One day a man sees a three-legged cat sitting on his kitchen window sill, peering inside. As the days went by, his visits became more regular, showing up to play with the man’s cat Seson.

As time went by, his visits became longer, a bond had begun to form between the kind-hearted man and the stray. To the point where the cat had his own special place in the house, his own set of dishes, and a name, Bubby.

In no time at all Bubby and Seson were the closest of friends, for the man’s part, he and his family had fallen in love with the three-legged cat with half a tail. They wanted to make him a permanent part of their family.

Bubby, however, was adamant about being let back outdoors each day. As he was partially feral, they acquiesced to his wishes. Bubby remained a regular houseguest right up until 2017 when the man sadly passed away. Heartbroken, he only entered the home one more time, never to return.

Desperate the man’s family did their best to find Bubby, leaving out food, but he was never seen again.

That was until 2019, when a next-door neighbor saw a very familiar-looking three-legged cat emerge, making his way to a house where he had once known love.

Thankfully Ray Pinsent is a huge cat lover and knew the bond Bubby had had with his late best friend.

He quickly saw how weak the once healthy orange tabby had become. The past few years had not been kind to him at all, he was much slower now. Bubby was in the last stages of a downward spiral.

Ray could see something needed to be done before it was too late, so he set about trying to trap, what turned out to be, a highly elusive cat. After months of trying, winter had set in and Ray had all but given up hope.

With only one choice left, Ray walked up to the man’s house and spoke to the new owner, asking that she open the door the next time Bubby showed up. Frightened of cats she reluctantly agreed. The very next day Ray got a call.

The woman rang saying, “the cat is in the kitchen!” Ray dropped everything and raced round to the man’s home, finding a battered Bubby barely clinging onto life.

He picked up the almost lifeless body and raced Bubby to Exploits Valley SPCA Adoptables.

“Bubby was dehydrated, beat up, and all in. He was sent to the vet and wouldn’t have survived another storm,” said Sarah MacLeod, volunteer of Exploits Valley SPCA Adoptables.

“He started the road to recovery at the shelter.”

“His picture was posted online looking for info, that’s when the man’s daughter came forward and told me the story of Bubby for which I am so grateful,” Sarah added.

“She reminded me I met Bubby and her dad once before many years ago. She cried when she saw him and brought his dishes to him. Bubby now eats from the dishes he once did at the man’s house.”

Having fallen under Bubby’s spell, Sarah took him, offering to foster him until he was fully recovered.

“He was loved once before and he is now again. I can tell you that for sure because I just couldn’t part with him and took him home myself!.”

However, it didn’t take Byubby long decided his temporary home was to become his forever home, and Sarah and her boyfriend couldn’t have agreed more.

He hasn’t even asked to go back outdoors even once.

“Bubby purrs the minute he wakes up in the morning and as he goes to sleep every night.”

“He must know that he’s home now, for good.”

Loved once before Bubby is loved once again, and will be for the rest of his life.

Keep up with all of Bubby’s new adventures here on Instagram.

This story originally appeared on kittencatpost.com

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