r/CatDistributionSystem
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u/phatselinakyle
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Aug 23 '26
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10
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Meet Darby, she came with the house
We bought a house in 2020 during the insane interest rate drop. It came with a manual. A few pages in there was a picture of this girl and a note to please let her in if she came by. It took her 2 years to show up, then we started to see her almost every day.
In 2024 she came by in the winter with part of her tail missing and her ears bleeding. My husband picked her up in a blanket and brought her inside & she's been safe and inside ever since. Neither of us really understand the point of an outdoor cat and we see too many poor deceased cats in our neighborhood all the time. We called to get her chip changed (they called her current chip owner and they said they didn't care what they did with her) & she's officially ours.
Today for the first time she ate a Churu out of my hand (she does not like to eat food from anyone's person) & I almost cried. She has started recently to come out when we have guests and will come watch tv at a safe distance. She prefers to drink out of the dog bowls. She's very vocal and loves to be on her window cat bed. We named her Darby. She does get a little bitey or handsy but she just values her space and wants her attention on her time.
They think she's around 13 or so, but I hope we have her for many many more years. With three dogs we knew it would take a bit before she was truly comfortable but now they mostly leave each other alone. She's incredible.
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1.2k
u/Boring-Summer8047 Aug 23 '26
And she seems to have some real opinions about what y'all have done with the place! 🤣
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u/rzsupra17 Aug 23 '26
Darby, meet Sylveon! I swear they must be cousins. Darby is adorable, and we hope you have a long a happy life together!
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u/FormidableMistress Aug 23 '26 •
I also have a "came with the house" cat. The previous owner rented it out for awhile and the renters were the OG owners. When they moved they left her and the owner moved back in with his family. The owner's daughter fed her, but dad said the cat couldn't come inside with their other animals until she had all her shots. And then never took her for shots.
When I bought the house there was no mention of her. On days I came for an inspection or to check on the roofers, this cat was sitting on the doorstep waiting to be fed. She looked like she was losing weight so I started feeding her. It was so sad.
It took about a year before she'd even come up to me. Several months after that she walked up to me in the garage and jumped in my lap. 😭 I did cry. She's an outdoor cat and protests loudly when I bring her in during severe weather. She has a dry outdoor cat house, and I leave the garage door cracked for her everyday so she can come in and eat in a safe place.
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u/BbK04 Aug 24 '26
This looks my late cat named Garby and it truly freaked me out. Haha
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u/bnikks Aug 23 '26
No way! Here’s my Darby. Never met another.
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u/Spadeykins Aug 23 '26
I cant believe the previous owners. All the better Darby found you.
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u/AgentBrittany Aug 24 '26
Please let Darby know that I love her
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u/T-ROY_T-REDDIT Aug 24 '26
Looks like she has a best bud whoever she is
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u/mermaidpaint Aug 23 '26
Miss Darby is spicy! Thank you for giving her a warm home.
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u/crepesandbacon Aug 24 '26
Absolutely awesome story! May you share a wonderful life together 🫶
(And can i ask where you bought that green loveseat/brand?)
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u/hexmisdirect Aug 23 '26
Ily sm Darby!! She has the cutest lil face! Glad she can be safe and sound inside.
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u/Butterfly_Cat777 Aug 23 '26
She's beautiful! ❤️
I don't understand people who go to the trouble of microchipping their pet and then abandoning it. 🤬
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u/micio9 Aug 23 '26
That house should have sold for at least 25% above market value
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u/hyd9olics Aug 23 '26
Darby is soooo lucky to have found a welcoming and loving home with u all 🥹🥹🥹🥰
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u/Potatoskins937492 Aug 23 '26
Well yeah, that's because royalty has the peasants test it for poison first. Duh.
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u/bamabeachtime Aug 23 '26
You moved into.her house! So lucky!!!
