Ray started out as the kitten nobody in the colony wanted around, but he was about to find someone who absolutely did.

Ray didn't exactly get the warmest welcome from the neighborhood cats. The feral kitten suddenly appeared in a colony that his future pawrent was feeding, but the other felines wanted absolutely nothing to do with the newcomer. While they returned to the garden after meals, Ray set up camp alone in a little kitty house.

Then his life took a pretty major turn.

When his caretaker moved out of their parents' house, there was no way they were leaving the little guy behind. Ray was trapped, loaded into the car, and taken on a 700-mile road trip to his new home. Talk about one confused passenger.

At first, everyone thought Ray was a girl, hence being referred to as their new "daughter." A closer look during playtime revealed otherwise, and just like that, their daughter became their son. Luckily, Ray didn't seem too concerned about the mix-up.

The bigger surprise has been how quickly this frightened feral baby has started settling into indoor life. During his first days, Ray left his new pawrent with a nasty scratch and spent most of his time tucked inside a box fort behind the bathtub. He initially waited until nighttime to venture out and play.

Only a week later, he has full run of the apartment, a growing toy collection, and some very strong opinions about getting pets. One night, his pawrent was reading in bed when Ray made himself comfortable on a pile of sweatshirts and spent hours enjoying his scratching post.

He's also discovered that human hands are pretty great when they're delivering scritches. Ray still prefers receiving them safely from underneath the bed or dresser, but his little lawn mower purr makes it clear he's coming around.

From a bullied feral baby afraid of every sound to a spoiled house kitty after one 700-mile journey, Ray has already come a long way. Something tells us his hiding days won't last furever.

Is he being dramatic, or does he have a point?

It's not worth trying to force a familial dynamic that doesn't happen naturally. It doesn't work when parents try to make their new partner a surrogate parent without any consideration for the amount of time their kid has known their new partner. No child is going to treat somebody they've known for a couple of months or years the same way they treat their parents, whom they've known for their entire life. It's just totally unrealistic.

Adults wouldn't be able to treat random people they barely know as if they were their kids, so why would they expect it from their kids' stepparents? If your 16-year-old son brought his new friend Kyle to your house and told the whole family, "Kyle's my brother now. If you don't treat him like your son and brother, you inherently disrespect him and me." Meanwhile, you don't know this kid, don't particularly care about him, and don't accept him as part of your closest kin, yet there he remains. This situation doesn't happen with kids because they have less power within the familial unit. There is no shortage of parents who bring a new person into their family without consulting their children and immediately expecting them to treat this person as a family member. It's ludicrous! 

You wouldn't expect teenage stepsiblings to act like siblings, but you might expect it from half-siblings who share the same mother and live in the same household together. The older brother in this story barely sees his younger half-brother as family, and he's planning on cutting him off as an adult if he starts to resemble his stepfather too closely. 

Good Ceiling Cat above, it's almost the weekend!

Quick, we have to make everything ready for the weekend; Caturday is nearly here, and our cats all need to be pampered and ready to spend all their time doing all this nothing. Have you filled the treats drawer? Did you clean the litter and add some extra soft sand for their peets? And for the love of Cieling Cat, fetch us the finest feather toy you can find. Quickly, Friday is almost over!

When the workweek ends, it all becomes cat time for every cat pawrent out there. You're done with chores, there are no more emails to answer, and your boss can't summon you for another meeting for at least the next couple of days. So, naturally, cat pawrents take this time to be with their cats 100%. It means lap naps whenever they want, staying up late helping them "hunt" the red laser dot because there's no alarm clock in the morning to worry about, and snuggly hour in any place your cat dictates. This is the best way to spend the weekend, if you ask us.

And while the weekend isn't officially here just yet, we say - why not start it early? You leave work on Friday and the rest of the weekend is ahead of you. So why not declare Friday night as the beginning of this cat weekend? If you can - do it. Start the finest feline hour right this evening, nothing is stopping you. Except for the commute home, maybe. And that's why we have these funny cat memes right here - enjoy, laugh, and get in the right cat mood for when you greet your cat back home.

