced the cool air conditioning, maybe for the first time.
Unsurprisingly after that, Midnight decided to adopt Carl. He stood on his hind legs in the window, clinging to the screen.The kitty started sleeping on the patio furniture, making the place his territory. Then, Midnight continued to stay nearby for a couple of months, and earned a name. It was just a matter of time for house panther status.
‘I gave the stray cat wet food once,’ Carl posted.
Image via Reddit/After the post went viral, comments about the original post appeared in Newsweek.
“He’s been hanging around the neighborhood for about a year,” Mark told Newsweek. “I took him to get TNR (trap, neuter, release) and after that he had to stay inside for the night.”
A GoFundMe page created by Carl indicates Operation Catnip helped TNR Midnight. He hopes to raise $100 for the “very affectionate” kitty veterinary care. That’s the average cost of adopting a cat, and he’s halfway to reaching the goal at the time of this writing.
You’ve Been Chosen By Your Future House Panther
As cat lovers, we know the rules. Being chosen by a house panther is high praise indeed. That’s what hundreds of people said in the comments of the Reddit post.
“I don’t think you understand how this works. You’re mine now.” said one person.
“Stray? I don’t see a stray. That’s your cat now.”
Others shared the stories of cats who similarly adopted them. One cat named Emily adopted a Redditor’s Grandmother. After 22 years, the cat is still following Grandma around the yard.
“Meet Emily. She is 22 years old and spends her day following my grandma in the backyard. This old girl will always greet you at the door to be pet but be warned she will drool a lot,” shared Informal_Web8840.
Reddit/Informal_Web8840
Another person said the best relationships are when the animal picks the human.
“I wholeheartedly believe the best relationships happen when the pet chooses the person. In all 3 cases with me it was golden. Don’t ever pick a pet on color or whatever, watch their reaction to you. They will let you know when you have been chosen – like the sorting hat in Harry Potter,” said secret_fashmonger.
We hope he’s let Midnight indoors sooner rather than later since the outdoor world holds many perils for friendly cats. Street-wise feral cats have years of survival skills, but a friendly adult cat might be accustomed to people and indoor life. A quick microchip scan at the vet could reveal their long-lost family is missing them, even after a decade or more.
Panther Party on the Catio
Recently, Operation Catnip had a Panther Party on the catio. These feral panthers remain feral and are part of a program for “Working Cats” that can drive vermin away just by being in a business, barn, or farm. It’s much like traditional adoption since they will require a caregiver, veterinary care, spaying or neutering, meals, and outdoor shelter accommodations for life.
Images via Facebook/Operation Catnip
The difference is they will remain outdoor cats, and most will never fully trust humans. These cats have been displaced from their colony or territory and can’t safely be returned to their chosen home.
“The Working Cat Program is a win-win for both the cats and adopters! Cats enjoy safe outdoor homes with shelter and a caregiver (and live release from the shelter!), and adopters enjoy having healthy, sterilized cats that can happily provide green pest control and aloof companionship!” Operation Catnip shared.
Images via Facebook/Operation Catnip
See how a similar program called Cats at Work is helping in Chicago here. You can follow Operation Catnip on Facebook and Instagram.
See more in the video by Operation Catnip below:
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About the Author: Corbin Black