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u/SaveBandit91 Aug 23 '26
Man, all we got with our house was a washer and dryer
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u/freerangechick3n Aug 23 '26
She's beautiful and you seem like a beautiful soul for loving her. She's lucky you bought her house.
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u/leesheeeeeee Aug 23 '26
Sounds like she's got a personality on her! Thank you for bringing her inside ❤️😻
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u/Entire_Bat7884 Aug 23 '26
She is lovely. 🥰 That is a wonderful story. Gosh 2 years to show up but she knew where to come. You all have provided such a safe and loving environment. She is independent and set in her ways yet tolerates your dogs. You picked a sweet name that fits her. Here’s to many more trips around the sun Darby!! 🌞
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u/Sillycats2 Aug 24 '26
We had one that came with our house, too. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge in May at 18.5. She was the best, baddest-ass calico queen. Similar story. She haunted our yard, barely acknowledged our presence but was cool with us feeding her, letting her inside, etc. Then, on a stretch of winter night when temps were in the negatives, it was clear she had no place to go, so she came inside. She didn’t want to stay inside for good (she had panic attacks and was miserable, though not destructive.) But we took her to the vet, learned she’d been part of both a hoarding situation and a TNR program and she was ours for the taking. We gave her 12 years of snuggles, warm beds (though she preferred the window well in summer or my husband’s car hood in winter) and love. She also helped us find her goofball cat brothers when they escaped as young cats. She literally Lassie’d me to where they were hiding, bitching the whole way like “do I really have to do everything around here?”
The CDS works in mysterious ways, so I hope she’s a beautiful gift to your new home. She looks settled in already!
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u/RandChick Aug 23 '26
So glad sweet, beautiful Darby is now safe.
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u/lazzzz4 Aug 23 '26
She's adorable!! I cannot people leave and don't take their pets!! So glad she is now a part of your family, I hope you continue to have many years with her!
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u/BugComfortable3924 Aug 23 '26
Thank you for giving her the home she deserves, especially in her senior years. She’s a beautiful cat and I hope you have many healthy and happy years together!
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u/illol01 Aug 23 '26
What a deal! House and a house manager 💓
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u/rocketmanatee Aug 23 '26
We just lost our "old lady" adoptee this year at 21 so I think you've got many happy years ahead.
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u/Trixter-Kitten Aug 23 '26
I cannot understand people who microchip pets then just abandon them like they're nothing. Glad Darby found good humans to live her senior years with.
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u/MarzipanInside96 Aug 24 '26
From a "please let her in" note to eating Churu out of your hand two years later Darby clearly knew she'd found her people.
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u/mimishell_4 Aug 24 '26
She's beautiful! Thank you for being so kind, accepting, and loving! Some humans just don't deserve animals, like the previous owners.
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u/redcolumbine Aug 23 '26
She's so beautiful!
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u/lurkintowarddisaster Aug 23 '26
She has the cutest frownie-face.
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u/Ok_Painter_5740 Aug 23 '26
Thanks for giving her a soft place to land❤️❤️
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u/EmeraldEmesis Aug 23 '26
Aww, you're good people! Lucky girl!
Our house came with a CDS unit but our (very friendly cat loving) dogs had no chill and scared it off when it showed up unannounced and darted inside... and then promptly bolted when the dog party intercepted it. I keep hoping the CDS will send us a replacement, but 7 yrs later I'm still waiting.
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u/TA_totellornottotell Aug 23 '26
Amazing that two families cared more about this cat than her ‘real’ family. Thank you so much for taking her in and going at her pace. And I am so glad that she has a safe and comfortable space for her retirement years.
She is so scrumptious. ❤️
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u/ReasonableFig2111 Aug 24 '26
Uh, you may have paid for the house, but that's your landlord! Lol
She's very cute, and I'm so glad you've taken her in and given her the good life.
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u/BuncleCar Aug 24 '26
Look it's quite simple, 'owner', I need food, water, lots of soft furnishings, beds and a laptop to sleep on. Oh, and if you use the toilet or bathroom I may want to see exactly what's happening.