Fair warning for your feline friend, to save them from potential danger.

Mirror, mirror, on the tree, who has the prettiest garden on the street? We hope you do, fellow gardeners. We know how it is - you look for the perfect plant to add to your magnificent front yard. Another one to welcome your guests in, to make you feel amazing when you sit for tea on the porch, and to enjoy with family. A pretty garden makes anyone's heart feel happier.

But then there's you, the gardener who has another small soul who enjoys a good garden time - cat parents. Your cat hangs around in the garden too, maybe even more than you. But some of these pretty plants could be absolutely dangerous for cats, and you might not know about it. But fear not, fellow feline fans, because there are great cat-safe alternatives to them all!

Below, you'll learn about five garden favorites you should definitely avoid if you have an indoor-outdoor cat, with safe replacements provided. Is your garden cat-friendly? Let's find out.

Trusting the process doesn't mean burning your food… and your kitchen!

This time of the week has arrived, and that's time for my cooking fail collection. I'm always excited when Wednesday comes around because looking on the internet for the craziest cooking fails has become a beloved part of my day. Yes, I know these are failures, and we're not supposed to laugh about others' mistakes, but… come on! These pictures are too funny not to laugh about!

Also, when it comes to making mistakes, laughing about them is the best way to cure the embarrassment and the shame that it gives us. And that is especially important when talking about cooking fails. For some people, cooking seems easy and fun to do, but for others - like myself- it is a very complicated game and involves a bunch of practice and patience to get one decent meal out.

You can imagine how good I felt when I came across these cooking fails on the internet! It's like I've found my own tribe, and I didn't feel alone. Mastering a hobby is not an easy thing, so I send my biggest congratulations to all of those who know exactly how to cook, but for the rest of us who can do other things but not cook, these memes are for you!

Summer may be almost over, but that feeling of freedom you get from looking up at the stars with your cat never goes away.

We'll always be the first purrson to tell you that you should keep your cat indoors. It's safer for your cat, and for the surrounding wildlife (if you didn't know, cats are incredibly skilled hunters). However, there are plenty of benefits to taking your cats outside in controlled circumstances. Harness training your cats from a young age, teaching them how to walk on a leash, and helping them become comfortable outdoors are skills that will change the way you look at your fluffy feline completely.

Not all cats and harnesses get along, so it helps to introduce them to kittens or young cats. Once they become comfortable in the harness, you can start taking them outside on a leash. Start in your backyard, letting them explore on their own and get used to the feeling of having a leash attached to them. Then, you can begin taking short walks, getting longer and longer every time, and eventually, they'll be fully ready to go have outdoor adventures with you.

As someone who loves camping, I've always wanted to have a cat that I could take with me on long hikes or camping trips. All of our cute kitties below are expurrt campers who probably are no strangers to s'mores and sleeping under the stars. It takes a lot of time and patience to get there, but it must be a one-of-a-kind experience to wake up with your cat curled up in between your legs while watching the sunrise, completely enveloped by nature.

The feeling you get from camping is one you'll never find in a city, or even your hometown. It's the feeling of freedom, a sense of oneness with the world around you, and the call of adventure that you can't deny. What a gift it must be to be able to share that with your cat.

Nobody wants to forced into accepting less than they deserve.

It's not a great idea to back anyone into a corner. If you have to trick or manipulate someone into doing something, it's probably not a great idea in the first place. That's what happened in this workplace story at a shrinking company. They were in a position where they had to cut benefits but wanted to keep their core employees. This is not a great way to inspire the people who work for you. It's hard to ask someone to give up something that they already had just for the sake of business. You have to be a little more tactful about these things or else you'll end up losing the talent on your team. The boss in this story didn't quite understand that, though, and wanted to make it the employee's fault when everything went sideways. 

Sometimes, saving a life means being at the right place at the right time. And being brave. 

