From Kayleigh Dunn on tiktok

Honestly, 2026 has been off to a rough start. Mental health plummeting, just got diagnosed with a paralyzed vocal cord which has significantly impacted my voice and communication.

BUT.

I have this feral cat I’ve been caretaking for 5 and a half years now. It started after I noticed one of my indoor cats spending a lot of time staring out the window. I started leaving food out and over the past few years we have *slowly* worked our way to her coming onto the porch for food and water, sleeping on my chair when the weather is nice, her getting used to me and my movements (no longer bolting when I stand to go inside), and taking treats from my outstretched hand.

In the last month she started aggressively headbutting my legs and weaving between them, over and over and over. In the last week I started dangling my arm between my legs for her to investigate. Last night she began rubbing her face on my hand and let me rub and scratch her face/neck. And then she came back for more. And more. And more.

I’m so proud of this shy girl and it made me so happy. It has taken 5.5 years of patience, calm, consistency, and trust for both of us. The world feels like so much, but at least I have done this thing right.

Before anyone asks- she has been fixed since before I noticed her (or appears to be; she has a tipped ear which makes me believe she was TNR’d. No pregnancy or kittens). I provide food and water for her year-round and occasional treats. She still hunts, presumably, and most recently left me parts of a squirrel. I keep an eye on her for health issues and have done oral tick and flea meds. It has long been a goal to bring her inside or at least get her in for a vet check-up and vaccines, but she’s playing the long game.

The mail slot side eye 👁️ …

Me too buddy, me too!