This Guy Spotted A Scruffy Cat In His Yard, What He Did Next Changed Both Their Lives

Nestled in San Francisco, Barna and his wife have transformed their backyard into a peaceful haven for the feral cats that roam their neighborhood. As a skilled woodworker, Barna designed and built a heated, weatherproof shelter, complete with food and water, offering the cats a safe, cozy retreat during colder months.

It all began with Domino, a cautious tuxedo cat who became the shelter’s first resident. Since then, more cats have come and gone, but one, an older tom named Howie, has stayed. After two years of visiting, Howie still keeps his distance, but he’s found comfort, warmth, and a quiet place to call home.

More info: Instagram

Barna and his wife have turned their San Francisco backyard into a peaceful sanctuary for feral cats, but it all started with just one

Man smiling beside a custom-built house for a tuxedo cat sleeping on his porch in a backyard setting.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

A scrappy little tuxedo cat with a mustache began showing up in the yard, curious but cautious, even sleeping on the dog beds at night

Tuxedo cat with long fur resting on porch soil, showcasing striking yellow eyes and white chest and paws.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Barna named him Domino, and as the nights got colder, he knew the cat would need more than just food

Black tuxedo cat standing on a wooden planter in a colorful garden surrounded by flowers and greenery outdoors.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

So he built the Red House, a heated, insulated shelter designed just for Domino to survive the winter

Handcrafted wooden cat house with open windows in a workshop, built for a tuxedo cat sleeping on a porch.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

“I completed the Red House and installed it in our backyard. I built it for a little scraggly black tuxedo feral cat with a mustache who started appearing in our backyard a few months prior to that, cautious but curious, even starting to sleep on our dogs’ outdoor beds at night.

We were feeding Domino (whom we thought was a girl initially) daily by that time, but the nighttime temperatures were dropping, and it was just a matter of time until the winter storms arrived,” Barna shared on Instagram.

Tuxedo cat resting on top of a custom-built red and white cat house with black legs in a backyard setting.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

“I studied all information I could find on shelters for feral cats and tried to incorporate all those learnings into my design.

I worked all day on completing the house with Domino watching from afar, and went to bed tired, not knowing what to expect. Would Domino get close to the house, maybe even stick his head in? The next morning, I woke up early and saw many camera notifications on my phone, which I assumed were false positives due to not setting up the cameras correctly.”

The very night it was finished, Domino surprised everyone by curling up inside like he’d been waiting for it all along

A tuxedo cat curled up and sleeping comfortably on a soft bed inside a cozy porch shelter.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

“You can imagine my shock when I opened my phone and was greeted by footage of Domino inside the house, curled up on the heated bed, sleeping. To say that I was hooked would be an understatement.

What followed was an exciting year of discovery, learning, building, TNR, social media growth, triumphs, and some heartbreaks, too. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Let’s hope for many more years of backyard kitty fun!”

Barna started learning more about feral cats, designing better shelters, practicing TNR, and quietly growing a backyard community

Tuxedo cat sitting on a porch near a green chair and plants in a backyard setting.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Domino slowly transformed, too, from an untouchable stray to a friendly porch king who now asks for pets

Man holding a tuxedo cat outdoors near a porch, highlighting the bond that led to building a house for the tuxedo cat.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Man wrapped in blankets holding a tuxedo cat on a porch near a blue house and garden with a decorative thermometer.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Close-up of a tuxedo cat with yellow eyes wearing a collar, resting comfortably wrapped in a blanket outdoors at night.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Other cats began to pass through, stopping in for a meal, a nap, or a warm night before moving on

Tuxedo cat resting in a small custom-built house on a porch with blue and white painted wood.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

As days went by, more stray cats came to check out Domino’s new home. Cameras outside even caught a mother cat and her two kittens, later named Winnie, Bowie, and Ziggy, playing inside the shelter.

But taking care of stray cats isn’t just about giving them food and shelter. Barna points out how important it is to trap, neuter, and return (TNR) feral cats. “You can’t just feed them and leave them unfixed,” he explains. “They’ll keep reproducing, and most of the kittens won’t survive to adulthood. The males will fight, the females will be constantly harassed — it’s not a sustainable or humane situation.”

But then another cat began showing up, older, quieter, and clearly not just passing through

Tuxedo cat sitting on lawn facing house in backyard where man built a special home for him.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

His name is Howie, an older tomcat with a grumpy face and tired walk who seemed to be looking for a place to retire

Tuxedo cat with black and white fur sitting on grass outdoors, the cat looks calm and attentive.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

He’s been coming around for two years now, and while he still won’t let anyone touch him, he’s claimed his spot and never left

Tuxedo cat sleeping comfortably in a black fabric pot outdoors near a fenced porch area with green grass.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Tuxedo cat resting on porch grass with a small toy ball nearby, enjoying a peaceful outdoor moment.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Howie’s a little set in his ways, but he’s safe, warm, and finally has a place to just be

Tuxedo cat relaxing on grass in a backyard with trees and a small house structure in the background.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Black and white tuxedo cat resting on grass in a porch garden surrounded by plants and outdoor tools.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Barna now builds custom shelters, shares his plans online, and keeps growing the sanctuary

A custom-built cat house painted blue and white with two tuxedo cats peeking out from separate windows on a porch.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Because sometimes, all it takes is a warm place and a little patience for the wild to feel welcome

Two tuxedo cats relaxing on a backyard porch with grass and a wooden fence in the background.

Image credits: domino.gardencat

Although Barna can’t bring all the feral cats inside, he treats them like family. He has managed to catch most of them and has arranged for them to be neutered. Each cat is also microchipped with his contact details to help if they ever get lost.

While Barna wishes he could give a home to every stray in the neighborhood, he finds comfort knowing that his specially built cat houses are making a meaningful difference in their lives.

Due to popular demand, Barna now makes cat houses to sell. You can find more information here!

As the story spread, people from all over shared their love and support

Comment section with user "johnsonfcj88" praising a tuxedo cat named Domi as handsome.

Man building a cozy house for a tuxedo cat that slept on his porch, showing affection through the garden setup.

Comment praising the beautiful, colorful houses built for a tuxedo cat who slept on a porch.

Comment praising a man’s amazing work building a house for a tuxedo cat that slept on his porch, expressing thanks on behalf of the cats.

Tuxedo cat resting near a custom-built porch house by a man, showcasing a cozy and unique cat shelter.

Comment text on a white background reading I can’t wait to see Howie’s first experience with the Human cuddles.

Comment about a tuxedo cat and a man building him a house, showing affection and closeness between them.

Man building a small house on porch for a tuxedo cat that often slept there, starting their unique friendship.

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