Georgia Homeowner Checks His Owl Nesting Box And Finds A Surprise He Never Expected

For as long as he could remember, Harry Saddler had been captivated by the owls that occasionally swooped through his Georgia backyard. 

Their silent wings and haunting calls filled him with a sense of wonder every time they appeared. 

Wanting to give something back to his feathered neighbours, he decided to create a safe haven just for them.

With care and patience, Harry built an owl nesting box by hand, measuring every board twice to make sure it would stand strong through storms and seasons. 

When it was finally ready, he secured it high in a sturdy tree where the owls often perched.

He imagined the perfect scene – a pair of owls settling inside, their soft hoots filling the night air, and perhaps a nest of fluffy owlets tucked safely beneath the branches. It was his way of inviting nature a little closer to home.

After setting the box up, Harry went back inside, eager and curious to see his first visitors.

He waited and watched, binoculars in hand, expecting any moment to spot the first owl inspecting its new home. But the visitor that arrived wasn’t what he expected.

A soft rustle, a flash of fur, and a long, bushy tail told him right away that this wasn’t an owl.

Harry blinked, rubbed his eyes, and realized a cat had climbed all the way up and made itself perfectly comfortable inside the box.

At first, Harry couldn’t help but laugh. The situation was completely unexpected. He shared on Twitter:

“This is not what we were hoping to attract when we installed nest boxes.”

As amusing as it was, Harry’s instincts as a bird lover kicked in immediately. He worried that the cat might scare away the owls or even harm them if they decided to visit.

Using his binoculars, he took a closer look at the feline intruder. The cat seemed calm and surprisingly content, curling up inside the box as if it had been there for weeks.

Harry didn’t recognize the cat, and he assumed it might be a stray that had wandered into the neighborhood. But instead of shooing it away, he decided to help it.

He snapped a few photos and shared them with local community groups, hoping someone would recognize the curious cat.

Soon enough, the cat’s owner saw the post and reached out, overjoyed to know their kitty had been found safe and sound. Harry shared the happy news:

“Good news! I posted in a local community group on FB and the cat’s owner came and got it. Also, I’m very happy to report that rather than being a free-roaming or stray cat, it’s an indoor cat which slipped out last night and ran off – I think every cat owner can relate to that.”

With the cat safely returned to its loving family, Harry could finally look at the owl box with fresh eyes.

The box was now ready for the winged visitors it had been built for, and Harry felt proud knowing that he had helped a lost pet find its way home.

The day had started with a funny, unexpected twist, but it ended on a heartwarming note.

Harry knew the owls might still check out their new box, and now, thanks to a little feline adventure, everyone had found a safe place.