There are few things more wonderful than witnessing a formerly scared animal – who may have grown hostile toward humans due to past experiences – slowly open up to the love and affection that a devoted new family offer. The images below, uploaded by Imgur user sympson2612, show what happened when she and her family took in a homeless cat called Tommy.

The family took him in after growing concerned about his plight. They initially worried that he might run off on them, but the image uploader said that this thankfully turned out not to be the case: “After he was neutered he had to stay inside for a while and then it was winter so he didn’t care to even try and go outside. When spring came, we finally let him back out and hoped for the best. We must have made a good impression because he always comes back.”

When he first arrived in his new home, after having lived on the streets for so long, Tommy was a bit unsure about whether he really belonged there.

Luckily, the little boy of the house was on hand to give him some frequent medical checkups!

Tommy was given a teddy companion to comfort him when he went to sleep at night…

… as well as a human one!

The kids loved to tuck him in every time he went to sleep.

These days, Tommy still has quite the strenuous sleep schedule…

… but he often finds time to explore high surfaces too! He is a pro when it comes to the fine art of multi-tasking.

And now, one year since his arrival, the little boy of the house still insists on tucking him in every time he goes for a nap, “so he knows that he lives at our house and will come back.”

His guardian, responding to comments about the sweetness of her pictures, said, “I am so glad (Tommy) could bring some joy to the Internet. This past year has been so wonderful having him in our lives. He is the sweetest, funniest, most patient cat I have ever met. We are sold on adopting stray cats from now on!”

Taking in a homeless animal is a wonderful way to make a difference to their life. An estimated 70 million homeless animals are in need of homes in the U.S. and local shelters are struggling to provide them all with the care they need. If you are thinking of welcoming a new animal companion into your life, ALWAYS adopt, don’t shop. You can also check out this post beforehand, to be sure that you are ready to offer the care and commitment that a new furry friend will require.

Let’s hope that sweet Tommy has many more years of love and cuddles ahead of him in his new home!

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All image source: sympson2612/Imgur