Los Angeles Pottery Shop Worker Approaches A Clay Pot And Freezes At What She Sees

Life has a funny way of surprising us in the quietest of moments. Sometimes it’s a stranger who becomes a lifelong friend, and other times it’s an animal who finds its way into your heart when you least expect it. 

For Elizabeth, an employee at Olive Atelier—a pottery shop in Los Angeles—her surprise came with whiskers, paws, and the tiniest meow.

It was just another day at work. The shop smelled faintly of clay and fresh earth, and Elizabeth and her coworkers went about their usual tasks, cleaning and tidying up the rows of handcrafted pottery. 

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But tucked away inside one of those clay pots, completely unnoticed by anyone, was a furry stowaway waiting to reveal himself.

Elizabeth recalled the exact moment the quiet day took a turn:

“One day we were out there, and he just popped his little head up. It was really cute.”

To her astonishment, a stray cat had made himself right at home among the pottery. No one knew how long he had been there, or how he’d managed to slip inside, but there he was—looking perfectly at ease inside his clay hideout.

At first, Elizabeth didn’t rush to scoop him up. Instead, she observed him with gentle curiosity. He seemed nervous, hesitant to interact with people, yet there was also something in his eyes that hinted he wanted help—he just didn’t know how to ask for it.

Elizabeth decided to earn his trust slowly. She brought him food, setting down a generous bowl that the cat devoured in seconds. 

But when she tried to approach him, he darted back, still unsure of her intentions. Instead of being discouraged, Elizabeth adjusted her plan. She returned with food every single day, never pushing, always waiting for him to feel safe.

Day after day, the ritual continued. The cat began to associate Elizabeth not with fear, but with kindness. 

And then one day, the breakthrough came. He let her reach out, her hand gently brushing his fur. That was all it took. As Elizabeth later admitted with a smile:

“When he did let me pet him, then it was over.”

The stray cat had officially stolen her heart. She named him Patino—a name that symbolized a new beginning. 

To Elizabeth, it didn’t feel like she had chosen him. It felt like he had chosen her. She put it best when she said:

“I definitely think that Patino adopted me.”

From that moment forward, their bond only grew. Elizabeth took Patino to the vet for vaccinations and a full check-up, relieved to learn he was in great health. 

She even threw a little adoption party to celebrate his fresh start. What began as a chance encounter in a clay pot had turned into something much bigger: a lifelong friendship.

Now, Patino has everything he once lacked—food, warmth, siblings to play with, and a human who loves him endlessly. 

But Elizabeth still honours his unusual beginning. Every so often, she brings him back to Olive Atelier so he can visit the place where their story began. 

Customers have even started dropping by on Fridays, hoping to catch a glimpse of the once-stray cat who now spends his days in comfort.

Elizabeth never imagined she’d meet her forever feline friend at work, let alone inside a clay pot. But that’s what makes their story so special. As she lovingly reflected:

“I’m so thankful that I found him. Probably one of the best things I did was take him home.”

From stray to beloved, Patino reminds us that sometimes the best family members are the ones we never saw coming.