Every cat rescue story requires bravery to some extent. Rescuing a cat from a sewer or from a trash can requires you to be brave. Rescuing a cat that is special needs, even if it is just from a shelter, requires you to be prepared mentally, and yes, brave. Rescuing a cat from a bad person - someone who is neglecting them or mistreating them in some way - means risking confrontation, and that requires bravery. That is why we, as people who write about these stories every single day, are truly thankful to every person who goes out of their way, stops their day and rescues a cat. Because that bravery is not something to be taken for granted. 

With all that said, we do not think that there has ever been someone braver than the person who rescued the kitten in today's story. After overhearing two rural country men at a gas station speaking about having to "get rid" of a kitten, she stepped in and offered to take it. Scary enough, since the kitten was not right there in front of her, but even scarier when the man told her to follow him all the way home if she wanted the kitten, and even more scarier when that ride home was thirty minutes long and cell signal was lost along the way. Happy ending, thank goodness. The kitten is in safe hands and happy with her new and very, very brave owner. Possibly the bravest we have ever written about. 

In romance, nobody enjoys being the next best choice.

When it comes to finding a relationship, most people place a lot of emphasis on feeling special. No matter what their specific requirements for a partner may be, they need to feel like this is a person who genuinely wants to be with them and isn't interested in entertaining other options. Although this can sometimes seem like a tall order in the modern dating world, it is possible. A lot of the time, it is simply down to luck.

At the same time, not everybody is going to agree with somebody who chooses to enforce certain standards in their dating life. They believe that you need to be more open to get into a relationship. While it may be a lot easier to find somebody when you make certain compromises, it is also true that this relationship may not be as happy as one where you stick to your core principles. In some ways, the dating game is a constant trade-off between these two conflicting sides. However, most find that they would rather give that love to themselves than offer it to somebody who is not likely to appreciate it properly.

Friday meowrning is all about finishing the week on the right paw, and for that, we need some purrfect cat memes. 

Friday has arrived, and honestly, we think that deserves a little celebration. The week has been long, the weekend is finally within paw's reach, and there is only one thing left to do before we fully embrace Caturday is finish Friday strong. Luckily, we have some purrfect cat memes on hand. And that is all that we really need. We're simple people with simple needs, and cute cats fill nearly all of them. 

Starting our day with silly cat memes is like giving ourselves a fluffy little boost of happiness. They are wholesome, they are heartwarming, and really, they can put a smile on even the sleepiest Friday face. Trust us, we've tried these memes on ourselves first. If you are here right meow, then this is your official excuse to take a few minutes for yourself, grab your coffee or snooze your alarm clock and enjoy some quality internet scrolling. Because if we're going to make it through the last day of the workweek, we might as well do it with a smile.

A hospital employee accepted a promotion with a written raise, only for HR to try to replace it with a pay cut after the work had begun

HR initially blamed a system error and promised back pay. Weeks later, another HR representative called from a personal phone and claimed the offer contained an administrative error. Then suggesting that they resign when they refused to sign a replacement offer, which was for lower than their original pay before they even took the new role.

Is your cat bored?

That is a question that we think every cat owner has asked themselves. Cats sleeping many hours a day is normal. They love cuddling under blankets and lying on every soft surface that they can find. But is there such a thing as too much sleep for a cat? Well… yes. Cats can get bored. Even these most dedicated nappers need stimulation. When their environment doesn't offer enough opportunities to play and explore, hunt and interact, then they get bored. And although they can't tell us when that happens, they do have ways of letting us know. 

Here are five signs your cat may be bored and five simple ways to bring some excitement back into your cat's life. 

Hey pardner, put 'em up. 

Cowboys have a long standing lore and history. Originating in the 19th century from cattle ranchers after the Civil War. Cowboys migrated to the West and were responsible for tending herds, repairing fences, caring for horses, and driving cattle. Their work was long and hard, it was outdoors with their hands, and every day was unpredictable. Their image continues to be indelible for viewers who enjoy old Westerns, or wild West themes in general. Since the passing of Dolly Parton, cowboys, country, and the rustic, rural farm life is making a comeback. And that's why at I Can Has Cheezburger we're making a comeback of cowboy cats to remind you of the good ol' days. Rural nature, just your pony and you, simpler times where the sunset and sunrise dictated your day, where you couldn't endlessly scroll, and where you might even put a tiny cowboy hat on your cat. Enjoy these wholesome cowboy cats. 

