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You've probably heard about UFO sightings. The mysterious occurrences are somewhat well documented and have been capturing our imagination, inspiring numerous binge-worthy documentaries and iconic TV shows like the X-Files.

What’s less documented but just as mysterious are stranger cat sightings. From time to time, people from all over the world report random felines found in their homes. At that point, hoomans ask themselves a simple thing: “Do I have a cat?” and then they realize it’s “My House, Not My Cat.”

This is exactly the title of this purrsome online community on Facebook that gathers all the bamboozled non-owners of cats sharing how they found a cat wandering around their home. With more than 45k members, the Facebook group is a source of purr entertainment, so scroll down through the newest selection below.

After you’re done, be sure to check out our previous features on “My House, Not My Cat” sightings here, here and here.

#1

This Is Homer!

This Is Homer!

"My partner and I met him probably 5 years ago, we never knew who he belonged to, so we fed him and he would spend most of the night with us, he ended up being my neighbours cat and his real name was “a**hole” (we named him homer we didn’t know what his name was) last year we ended up moving to a new town 3 hours away from where we used to live, it was really hard to leave homer behind, we loved him and cared for him almost like he was our own, my partner travels to melbourne and visits him sometimes! Well a few weeks ago, our old neighbour contacted us and said he was moving and going to work in the mines and that he was looking at rehoming Homer, so of course we said yes! So In a few days our little grey man will be reuniting with us and we are so excited!"

Sarah Lynch Report

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Bonesko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw, that's awesome! That's great he doesn't end up in a shelter. Hope everything works out.

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#2

8 Years Ago This Beauty Was Eating Food With Ants Crawling All Over It, Had Fur That Felt Like Straw, And Would Cower Each Time Anyone Would Attempt To Pet Her

8 Years Ago This Beauty Was Eating Food With Ants Crawling All Over It, Had Fur That Felt Like Straw, And Would Cower Each Time Anyone Would Attempt To Pet Her

"Now, she's a vocal, affectionate, prissy lil Peach that demands "kitty time," a well-made bed, and special collars. She's come a long way from being not my cat to being a family member"

Allysia Porter Report

#3

This Is Marley. Marley Is My Upstairs Neighbors' Cat. This Is My Couch. I Don't Think Marley Got The Memo

This Is Marley. Marley Is My Upstairs Neighbors' Cat. This Is My Couch. I Don't Think Marley Got The Memo

Ena Bradenburg Report

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To try and explain this common phenomenon of people spotting not their cats wandering around their homes, Bored Panda reached out to Molly DeVoss, a certified feline training and behavior specialist who runs the Cat Behavior Solutions agency.

When asked why cats go to the homes of strangers they don't even know, Molly said that it’s because more than 50% of people let their cats have access to the outdoors, so there are probably a lot of social cats roaming your neighborhood. “Cats are opportunists; they will hang out where the good food is. So perhaps they wander in because they smell something you’re cooking inside that appeals to them,” Molly explained.

#4

Furthermore, This Fella Has Greeted Me The Last Few Mornings. He’s Chonky And If His Collar Is To Be Believed, His Name Is ‘Do Not Feed!’

Furthermore, This Fella Has Greeted Me The Last Few Mornings. He’s Chonky And If His Collar Is To Be Believed, His Name Is ‘Do Not Feed!’

Michael Ratledge Report

#5

The Little Fellow Has Become Cuddly Now … I Guess I Have A Cat. Kinda. It Turns Out He’s My Neighbor’s Cat And Lives With Two Other Cats. So He Basically Comes To My House For Some Piece And Quiet

The Little Fellow Has Become Cuddly Now … I Guess I Have A Cat. Kinda. It Turns Out He’s My Neighbor’s Cat And Lives With Two Other Cats. So He Basically Comes To My House For Some Piece And Quiet

Peter Schuyler Hamlen Report

#6

My Porch, One Of My Dogs...not My Cat

My Porch, One Of My Dogs...not My Cat

"This male cat is sound asleep sharing a dog bed with a female Belgian Malinois dog I'm fostering. There are 2 male Malinois out of view & this cat likes to tag along as I leash-walk each dog. All the dogs are friendly toward the cat but the female dog is especially attentive to him"

Elizabeth C. O'Connor Report

The feline behaviorist also said that it may be because there are territorial cats, dogs or predators chasing them, and they seek your home as a safe refuge. “It could be that your home is more peaceful and serene than where they live. Cats are also curious, often wandering up to a quarter mile from home, so it could be that something inside piques their interest and they feel it merits investigation,” Molly told us.

