Meet Juno, a once-feral cat who has found her calling as a loving, unique cat to her mom, Connie. When Connie first adopted Juno, she was a feral kitten abandoned by her mother. Connie’s husband initially wanted to get rid of the feisty feline because she bit and clawed Connie. Juno was also aggressive towards the family dog. However, Connie persisted, and with the help of their veterinarian, they began to work on Juno’s aggressive behavior. By taking Juno outside and monitoring her interactions, Connie noticed a change in the cat’s demeanor. Within six months, Juno became an indoor-outdoor cat and was much easier to be around. This was just the beginning of Juno’s transformation.
In 2019, Connie started noticing various items appearing in her backyard, such as kids’ toys, balls, and gloves. She initially believed that neighborhood children were throwing these items into her yard. That is until she heard Juno meowing one day and discovered the cat had brought a pair of baby’s pants through the pet door.
Juno had found her purpose – bringing home gifts to her beloved mom. The prouder she was of her find, the louder her meows would be. Juno would even go as far as retrieving items from neighbors’ yards and bringing them to her family’s back door. To date, Juno has brought home over 1,700 objects.
Living in a small coastal town with a population of 14,000, Juno quickly became a beloved community member. Many locals have embraced Juno’s unique habit and see her as a helpful cat who cleans up the community. Juno even made a run for honorary mayor but was disqualified due to her age and lack of voter registration.
Connie and her family have big plans for the future. In 2024, they hope to sort through the items Juno has collected and give back to their community by donating toys and other useful objects. Despite the challenges of having an indoor-outdoor cat, Connie has found a special bond with Juno, who has been a source of comfort during difficult times, such as her radiation treatments.
Juno’s story is a heartwarming tale of love, growth, and the incredible bond between pets and their owners. From a feral kitten to a gift-bringing community cat, Juno has proven that even the most unlikely animals can bring joy and happiness to those around them.