When Katie Hoover moved into her new residence, she began to hear some unusual sounds.
At first, she assumed it was just the typical creaks of an old house, but soon she discovered there was more to the story.
Unusual Find
Adjusting to life in an older home with its customary noises was a process for Katie.
However, when this specific sound became increasingly louder and more frequent, she felt compelled to investigate.
“I kept hearing this strange shuffling noise that I couldn’t place and it started to freak me out. Then I turned a corner to discover this,” Katie posted on Facebook.
As she sifted through her moving boxes, Katie observed that all were securely closed—except for one that was directly gazing at her.
Inside this single unsealed box was a charming, full-grown orange cat.
Katie quickly scooped up the feline and took him to another room to separate him from her two cats, Artemis and Apollo, and began searching the neighborhood for any missing cats.
“It didn’t take long to find out what happened. His previous owner had passed away, and the family decided they didn’t want the cat, leaving him abandoned in the woods behind,” she added.
Afterward, Katie discovered that the cat had lived in a shed behind the house for over a year before she arrived.
Seeing the moving boxes come in, he had decided to jump into one, effectively claiming his new home.
“I felt it was right to take him in since he had been here longer than I had. He essentially came with the house,” she remarked.
New Beginnings
Having already spent some time in the house, Murray adapted quickly to his new surroundings.
He was given a rather amusing name.
“I chose the name Murdaugh, inspired by the orange cat from the video game ‘Stray’. As a nickname, I affectionately call him Murray or Murray Murder Mittens!” Katie shared with The Dodo.
Initially, Murray struggled a bit to accept the affection coming from his new family.
“He would react defensively if you suddenly touched him. He had been fighting for survival, so I couldn’t really blame him,” she explained.
However, once he recognized that he was in a safe and loving environment, he began to return that affection.
Nonetheless, he faced some difficulties with his feline siblings.
“Artemis and Apollo are inseparable and were unsure how to react to this new orange arrival,” she noted.
Murray was mindful of their established presence, so he respected their space, often choosing to sleep alone at night in the guest room while they cuddled with their mom.
Fortunately, after some time, Apollo and Artemis began to accept the presence of a third cat in the household, and while they may not be best friends, they coexist amiably.
Conclusion
Despite some minor disagreements with his new siblings, Murry is enjoying his new chapter.
He relishes the affection from his owner and the warm, loving home he has essentially taken over.
“This little rascal is incredibly mischievous and has become a happy house cat once more,” Katie concluded.
