Wisconsin Woman Finds A Stray Cat In Her Yard, Then Realizes She Already Knows Him

Recently, it was just another quiet evening for Eleanor until she glanced out her window and froze. 

Sitting patiently on the other side of her glass sliding door was a black-and-white tomcat, staring right back at her as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

She recognized him instantly – or at least, she thought she did. Earlier that year, when she first moved into her new home, she had rescued two kittens who often played outside with a skittish stray that looked just like him. 

But something about this cat felt different. There was a familiarity she couldn’t shake, as though she’d known him far longer than that.

Curious, Eleanor grabbed a can of food and gently slid open the door, expecting him to bolt like he always had before. Instead, what happened next completely caught her off guard. She shared in an interview:

“He let me open the door and put the can of food in front of him. I shut the door slowly to let him eat in peace, he finished the can, and then he just … stayed there.”

Eleanor watched in disbelief as the tomcat lingered by the door, calm and unafraid. When she returned a little later with some kibble, she decided to test her luck. She said:

“I went back, offered him a bowl of kibble and made my first attempt to pet him. He didn’t get scared at all and let me pet him. After a few bites, he lifted his head up, rubbed his face against my hand and tried to push his way inside my home.”

The boldness of it made her laugh – this mysterious cat clearly had no intention of leaving. Still, with other cats inside, Eleanor decided to be cautious. 

She left him outside for the night with a cozy spot, fresh water, and more food, figuring he’d wander off by morning.

But when she woke up, there he was – still waiting. Eleanor added:

“He didn’t leave. I woke up the next morning, and he was still there.”

By the end of the day, she couldn’t resist. Eleanor scooped up the tomcat, took him to the vet, and got some heartbreaking news: he was covered in fleas and tested positive for FIV. 

With slim odds of finding an adopter, Eleanor and her partner made a teary but firm decision – they would give him the forever home he clearly wanted.

They named him Hank. And as days turned into weeks, Hank began to settle in beautifully. 

He was affectionate, playful, and gentle, soaking up every bit of love as if he’d been waiting his whole life for it.

Then, one afternoon, Eleanor was scrolling through old photos on her phone when something caught her eye. 

In a short video from early 2023, back when she lived in a different apartment just a few blocks away, a fluffy black-and-white tomcat appeared at her back door.

Her heart skipped a beat. She said:

“I came across the video of the fluffy black-and-white cat from my prior apartment. It took me a while to even realize it was Hank at first, but after comparing the markings, I realized it was absolutely him back when he had his fur! I immediately showed the videos and photos to my partner, and we were both just blown away!!”

It hit them all at once – Hank wasn’t just a random stray who showed up. He had found them before, at their old home, and somehow tracked them down again after they’d moved.

It felt like destiny. For Eleanor and her partner, who already had six cats, adopting another hadn’t been part of the plan. But Hank clearly had plans of his own.

Now, he’s a cherished member of their furry family – a once-shy stray turned loving lap cat who curls up in their bed every night. 

He follows Eleanor around the house, greets her with headbutts, and melts into her arms whenever she picks him up. Eleanor said:

“He has turned out to be the floppiest, sweetest cat ever.”

It’s as if Hank knew all along where he belonged  –  he just needed a little time, and a lot of heart, to find his way back home.