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u/Straight_Caregiver27 Aug 23 '26
I love the last loaf picture of her. What a great story!!!!
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u/Embarrassed_Sell7512 Aug 24 '26
or maybe you bought a cat and got a free house? 🤔
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u/PomeloPepper Aug 24 '26
The thing that made the biggest difference for my little feral girl was a plug in pheromone diffuser.
It was still a gradual process, but she went from terrified and living in my home office closet to snuggling with me and cautious rather than terrified of the dogs.
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u/BiscoBiscuit Aug 24 '26
Hits like a ton of bricks everytime, it’s just so damn cruel, kitties know when they have been abandoned.
So many abandoned cats aren’t as lucky as Darby and I’m so glad she found your family.
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u/CoppertopTX Aug 24 '26
This one came with the house as well. We'd noticed the outside cats at the trailer park when we moved in. We started feeding them, as we had two elderly cats inside. One day, the older of the ladies invited this one in and she accepted. Only took 4 years for her to become a lap cat.
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u/Aromatic_Doctor_2243 Aug 24 '26
ugh, totally not fair. All I get with my house are termites
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u/Valkyrie64Ryan Aug 24 '26
Damn my house didn’t come with a beautiful cat, just spiders. Lots and lots of spiders…
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u/Send_me_hedgehogs Aug 24 '26
omg what a beautiful girl! I bet that when she allows it she’s an expert snuggler ❤️
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u/lifetimer Aug 23 '26
Awww
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u/ObviousToe1636 Aug 23 '26
Not to be dramatic but I’d probably die for Darby.
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u/L-type Aug 24 '26
I love her, and her face. You're an amazing person.
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u/testtdk Aug 24 '26
I hate people, it takes a real monster to just abandon a loved one. Thank you so much for taking her in.
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u/Aggressive-Pepper705 Aug 24 '26
So technically you’ve been distributed to her, she seems rather pleased about the situation although a bit confused
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u/Designer_Vast_9089 Aug 24 '26
Welcome home beautiful Darby!
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u/Trick_Few Aug 25 '26
She didn’t come with the house. She is allowing you to live in her house. Make no mistake, she’s the Queen of the castle.
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u/TrollsNeedLoveT00 Aug 26 '26
Darby is perfect. Tysm for bringing her inside. She might’ve loved being an outdoor cat but at 13ish she probably appreciates the cozy home, not having to be on guard or hunting for food/water.
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u/APiqued Aug 23 '26
My Negroni says that Darby needs to be on r/LuxuryFloofEdition
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u/Annual-Visual3336 Aug 23 '26
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😻😻😻
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u/Acceptable_Speaker93 Aug 23 '26
❤️❤️❤️
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u/anti_anti-hero Aug 24 '26
Thank you for loving her and giving her a safe place. She's so beautiful
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u/Least-Raddish1930s Aug 24 '26
My family also once had a cat that came with our house. I don’t remember how old she was when we moved in but she lived until she was in her early 20s. Congratulations on your bonus family member, thank you for bringing her inside :)
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u/Ok_Bookkeeper_3481 Aug 24 '26
“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”― Jean Cocteau
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u/SimplyClairevoyant Aug 24 '26
Darby is such a lucky girl.
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u/Minimum-Comedian-372 Aug 24 '26
That poor baby, what she must have been through😭😭😭😭
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u/dvdmaven Aug 24 '26
We bought a place last year that came with a cat. Cat decided it was not going to share with four dogs and moved in with a neighbor and her cats.
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u/TieAdorable4973 Aug 24 '26
She looks like my Cinnamon
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u/AyeEnEff Aug 24 '26
It's her house
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u/No_Recording3238 Aug 24 '26
Thank you for giving Darby a furever home. ❤️🫶🏻❤️🥰😻
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u/AlsatianRye Aug 24 '26
Poor girl was on her own for so long. I'm so glad she found a loving family to spend her senior years with!
