When Katie Hoover settled into her newly purchased home, she began noticing unusual noises echoing through the rooms.
At first, she attributed the sounds to the typical creaks and groans of an older property, but she soon realized something far more unusual was taking place.
A Hidden Visitor Revealed Among Moving Boxes
Katie was still adjusting to the quirks of her older house, including the strange sounds that seemed to come from nowhere.
When one particular noise grew louder and more persistent, she decided to investigate.
“I kept hearing this weird shuffling sound that I couldn’t identify and was starting to get freaked out, then I rounded the corner to this,” Katie wrote in a Facebook post.
As she examined her moving boxes, she noticed that all were sealed except for one. To her surprise, inside the open box sat a full-grown orange cat staring directly at her.
Katie gently carried the cat to another room to keep him separated from her own pets, Artemis and Apollo, while she checked with the neighborhood to see if anyone was missing him.
“It didn’t take long to find out what happened. His old owner was elderly and passed away and his family didn’t want the cat, so they dumped him in the woods out back and left,” she continued.
She soon learned that the cat had been living in a wood shed behind the property for over a year before her arrival. When he saw the moving boxes, he climbed into one, claiming a spot inside the house.
“I decided to take him in. It was only right since it was his house longer than it was mine. He sort of came with the house,” she stated.
Adjusting To A New Home And Family
Because he had already spent some time indoors, the orange cat quickly adapted to life inside. He also received a fitting name.
“I ended up naming him Murdaugh, after the orange cat from the video game ‘Stray’. But as a nickname, I’ve been calling him Murray or Murray Murder Mittens!” Katie told The Dodo.
At first, Murray had difficulty accepting the affection from his new family.
“He would be very defensive when you’d suddenly pet him. He was used to fighting for survival, so I couldn’t blame him,” she said.
Once he realized he was finally safe, he returned that love wholeheartedly.
The biggest challenge was introducing him to his feline siblings.
“Artemis and Apollo are thick as thieves and weren’t sure what to think of this orange interloper,” she said.
Murray respected their space, often retreating to the guest room at night while they cuddled with Katie in her bed.
Over time, Apollo and Artemis accepted the new companion. While not inseparable friends, they coexist peacefully and share the home without conflict.
A Joyful Life For Murray
Despite a few minor squabbles, Murray is thriving in his new home. He treasures the attention from his mom and enjoys the cozy life he claimed for himself.
“[The] little stinker is extremely mischievous and a happy house cat once again,” Katie concluded.