Skittish abandoned orange feline finds food left on a third story balcony and keeps returning every day, until finally he lets the responsible human pet him then carry him inside: ‘You’re home now, Mikan’

CONTINUED:

One evening, he was there when the human who filled the dish emerged. The orange boy watched cautiously. The human smiled and spoke gently. Mikan felt no fear. Days turned into weeks, and trust slowly grew. One day, as he ate, the human came out again—this time with a plate and a can. KRRR-POP! The delicious smell of chicken and gravy filled the air. Mikan paused, then began to eat. He looked up, wary, but the human’s eyes were kind. He devoured the meal like he hadn’t eaten properly in ages.

Soon, the gentle human began to reach out while Mikan ate. A stroke on the head. A hand on his back. The first time, Mikan flinched—but didn’t run. Over time, the pets became part of the routine. Eventually, Mikan began to rest near the door. He’d call out with mighty meows when the dish was empty. One day, the human greeted him as usual—”Hello, Mikan”—and brought out a brush. A furminator. As the tool passed along his back, clouds of orange fur floated like tumbleweeds. Mikan purred like thunder. This was heaven.

Then came the moment of truth. The human gently picked him up. Mikan did not fight. He purred in the human’s arms. He was placed in a carrier, wide-eyed but not afraid. At the vet, he was examined, vaccinated, bathed, and pampered—a full spa day. When it was over, the human came back. Mikan thought he would be returned to the outdoors. But this time, the human brought him inside.

“You’re home now, Mikan,” he said.