A Stray Cat Got In My Car

An orange stray cat unexpectedly hopped into my car and now he's exploring my living room.

1/11/2026 2 min read By Alex
An orange tabby cat climbing into the driver's side of a white car where a person is sitting.

So the weirdest thing happened yesterday. I was just leaving the park, it was getting pretty cold out and I was ready to go home. I opened my car door to get in and this orange cat just... appeared. He didnt hesitate or meow or anything, he just hopped right into my car. Bold as anything. Straight in, like he'd been waiting for his ride all day. I just stood there for a second with the door open, like, did that just happen?

This is not my cat. I dont have a cat. So my first thought was maybe hes lost, but he looked pretty confident. He started sniffing around the floor mat and then just started purring. A really loud purr. I kind of expected him to be scared or frantic, but he was the opposite. Totally calm. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing, which was more than I can say for myself.

He then jumped onto the passenger seat and started rubbing his face all over it, like he was claiming it. I've heard people say orange cats are a different breed of friendly but this was a whole new level. He was not scared at all. I was just standing there in the cold trying to figure out what the protocol is for when a cat commandeers your vehicle.

I honestly had no idea what to do. He looked clean and healthy, not like a cat that was in trouble. And it felt wrong to just force him back out into the cold when he was so clearly happy to be in the car. So I just... shut the door. And I drove home with him. He just curled up on the seat and seemed totally fine with it. Just a normal drive, except with a strange cat.

So now he's in my house. He's currently exploring my living room, sniffing every piece of furniture and rubbing on table legs. I gave him some tuna which he ate immediately. He seems completely at home. I guess I have a cat now?? He just decided for both of us. Anyway, I have no idea what the next step is, but here we are.

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Has a cat ever just decided to adopt you out of nowhere like this?

Alex

Written by

Alex

Pet Parent

Just a regular person trying to be a good neighbor. Apparently, that now includes dealing with a cat that thinks my car is its personal lounge.

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