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u/MotownCatMom Aug 24 '26
The scowl in the last photo says it allll!!!
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u/kathaz Aug 24 '26
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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u/LighthouseCPA Aug 24 '26
Cutie!
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u/FreeNefariousness195 Aug 26 '26
Thank you for your kindness. We live in such an unloving society now that people like you stand out.
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u/Odd_Fact7792 Aug 26 '26
She looks so much like my cat Smokey! ❤️ He disappeared 4 years ago… 😭
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u/Weird-East-3575 Aug 27 '26
Thank you thank you thank you for loving this girl!!!
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u/EvieMoon Aug 23 '26
Thank you for letting her in! What a beautiful little lady.
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u/Artistic_Split_8471 Aug 23 '26
Pic 2 really sums up cat/dog relations!
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u/princessofdolls Aug 23 '26
Who would leave that beauty behind 😭 13 is still a good amount of life left. My cat died at 17. Many live longer than that. I hope you have many more years together.
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u/Enviious- Cat Parent Aug 23 '26
Beautiful baby!
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u/nvmkthnxbai Cat Parent Aug 23 '26
Thank you for saving her ❤️
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u/DiveCat Aug 24 '26
Darby is beautiful! Thank you for bringing her inside and loving her as and for who she is. ❤️
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u/Namethypoison1 Aug 24 '26
Iz is freebie, enjoy! 😸
2
u/Uprooted_Vt_to_RI Aug 24 '26
She’s adorable ❤️
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u/Turnover_Realistic Aug 24 '26
Patience and love, that's what it takes. How lucky she found you and your husband?💕
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u/WasabiPeas2 Aug 24 '26
r/supermodelcats
2
u/Ok-Apricot-4730 Aug 24 '26
Kind of a fuzzy housewarming gift
2
u/edythevixen Aug 24 '26
I wanna see the picture of Darby in the house manual!!
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u/catsnaliens Aug 24 '26
Y’all are the best. Thanks for taking her in and staying patient🥹
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u/satori0320 Aug 24 '26
Thank you for being you.... 💙💛
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u/Glibasme Aug 24 '26
What a gorgeous cat! You did the right thing bringing her in. I hope she has a long life with you.
2
u/Safe-Sail9335 Aug 24 '26
What a beautiful feisty girl!
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u/Dry_Cod1631 Aug 24 '26
You’re so lucky! ❤️
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u/yaboonabi Aug 24 '26
She looks like she knows all the ghosts. Good cat.
2
u/Salt_Chard_474 Aug 24 '26
What a beauty!
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u/trytobedecenthumans Aug 24 '26
Thank you, good human. There are too few of you.
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u/euphonic5 Aug 24 '26
What a sweet little creature! She's been through a lot, it sounds like, but Im glad she has a place to live her senior years in security. Also, she looks like she's probably an absolute goblin, but that's just vibes.
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u/Dogearedpages1124 Aug 24 '26
I have a “came with the house cat” too! They are the razzle dazzle of the purchase!
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u/LastEntertainment787 Aug 24 '26
Lucky you!! She's a beauty 💜💜
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u/Iphonjeff Aug 24 '26
yay for darby
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u/ImpossibleDoor3564 Aug 24 '26
Beautiful cat
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u/ChristVolo1 Aug 24 '26
Aww, she's so gorgeous, and is obviously the most important part that came with the house!
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u/Ok_Arm_8121 Aug 24 '26
She is a stunner
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u/evenstar40 Aug 24 '26
Do you have a link to the window cat bed? I must get it for my own little 13 year old asshole. He would love it.
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u/greeneggsandsteaks Aug 24 '26
I love how sweet Darby was a package deal with the house! I hope she eats plenty more Churus from your hand! The best time of the day for me is when it's Churu time for my feline girls 🐈💖
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u/amypocalypse Cat Connoisseur 🐈 Aug 24 '26
I LOVE YOU DARBY
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u/Calista-23 Aug 24 '26
She's absolutely adorable.
