Fern: From Feral to Forever Friend

This sweet boy showed up one hot July day, scruffy and cautious, curling up in a shady window well and hiding under the ferns. He didn’t trust humans yet, but something about him told his future foster family that he was worth the effort. So they gave him a name: Fern.

At first, he kept his distance. Hissing. Watching. Waiting. But he stayed nearby, and over time, something shifted. He was trapped for neutering (thank you, TNR heroes!) and while the plan was to care for him outdoors, Fern had other ideas.

It started with him rubbing against a leg during an evening cookout. Then, one night, he climbed into a lap. And not long after that, Fern walked right into the house and made himself at home. He wasn’t a feral cat anymore. He was family.

Fern’s fosters decided to help him find a forever home. They shared his story online, and he quickly built a fanbase as #notsoferalFern. Around Christmas, everything changed.

Abby, a recent graduate, was moving into her first apartment and feeling anxious about living alone while working from home. When she visited Fern’s foster family for a holiday dinner, she met him—and it was instant. The very next day, she adopted him and brought him home.