On a random autumn day, Lizzie got a text with a photo of a cute feral cat from a friend who works at Tabby’s Place. “The cat was absolutely adorable, but clearly afraid and hiding under a sink,” said Lizzie.

“I don’t know why, but I was mesmerized by this cat. I thought about him for a week before reaching out to my friend and asking about him.”

Weston had come to Tabby’s Place with a group of other frightened feral cats. When Lizzie came to Tabby’s Place to meet Weston, he was cowering in fear with his cat friends. “I wasn’t sure what I was getting into and had no confidence that Weston would come around,” she added. But she somehow knew he belonged with her and adopted him.

When he arrived at his new home, little Weston was understandably terrified. Lizzie set up a separate space for him in the living room. “Tabby’s Place was kind enough to lend me a baby gate. Weston didn’t like to be watched, so for a couple of weeks, I sat on the other side of the gate and read to him from books and newspaper articles. He’s a very informed cat!” laughed Lizzie.

Eventually, Lizzie brought him a string toy. “That got his attention! He looked bewildered at first—like what are you doing with that thing?” Within a couple of days, they were playing together in the living room.

That string toy is still his favorite, although he also likes to chase and catch springy toys that bounce.  According to Lizzie, “I presented him with a box, and he was very excited about it. He loves his little box.”

Weston—also known as Mister Weston, Baby and Sweetie Pie—has settled into a comforting routine. He begins his day at 6 a.m. by screaming for breakfast. “This was not working for me,” said Lizzie, “so I got him an automatic feeder. That has worked out well.”

During the day, he sits in his very own chair by the window and watches birds from the feeder that Lizzie put up for his entertainment.

In the evenings, he cuddles on the couch with his mom and winds down with reality TV shows or animal documentaries, but no Cat TV because he attacks the birds and squirrels on the TV.

“When it’s time for bed, I yell ‘bedtime!’ and Weston will race me to the bed and settle into his favorite spot,” she adds. “He prefers when I read with him for a bit before we go to sleep.”

He’s still shy when Lizzie’s friends come to visit. If they visit during the day, he hides under the bed. But if they visit after sunset, he’ll come out of hiding for them. “I think he’s a little vampire,” says Lizzie.

Weston is a brave boy living his best life with his favorite human. It just goes to show that a lot of love and a little patience can turn a fearful cat into a blissful best friend.

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