This landlord had a simple theory of property ownership: the premium washer and gas dryer existed in the rental house, but they were not his appliances, not his responsibility, and definitely not his problem

Which means he's part of a divine group of landlords who have mastered the art of being a landlord only during the fun parts, meaning the monthly rent collection, the occasional inspection where they point at a plant and ask whether it belongs there, and the deep satisfaction of knowing somebody else is paying off their mortgage. And treat the rest of the "job", including repairs, basic upkeep, and returning deposits, like an unexpected project that nobody warned them about.

She made the right decision. 

When the universe shows you not once, but twice the same cat back to back, you know it's a sign. The cat distribution system works in mysterious ways. This woman had never had a pet of her own before, she grew up with dogs and back in college she bonded with her roommate's cat. This instilled in her a desire to have a cat one day, and that day came. Suddenly he appeared on her doorstep one day. She was leaving for work, but there was a sweet little guy who was affectionate, playful, and sweet. There was no collar, and all day her mind kept going back to the cat. The next day, she's sitting in her bed staring out the window, when she sees something darting outside. And it's him! What are the chances? So she immediately goes outside to get him. She interprets this as a sign from the universe that she should save him. It's December and cold out, there's no reason a cat should be all alone outside. 

She kept him in a friend's bathroom for a few days since her roommate wouldn't let her take him home. She posted on Facebook to make sure he didn't belong to anyone, but sure enough someone responded. They said he was theirs but that they couldn't take care of him. She decided to name him Bitty, and that he was hers. But the caveat remains: where can he live until she moves out? She still had a few months to go, but her mom swoops in to save the day. She was hesitant at first, but eventually she decided that she'd help her daughter and take care of the cat in the meantime. So even though it wasn't an easy journey, she ended up with this cute kitty and she couldn't be happier. 

Neglected cats are sadly not an uncommon thing to hear about. Whether it be the case of an abandoned indoor cat who cannot care for themselves properly in the wild, or the case of a house catto whose pawrents aren't giving it the care it deserves as in this story. The results are the same, a truly sad and sour catto. But lucky for the feline in the tale, the universe created an opportunity for a feline fanatic to turn this cat's life upside down.

This story comes to us thanks to the efforts of two separate redditors, u/stunclock and u/Opposite_Tomorrow733 of Washington DC. The former being the family member who stepped in when they saw that their aunt's cat had been cared for poorly and decided that it was time to relieve his ageing aunty from the responsibility of caring for herself as well as the cat, and find the senior feline a loving home that could keep up with his various changing needs as he got older. The latter redditor is the kind cat loving hooman who fulfilled all of u/stunclock's criteria when looking for a new cat pawrent and even went to the lengths of sharing an update about how the feline was settling into his new home.

It is a tale that goes to show the amount of good that can be done to a cat's life if we come together as a community. If we say it is better to share our problems than to hold their weight alone. It is testament to the good that hoomankind is capable of carrying out.
 

It's not easy to give up something you know for something uncertain

I'm not going to come here and act as if you should always leave every secure thing you have behind and chase every random dream. Sometimes that's simply not the best road to take, and you should, for example, save a little money first, or wait it out, land a remote job and travel with a stable income; I mean, there are countless safer options than leaving everything behind with no backup.

When we have these big desires, such as travelling the world, we seldom think that there is limited time to make them come true. Of course, technically there isn't; you could potentially travel the world at 60, but how can we be sure what our situation will be like at that age?

Settling isn't the end of the world; you can travel if you have a partner and a family, but it's true that it makes matters more complicated. To me, the central things are desire and how burnt out you are from your current job.

This employee says he has already paid his student loan and has savings; the only thing holding him back would be guilt, but are we willing to sacrifice our whole lives to guilt? What would we get in exchange? More stress and a day-to-day life that feels pointless?