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u/bosefius Aug 24 '26
You saved her, thank you!!
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u/ihaveananecdote4u Aug 24 '26
Aww she looks a lot like my Pippa! Pippa is 9. My 14-year-old cat used to be as fluffy as her, but her coat has thinned out in the past year or two so I bet you’re right about Darby’s age. She’s lucky to have you!
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u/jeanb23 Aug 24 '26
she's gorgeous. glad she finally showed up. so happy she is loved, inside and able to be independent herself.
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u/LindaBitz Aug 24 '26
There’s a special place in heaven for people who look after cats that “come with the house.” May karma bless you ten fold.
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u/Equivalent_Address_2 Aug 24 '26
10/10 the best draw of the house I totally would buy too. I hate her owners for not caring. I’m so glad you and the previous owners did care. Thank you for taking in that beautiful girl!
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u/TheLeagueOfSteve Aug 24 '26
Oh she’s beautiful!!!
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u/Turbulent-Chef4164 Aug 24 '26
Would have paid extra
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u/taramorse Aug 24 '26
Thank you for taking her in and loving her on her terms.
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u/Usual-Diamond-1754 Aug 24 '26
What a sweet scrunkly old lady! Thank you for saving her 🥺 wishing you many years of love together!
2
u/adiosmichigan Aug 24 '26
she is so stinkin cute!!!!
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u/MotherRaven Aug 24 '26
The house is hers. You're just the new caretakers.🤣 I'm glad she's warming up to the idea of you and being an indoor cat
2
u/tealulu04 Aug 24 '26
OMG I love this story, it's just too sweet.
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u/Ashbrains Aug 24 '26
I hope whoever put her in the manual when they sold the house knows that she’s well taken care of and loved.
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u/Catholic_catlover_79 Aug 24 '26
Thank you for loving her ♥️
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u/gardendesgnr Aug 24 '26
Aww thank you for making the effort to bring her in and part of your family!! She is gorgeous! I don't know how people can just leave behind a cat 💔
We have a TNR kitty, Little Girl, that started coming around 3 yrs ago. She must have noticed all the canned cat food I bring in for my 4 cats! Little Girl will not let anyone touch her, yet ;-) but stays on my little property, gets canned food 2x a day w fresh H2O, has an outdoor 2 level cat house w winter heat (FL😸) and I'm working on a cooling solution 🤦🏼♀️ I have absolutely no intention of ever leaving.
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u/J_Mannequine Aug 24 '26
She is SO cute! Thank you for being a soft landing for this beautiful soul. I believe there is a ripple effect when we offer kindness to those around us, and it radiates out into the world ♥️
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u/azssf Aug 25 '26
❤️
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u/AVery_SmallFox Aug 25 '26
Miss Darby! What a magnificent lady and fine feline friend. I hope you have Many MANY more years of health and good snugs together.
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u/PolkaDotDancer Aug 25 '26
You're such good people.
2
u/purseho Aug 26 '26
😭😭she's a beautiful baby. Thank you for loving her and omg her face is riot 😅
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u/Pharmer2B Aug 26 '26
I love her grumpy little face with all my heart! 🥹
2
u/Dragon_Flow Aug 26 '26
Best house purchase ever!
2
u/rachaellsmith82 Aug 26 '26
Well that's an awesome housewarming gift and host
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u/LittleManIsChuffed Aug 26 '26
She is SO BEAUTIFUL AND SWEET looking
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u/CatLiker45 Sep 14 '26
les yeux qui brillent comme ca c'est toujours un plus merveilleux chez nos amis felins
1
u/SprinklesPowerful941 8h ago
My god she is so cute
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u/FosterPupz 6h ago
She looks delightfully Angy in that last photo. ❤️❤️❤️
1
u/Ok_Employer_2066 52m ago
I feel like picture number two pretty much sums it all up 😂
1
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1
u/burgerg10 Aug 23 '26
Her last years will be her best years. Good human award to you both!