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Moreover, “27% of cats are adopted from the streets, which tells me that cats are also playing a role in choosing their home and family,” she added.

#7

Please Enjoy This Crummy Picture Of Charlie The Neighbor Cat Waiting Politely Outside My Patio Door For His Supper

Please Enjoy This Crummy Picture Of Charlie The Neighbor Cat Waiting Politely Outside My Patio Door For His Supper

Jenne Ruegge Report

#8

Technically, Tony Isn’t Ours

Technically, Tony Isn’t Ours

"Our neighbors tossed him out. He comes in for breakfast and dinner and sometimes if it’s raining. He has trained us to pay tribute with treats on a schedule. Yesterday was a nice day so I put a blanket on the pool deck and was lying down to get some fresh air. I turned my head to the right and saw this"

MaryAnn Meyers Report

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tw 72
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Our neighbors tossed him out." Keep the kitty - the neighbors don't deserve him.

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#9

My House, Not My Cats

My House, Not My Cats

"Last spring I planted Catnip with my garden herbs that I hang in pots on our fence. I didn't grow up with cats, so I was ignorant to the fact that some cats really do find it irresistible. The huge tabby on the chair was the first one to turn up shortly thereafter. We simply call him Mister, because it's very, ahem, obvious that he's a male from the rear. It was clear that he had never been socialized around people. He has never been aggressive, but he was very scared of us for a good long while. Any sudden movement would send him back on top of the fence where he was most comfortable. It has taken 9 patient months, completely on his terms, but I can finally feed him treats right out of my hand and even pet him a little bit. I think he sired 2 generations of kitties somewhere in the neighborhood in the meantime, because these friendly little kittens started showing up gradually too. You can't tell in the photos, but they do have distinct stripes. I had never seen black tabbies before! We leave food and water out, and are very generous with the treats. We've been helping to get them all fixed, too. Someone else around here also seems to be assisting with that, though I've not quite figured out who. If I can manage to get Mister in a carrier and get him in to be fixed, that will be a huge accomplishment. Slowly but surely, I guess. In the meantime, they come and go as they please, and you never know who is going to make an appearance on any given day. This was this morning's swarm."

Nikki Byrne Report

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Official Cat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is a lot of cats, i wish i had that many (i have two cats so still pretty lucky).

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However, if you have cats of your own, it is not a good idea to encourage roaming cats to come near your home, Molly argues. “Your cat will see the cats outside, and in trying to protect their territory, may react with redirected aggression to you or other cats in your home,” she said and added that there are many humane deterrents that discourage cats from crossing your property.

 “On the other hand, if you don’t have a cat, and enjoy the company of the feline visitor, then you can encourage them to stay more often by feeding them regularly. It is not uncommon for an outdoor cat to ‘live’ at many homes within a few blocks of the person who it belongs to,” Molly said.

#10

Not My Cat! I Guess She Heard I Feed Strays And Was Quite Demanding….later I Discovered She Was Eating For 4!

Not My Cat! I Guess She Heard I Feed Strays And Was Quite Demanding….later I Discovered She Was Eating For 4!

Vanessa Carroll Chai Report

#11

This Guy Started Showing Up A Few Months Ago. He Has A Collar On But No Tags. One Day I Decided To Put A Note On His Collar To See If He Had A Home. He Does! His Lovely Mom Text Me All About Him And Thinks It’s Great He Comes By For Naps And Hangouts With Me

This Guy Started Showing Up A Few Months Ago. He Has A Collar On But No Tags. One Day I Decided To Put A Note On His Collar To See If He Had A Home. He Does! His Lovely Mom Text Me All About Him And Thinks It’s Great He Comes By For Naps And Hangouts With Me

Allie Brown Report

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Susan Green
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s so nice of her to share her sweet cat with you. What a love bug. 🥰

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#12

19th November 2018…. This Little Guy Jumped Through My Window As I Was Sleeping On The Sofa And Started Eating My Food That Was On The Table, He Ended Up Staying The Night So I Called Him Rusty

19th November 2018…. This Little Guy Jumped Through My Window As I Was Sleeping On The Sofa And Started Eating My Food That Was On The Table, He Ended Up Staying The Night So I Called Him Rusty

"I ended up keeping him for a month before finding his owners on FB, I was heart broken to hand him over but I knew it was the right thing
3 months later he came back so I contacted his owners only to be told that they have moved over 300miles away so I knew I had to keep him
Since then he’s been my best friend and he’s happier than ever "

Jamie Mazier Report

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Susan Green
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So they just left him when they moved? I hate people like that. I’m happy he has you now.

