TORONTO — For Julia Hatherell, adopting her cat Liam wasn’t so much a decision as it was fate. The orange-and-white tabby made it abundantly clear: He had chosen her.
Their story began years ago when Hatherell, a Toronto resident, kept spotting a friendly stray in her neighborhood. Every time she stepped outside, the cat would dart over, flop at her feet, and demand belly rubs. But one day, he took their bond to the next level—by scaling her window screen, claws dug in, meowing insistently until she noticed him.
“He just wouldn’t give up,” Hatherell told The Dodo. “He kept coming back, like he knew this was where he belonged.”
At first, Hatherell assumed the affectionate cat had an owner. But after inquiring with neighbors, she discovered he was a stray. She let him inside “just for one night”—a plan that quickly became permanent. Named Liam, the former street cat settled into domestic life with ease, his favorite pastime being lap naps with his mouth adorably agape.
From Stray to Super-Dad
What surprised Hatherell even more was Liam’s natural talent for foster parenting. When she began fostering kittens, the once-lonely stray transformed into a nurturing mentor, cuddling and playing with the newcomers.
“I never expected the cat who clung to my window to become the perfect foster dad,” she said.
To date, Liam has helped socialize dozens of foster kittens, though he remains as devoted to Hatherell as ever. Each time he curls up in her lap, she’s reminded of their first meeting—a relentless tabby who knew exactly where he wanted to be.
“I feel honored he chose me,” she said.
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