kind neighbor discovered a cat living in a storm drain—and knew she couldn’t leave him behind.

A kind neighbor spotted a cat living in a storm drain—and made sure he didn’t have to stay there another day.

In a quiet neighborhood, an orange cat had turned a storm drain into his makeshift home. Day after day, he survived on his own—keeping his distance from people and slipping into the shadows whenever anyone got too close.

Most folks passed by without a second look. But one kind neighbor couldn’t just walk away. She started bringing him food, offering the first bit of kindness he’d known in a long time—a small spark of hope he desperately needed.

Her compassion caught attention. But while some admired her efforts, not everyone was on board.

Before long, a letter arrived from her community management, warning that feeding stray cats could “lead to consequences.” Still, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon him.

Having adopted from her local rescue, Tails High, in the past, she knew exactly who to call. With a vacation coming up and Dewey—the cat—relying on her for food and care, she reached out for help. “She contacted us because she didn’t want to leave him behind,” Tails High shared.

Determined to make sure Dewey would never end up back on the streets, the neighbor and her family took things one step further. “They were ready to foster him,” Tails High said. “They offered Dewey a safe place to land once they returned from vacation.”

At first, Dewey kept his distance, still unsure about his new surroundings. But as the days passed, he began to relax, slowly realizing he didn’t have to hide anymore.

Soon, Dewey was darting around the house, playing and exploring every corner. Whenever his people walked into the room, he’d roll onto his back with his belly up—a sure sign he trusted them completely. After countless cold nights in a storm drain, he was finally warm, clean, and loved.

“When we meet friendly strays like Honeydew Melon (Dewey), we always hope there’s a family out there missing them,” Tails High shared.

They searched everywhere for his family, but after weeks with no leads, it was clear no one was coming for him. “Dewey wasn’t neutered or microchipped, so it was unlikely anyone was out there looking,” the rescue explained. “He got all the vet care he needed, and we started getting him ready for adoption.”

With a steady supply of food and all the comforts of home, Dewey transformed into a big, snuggly, purring teddy bear.

As Dewey was settling into his adoption prep, he leaned fully into the joys of indoor life—batting at toys, rolling blissfully in catnip, soaking up sunbeams from the window, and stretching his paws skyward like he was reaching for the stars.

Then, something unexpected happened. His foster mom casually shared some photos with her coworkers while talking about fostering—and that’s when the magic began.

Soon after, an adoption application came in for Dewey—and it turned out to be the perfect match. Before the rescue even had a chance to share his story publicly, he was already headed to his forever home.

It’s almost impossible to believe that just weeks ago, this sweet boy was curled up in a storm drain, surviving on scraps and rainwater. Now, his days will be filled with soft beds, hearty meals, and humans who absolutely adore him.

It only took one compassionate person to change everything for Dewey. With a safe foster home and the dedication of rescue volunteers, this once-lonely stray has transformed into a cherished house cat.

“From the sewer to the sofa, Honeydew Melon is truly living his happily ever after.”

Share this story with your friends. You can see more cats like Dewey from Tails High on Instagram @tailshigh and Facebook.