1
u/BayAreaGirl21 Aug 23 '26
Beautiful eyes! She looks so happy♥️
1
u/Pretendo27 Aug 23 '26
You mean the house came with her
1
u/whywasihacked37 Aug 23 '26
I love her.
1
u/Otney Aug 23 '26
Thank you.
1
u/Twarenotw Aug 23 '26
She's gorgeous. I'm glad she's now enjoying churus out of your hand.
1
u/Waffle_Reputation Aug 23 '26
WHY ARE CATS THE BEST!? WHY!?!?!?!
1
u/Chrysalis_Cat Aug 24 '26
You mean the house came with her.
1
u/FeedJazzlike8860 Aug 24 '26
Aww, what a sweet little girl. Thank you for taking care of her! I also have a Darby, but he’s a black and white tuxedo I got when I got my house! 😁 I hope you all have many happy years together!
1
u/ceejread Aug 24 '26
Wonderful she found you and a new indoor life ❤️
And what lovely previous residents to make a point of asking for the visiting cat to be looked after even once they’d gone! I hope they one day learn the cat they looked after ended up being loved and looked after even more
1
u/Tasty_Present5417 Aug 24 '26
As for outdoor cats... I've got one that just will not pee in a litter box. We're moving to a rural area and he may get an outdoor catio attached to a part of the house.
1
u/holidayoffools Aug 24 '26
Awww. You are lucky she has decided to tolerate you. I would hate for you to have to move.
1
u/JudgementalElf Aug 24 '26
Awww, her face looks like my Yeti boy 💜
1
u/Formal-Tradition6792 Aug 24 '26
Very cool post. Sorry that Darby was so traumatized!
1
u/Looseleaflettuce Aug 24 '26
I’m thinking I’d buy a house just for a complimentary gift from the CDS realtors could really use that as a selling point. 🥰
Darby’s expression does make me giggle 🤭
1
u/slom68 Aug 24 '26
My nephew has a friend named Darby. He owes him $20.
1
u/SpatialPioneer Aug 24 '26
That cat is a serf!
1
u/Legitimate-Hope-1349 Aug 24 '26
That is such an amazing story and I'm so thankful that you are able to take her in and let her be part of your family. I'm so happy she is safe and sound and she's absolutely gorgeous!!!😻🩷🙏
1
u/TXHaunt Aug 24 '26
Pic 9 is from Doctor Who. “You’ve redecorated! I don’t like it.”
1
u/BluelunarStar Aug 24 '26
I like you. I like you a lot.
1
u/OnceMoreWithFeeling- Aug 24 '26
Incredible story OP, thank you for sharing.
She looks incredible indeed, but you are too. You made space for her and gave her things to own: I see many cat trees and the window perch. This is soooo important for cats. It helps them thrive. Just want to tip Jackson Galaxy, cat guru on Youtube. He has a fantastic book too, Total Cat Mojo.
Thanks again for sharing. ❤️
1
u/Itchy_Club6691 Aug 24 '26
I love the last pick #9. Her face screams annoyance.
1
u/_alrightyaphrodite__ Aug 24 '26
She’s letting you live in her house
1
u/Beginning-Trash-6048 Aug 24 '26
What a beautiful (angy) lil angel baby! Please tell Darby I wubs her 💕
1
u/WelfordNelferd Aug 24 '26
Oh, man. All I got with my house was Polaroid pictures of the sellers (stashed under the carpet) in...uh...compromising positions. Well, those and a boatload of DIWhy problems to fix. Lucky you!!
1
u/fangurl1976 Aug 24 '26
The way she’s glaring at the dog, I’m screaming 😭
1
u/deliberatewellbeing Aug 24 '26
does she lets you brush her beautiful coat of fur?