The decision doesn't have to be that drastic, really. You can take only a year off and come back. If you already started your career and have some experience, the year-long gap won't look as bad on your resume if you can justify it with a random 'experience-building' paragraph.

What would you do? Wait it out till the next holiday and keep your steady job? Or go on the adventure, relax, and rethink your life?

Should experience be the only deciding factor in promotions?

The workplace is supposed to be a meritocracy, and as a result, we might expect that more years on the job make an employee a better candidate to advance to the next stage of their chosen career. When somebody has put in the time and the effort with their employer, it can get to a point where this reward isn't just hoped for; it is expected. They believe they deserve a promotion.

However, life does not always work that way, and the logic behind who gets the fancier job title is often more convoluted than more experience = better candidate. Maybe putting a particular person in this position doesn't fit with the business plan, or there is somebody else who the higher-ups believe is simply a better choice. It can be a bitter pill to swallow for anybody who has worked hard with the hopes that they would get promoted, only to see the role go to a colleague. At the same time, it is their professional duty to deal with their feelings and find a productive way to work with this individual. If they don't do that, they are going to face problem after problem.

A meow from under a car made a woman stop and look. Hidden there was a tiny orange cat, peering out from the narrow space as a kind hand reached toward him, but he felt too scared to trust people.

Getting close required patience. The kitten was unsure about the stranger trying to help him. Eventually, they brought the animal out of its hiding place, put it in a bag, and took it home. The hard ground of the open street was now replaced by blankets, food, and a warm bath. The story moves forward, showing that the rescue wasn't temporary. The woman adopted the kitten. The kitten grows, and his place within the family becomes clear. One of the most moving moments of the story comes, in fact, when the cat hugs the woman's son by placing a paw on his face. The kid smiles gently, showing a sweet moment between them.

Finding a home for a stray kitten only happens when a person decides to stop and listen. After all, the kitten was scared and alone. He couldn't have known what the reaching hand meant when he first saw it. Now, he found a room to grow, a loving family, and a child who adores him as his best friend. How lucky! The cat distribution system always finds its way to unite the cats with the family they were meant to be part of. The woman gave him safety, and her son gave him a companion who would grow beside him. The animal that once associated people with uncertainty now feels safe enough to receive and give affection. His world clearly became softer when accepting the hand that offered him food and comfort. His days are now filled with playtime and warmth. He found a place he could call home because it is where he belongs. The orange cat can finally trust people. 

Nothing says Friday quite like tiny paws, cozy cuddles, and a whole lot of feline love!

I'm convinced that the happy feeling we have on Fridays is the same happy feeling we have when we see any cat. I'm not sure where the logic lies, but I'm not correct? I don't own a cat - or a cat doesn't own me, to be honest - but, I have a lot of friends who are cat moms, and whenever I go to their houses to visit them, the only thing I can focus on is the cat! I don't know what it is about them, but they are so compelling, and I love to be around them. If they love to be around me, you ask? Well… imagine me being so frenetic about the pet… of course, they hate it when I go visit.

But that's beside the point… and it's even embarrassing that I just revealed that to you…

When Friday is arriving, I can feel that same excitement going through my body. The weekend is coming; I'm already making plans, and I'm so ready for the week to be over. It's the same thing when I see those beautiful cats: I'm ready to spend a lot of time with them until my friends kick me out because I'm scaring their pets! Same thing!

I will say, though, that cats often create another type of feeling inside myself. A feeling that is not that related to Friday, but goes in the same direction. Sometimes, when I see a cat, all I want to do is get my fuzzy socks out, grab a blanket, and just chill in the coziest way possible. Cats also generate that feeling, and that one is far more approved by them, cause I'm more relaxed. And I think that is because of their fur and how cute and cozy they can be when they are tired. They just want to cuddle with you and fall asleep until who knows when… that might be the most heartwarming and wholesome feeling in the world: to cuddle with your cat until Monday comes around…