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The feline behaviorist said that she has heard many stories of people whose cat eats dinner at one house, breakfast at another, and sleeps at home. “To be respectful of the owner, you should take the cat to your local shelter or veterinarian and have him scanned for a microchip; he may very well be someone’s missing cat.”

#13

Not My Cat, But He Heard The Thunder From The Storms Rolling In Here In Indiana Near Louisville And Was Pawing At The Door To Get In And Take Shelter. Lol. Sweet Guy

Not My Cat, But He Heard The Thunder From The Storms Rolling In Here In Indiana Near Louisville And Was Pawing At The Door To Get In And Take Shelter. Lol. Sweet Guy

David A. Erickson Report

#14

Well, Seems We Have Another Mhnmc Sitch

Well, Seems We Have Another Mhnmc Sitch

"I take care of a feral colony that lives in my garage (with heaters!). Mama Cat decided last night to give birth (yes, she’ll be TNR’d). Only she abandoned one newborn kitten around 00:45 today. Unbeknownst to us. We found a mostly frozen newborn kitten that I’d swear was agonal breathing. I got kitten warmed up and cleaned up, it started moving. After a lovely meal of KMR, kitten is a milk drunk void. Hopefully, we won’t lose it.
Meet NMK (not my kitten) but probably will be."

Michelle Strawman Report

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Karen Grace
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Usually if they abandon 1 but care for the rest there is something wrong with the one abandoned. Instinct tells the mom to conserve resources for the ones most likely to survive.

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#15

So We Moved In To A New Place In December

So We Moved In To A New Place In December

"This fellow has now learned to walk quietly behind me and sneak in when I open the door from my morning coffee run. This was my morning meeting … my colleagues commented “There’s a lot of meowing, Hamlen, for someone who doesn’t have a cat”"

Peter Schuyler Hamlen Report

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“If the cat visitor is not spayed or neutered, it’s also prudent to try to get that done as soon as possible, so they are not increasing the outdoor cat population,” Molly warned. Having said that in general, “If you provide a safe environment, with predictable feeding times, a cat is likely to become a frequent visitor – and may just adopt you,” Molly concluded in an interview.

#16

This Petite Démon Found A Cozy Place At My Car In A Rainy Evening, Then Found My Sofa And Tried To Eat My Soul

This Petite Démon Found A Cozy Place At My Car In A Rainy Evening, Then Found My Sofa And Tried To Eat My Soul

Pedro Augusto Luzeti Report

#18

This Was My Toby, He Turned Up As A Hungry Kitten, As They Often Do

This Was My Toby, He Turned Up As A Hungry Kitten, As They Often Do

"My neighbours were very anti cat, didn’t like them at all…….until our Toby decided to visit.

He made himself at home, sleeping on their bed

Toby changed them completely, they bought him treats, cooked him chicken, they even rang to see how he was when they were away.

Sadly, we lost our dear Toby to cancer last year
We’d had him ten years, and he was very much loved by us and our neighbours.

We laid him to rest in the memorial garden, and to my surprise, I found a small plaque that they’d put on a rock nearby.
It read “Toby, he was our little friend”.

I sobbed when I read it.

(Photo shows Toby with our beloved late doggy Sausage, who our neighbours also loved.
They are shown here on a doggy bed bought by them)"

Michelle Bentley Report

#19

Our Fishing Bivvy, Not Our Cat

Our Fishing Bivvy, Not Our Cat

"... he just turned up and got straight onto the nearest heated cushion with built-in massage capacity (me). He then divided the night between me and my partner in our separate sleeping bags, demonstrating PhD-level expertise in getting under the covers to where it was really warm. I can fully recommend having a warm soft purry thing in the sleeping bag to enhance a night's camping.
In the morning, he got up from his snuggle with my partner when he noticed I was making tea, and required milk - which he got, of course. The bailiffs came by and told us he's called Leo. When we left he was still trying to get under things, on top of our pile of packed up kit! "

