Mayo was supposed to be her cat mom’s special little companion. But this fluffy orange kitten had other ideas, and before long, she was climbing all over the one person who hadn’t even wanted another cat in the first place.
Every time her human dad comes home from work, Mayo rushes to greet him and climbs up his body like a tree. Her mom can only laugh at how dramatically the little cat’s attention shifts, especially since she was the one who had dreamed of bringing Mayo home.
A Little Orange Kitten Arrives After a Difficult Goodbye
Before Mayo joined the family, there was Lily, a beloved cat who had spent 15 years with them. Losing Lily was incredibly difficult for her mom, who missed the companionship they had shared. She found herself hoping that another female orange cat might someday enter her life. She wasn’t trying to replace Lily, but the idea of welcoming another little orange girl brought her comfort.
Then she met Mayo, an adorable, fluffy kitten who seemed to be exactly what she had wished for. She was so overwhelmed by the sight of Mayo that she started crying, already imagining the sweet relationship they would have.
Their first moments together were promising. When Mayo came out of her crate, she immediately started purring before settling beside her new mom for a cuddle and a nap. There was another family member to consider, though. Woo, their skittish rescue cat, wasn’t necessarily going to welcome a new kitten without hesitation.
To everyone’s surprise, the two cats became inseparable in about two days. One night, Mayo’s mom checked the camera and found Woo sitting right outside the kitten’s cage, a small moment that reassured her about their growing friendship.
Mayo Has a Very Clear Favorite Person
As Mayo settled into her new home, her mom noticed something funny about the kitten’s affection. Whenever her husband was away, Mayo was wonderfully loving, happy to cuddle, play, and spend time with her. But the moment her husband returned from work, everything changed. Mayo would head straight for him, climb up his body, and shower him with attention.
Her mom jokingly wondered whether the kitten’s attachment had something to do with his appearance. Her husband has orange hair and a long orange beard, which she playfully imagined might make Mayo see him as her dad.
At first, Mayo’s mom admitted feeling a little jealous. After all, she had been the one who wanted another cat, while her husband hadn’t been particularly interested in the idea.
Eventually, she stopped treating the situation like a competition and began filming their interactions instead. Watching the kitten climb all over her big, tattooed, bearded husband became one of her favorite things. And Mayo’s dad clearly adores her right back. Her mom says the kitten can do practically anything, and he still thinks she’s wonderful.
This Clever Kitten Has Another Surprise
Mayo’s devotion to her dad isn’t the only thing that makes her stand out. The little orange cat has an incredible 26 toes, including extra thumb-like toes on her front paws. Those unusual paws are surprisingly useful. According to her mom, Mayo has figured out how to use them to grab and open things around the house, including cupboards and even the freezer.
Her curiosity sometimes gets her into places she shouldn’t be, leading to playful reminders from her family. Between her clever paws and her enthusiastic greetings, Mayo keeps everyone entertained.
For her mom, the sweetest surprise has been watching a relationship she never expected develop so naturally. She originally imagined Mayo becoming her own little girl, but the kitten formed an especially close attachment to her husband.
Mayo still shares affection with her mom, and she has become close to Woo as well. The family that welcomed her after losing Lily now has a playful, affectionate kitten who brings laughter into their everyday lives, especially whenever her favorite bearded human walks through the door.
This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartCats team.