Toby’s Story: From Chunky Feral to Sweet Homebody

By Lauren Puckett

Volunteers who feed and monitor the well-being of feral cat colonies are called Community Cat Caretakers. One of our caretakers shared this feel-good story about a community cat named Toby.

Double Dipping

In January 2024, HSLC received two separate requests for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for cats at two different colony sites. The cat at one site was not a regular; they called him “Chunky” due to his portliness. The cat at the other site was named “Toby” and his caretaker, Michael, was slowly making friends with him. Well, it turns out that Chunky and Toby were the same cat! At 14-pounds, this resourceful kitty had been “double-dipping” by feeding at both sites.

Fast forward to February, Toby was neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped through HSLC’s TNR program. When he returned, Michael asked if he could give Toby the opportunity to adjust to life as a house cat. If the indoor life didn’t work out, Toby could go on being loved and cared for in Michael’s backyard.

Adjusting to the Indoor Life

Toby was scared at first given his new surroundings. And, he often wanted to be alone which made socializing the handsome boy a challenge. But, Michael was patient and spent as much time with him as possible even when the cat didn’t reciprocate the attention.

Within a month, Michael’s persistence paid off and Toby was loving his new life as a homebody. He has become very friendly, sweet, and grateful for his happy ending!

While it is true that not all cats belong inside – there are many cats that deserve a chance at the indoor life. Check out the HSLC adoption page to learn about several formerly outdoor cats hoping to follow in Toby’s paw-prints.

Also, if you are interested in becoming a Community Cat Caretaker, get started by completing an application on our website. On-site training is available.