Sarah Christie Report

#20

My Cat And Not My Cat In My Desk …. The Red One Is Mine, White Boy Almost Mine

My Cat And Not My Cat In My Desk …. The Red One Is Mine, White Boy Almost Mine

Sabine De Schepper Report

#21

So This Was Joe. My Moms Former Neighbors “Owned” Joe

So This Was Joe. My Moms Former Neighbors “Owned” Joe

"They left him outside all the time no matter the weather and really didn’t bother with him. One day my mom tells me they packed up and left in the middle of the night. They took their dogs and a few things and just left.
So old Joe started spending most of his time on moms porch. He would do the rounds in the morning, visiting a couple of the neighbors who would give him treats and sometimes food. There was also an older gentleman who walked down the street every day who gave him treats.
When winter came, my mom went to Michaels and bought one of those little wooden crate type boxes, threw a blanket into it and slid it under the porch swing (covering that with a blanket to block the wind) against the house so Joe would have a warm place to sleep, because he would never come in the house.
Joe wasn’t a fan of being petted and picking him up was out of the question, but he’d sit close by and relax on the porch with you.
Joes been gone a couple years now but I just found this page so I thought I’d give a little shout out to this fuzzy boy"

Rob McLaughlin Report

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Bonesko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw, poor guy. That's awful. I'm sure his last days were much better then the beginning. Great job

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#22

So Just Found This In My Cats Basket. Not My Cat!

So Just Found This In My Cats Basket. Not My Cat!

iane Jensen Report

#23

Allow Me To Introduce All Of You Fine People To My Mhnmc, 'Girlie'

Allow Me To Introduce All Of You Fine People To My Mhnmc, 'Girlie'

"Girlie has annointed herself my greeting committee. She knows which one is my assigned parking space, and if my car isn't in it, she will wait for me (year round!) on the sidewalk along the road I take to get home.

Girlie knows the sound of my car, and will come running from out of nowhere when she hears it!

When I come home, I roll down the windows of my car and call for her. Girlie is usually waiting for me, but on those odd days when she isn't, I hear the sound of her tiny paws shortly after, scrambling across the stone landscape toward my car. I can then see this healthy chonk full-tilt running behind my car to beat me to my parking space so that she can greet me properly.

She sniffs the plants and waits up the hill on the sidewalk for me to grab my stuff and start the walk home, and then(and only then) she darts up my stairs and stands impatiently with her nose pressed to my security door. At this point, she lets out the tiniest little 'mew!!!' to let me know that she is ready to sit with me for 5 minutes at the top of the stairs while I dole out her favorite snacks.

I treasure this time. I tell her about my day, scritch under her chin (everywhere else seems to be politely rebuffed so far) and when the snacks are gone, she trots down the stairs into the night.

My little love, Girlie"

Elle Weber Report

#24

I’ve Told Y’all The Story Of How Lando Started Out As A Mhnmc By Swaggering Through My Front Door And Declaring The House As His Back In November 2019

I’ve Told Y’all The Story Of How Lando Started Out As A Mhnmc By Swaggering Through My Front Door And Declaring The House As His Back In November 2019

"Well, I was going through my phone not long ago and found a picture I took of him walking down the street about a month or two before he barged into my life. From that skinny stray to the loving and vocal 21lb a**hole, his transition from a NMC to my cat has been one hell of a glow up for him"

Josiah Bennett Report

#25

Mr Gaston…..my #notmycat… The Kitty Who Refuses To Go Home…. This Is His Third Day Without Leaving Our House… 🤷🏻‍♀️… I Do Suspect That He Has Gone From #notmycat To #congratssuckeryouhaveanewkitty Well My Other Two Loves Him So I’m Guessing He’s Staying

Mr Gaston…..my #notmycat… The Kitty Who Refuses To Go Home…. This Is His Third Day Without Leaving Our House… 🤷🏻‍♀️… I Do Suspect That He Has Gone From #notmycat To #congratssuckeryouhaveanewkitty Well My Other Two Loves Him So I’m Guessing He’s Staying

Annelie Birtner Report

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#26

My Bed. Not My Cats

My Bed. Not My Cats

"No idea where the fat tuxedo lived. She would just show up and hang out. The other turned out to be our next door neighbors. He also liked to hang out for awhile then would go home"

Amy Boesen Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Hey Kevin, do you want to go take a nap at this lady's house?" "Sure Ben! I'll see you there at 5"

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#27

I Bet My Neighbor Thinks Their Cat Likes To Roam All Over Town Every Night

I Bet My Neighbor Thinks Their Cat Likes To Roam All Over Town Every Night

Kerry Karner Report

#28

"Are You Satisfied With Your Current Health Insurance Plan?! Did You Know That By Switching To Meowco, You Could Save An Average Of 100%!? ... Just Uh... Open This Door, And I'll Discuss Plan Options With You." - Mystery Kitty

"Are You Satisfied With Your Current Health Insurance Plan?! Did You Know That By Switching To Meowco, You Could Save An Average Of 100%!? ... Just Uh... Open This Door, And I'll Discuss Plan Options With You." - Mystery Kitty

Brian Fry Report

#30

This Sweetie Is Cece Sunshine

This Sweetie Is Cece Sunshine

"My husband was in Puerto Rico taking care of his parents. This teeny gal kept showing up. My husband fell in love. So in love, she is now a Texan. So it was his parents’ house, not their cat, but now, a vet visit, shots, travel certificate, plane ride with a layover away, she’s all ours. We needed a black cat to add to our unintentional growing litter. (She is adapting well to English. Just kidding. She’s a cat. They do as they please in all languages)"

Lori Fletcher Perez Report

#31

Nmc Not Only Will Only Eat On The Counter But Now She Seems To Prefer Her Meal By Candle Light

Nmc Not Only Will Only Eat On The Counter But Now She Seems To Prefer Her Meal By Candle Light

Mike Knetge Report

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Tiger Pearl
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aww, a romantic candlelight dinner for one! Hope they leave you a good tip, sever. 😆

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#32

I Feed The Stray Cats In My Neighborhood, I Have A Regular That Has Been Coming Around For About A Year, He's Friendly And I've Named Godfather, He's A Big Tuxedo So The Name Fits

I Feed The Stray Cats In My Neighborhood, I Have A Regular That Has Been Coming Around For About A Year, He's Friendly And I've Named Godfather, He's A Big Tuxedo So The Name Fits

"I've recently had 2 more show up. A black one I call Slayer, because my black cats name is Pantera and I thought they were pretty metal lol.
But this guy I call Romeo cuz he sits on this table outside the window and meows to my female cat. Like a little Romeo and Juliette. But he's so gorgeous I thought I'd share him."

Teresa Owens Report

#33

Hagrid Is Back. It’s Snowing And He Doesn’t Like The Cold

Hagrid Is Back. It’s Snowing And He Doesn’t Like The Cold

Mirinda Moriarty Report

#34

Mama(We Still Can't Agree On A Name Smh But She Is Now My Cat) Is Taking A Much Deserved Break From The Bebbies

Mama(We Still Can't Agree On A Name Smh But She Is Now My Cat) Is Taking A Much Deserved Break From The Bebbies

Shannon Alexander Report

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Bonesko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Skittles, or Oscar. I know she's a girl, but I think she could pull it off.

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#35

My Garden, Not My Cat. I Don’t Know Who He Is, Where He Comes From, What His Name Is, But He Keeps Coming Round And Eating My Own Cat’s Food. He’s Chunky, He Looks Healthy, And He’s Brazen, I Found Him On My Sofa A Couple Of Days Ago!

My Garden, Not My Cat. I Don’t Know Who He Is, Where He Comes From, What His Name Is, But He Keeps Coming Round And Eating My Own Cat’s Food. He’s Chunky, He Looks Healthy, And He’s Brazen, I Found Him On My Sofa A Couple Of Days Ago!

Lorraine Hopkins Report

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#36

Got A Delivery For A New Mattress At My Apartment Today, This Lil Cutie Snuck In While I Let The Guys In My Apartment, Not My Cat

Got A Delivery For A New Mattress At My Apartment Today, This Lil Cutie Snuck In While I Let The Guys In My Apartment, Not My Cat

Megan Lonsway Report

#37

"Nmc" Enjoying, What I Assume Is, "Not Really My Bed Anymore"

"Nmc" Enjoying, What I Assume Is, "Not Really My Bed Anymore"

Mike Knetge Report

#39

This Is Isla. She Lives Up The Street And Is An Outside Cat. She Visits Every Evening For Snuggles And Cuddles, I Think She Thinks This Is Her Bed….it’s Not But I Love Her

This Is Isla. She Lives Up The Street And Is An Outside Cat. She Visits Every Evening For Snuggles And Cuddles, I Think She Thinks This Is Her Bed….it’s Not But I Love Her

Liz Watkins Report

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Synsepalum
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe Isla wants to be an inside kitty, or at least an inside-outside kitty.

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#40

There Are No Pets Allowed In My Shared Accommodation, But Apparently Nobody Told This Baby Or Their Much Quicker Ginger Friend, And Obviously I'm Not Gonna Tell On Them

There Are No Pets Allowed In My Shared Accommodation, But Apparently Nobody Told This Baby Or Their Much Quicker Ginger Friend, And Obviously I'm Not Gonna Tell On Them

Sierra Moulinié Report

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