One day a man sees a three-legged cat sitting on his kitchen window sill, peering inside. As the days went by, his visits became more regular, showing up to play with the man’s cat Seson.

As time went by, his visits became longer, a bond had begun to form between the kind-hearted man and the stray. To the point where the cat had his own special place in the house, his own set of dishes, and a name, Bubby.

In no time at all Bubby and Seson were the closest of friends, for the man’s part, he and his family had fallen in love with the three-legged cat with half a tail. They wanted to make him a permanent part of their family.

Bubby, however, was adamant about being let back outdoors each day. As he was partially feral, they acquiesced to his wishes. Bubby remained a regular houseguest right up until 2017 when the man sadly passed away. Heartbroken, he only entered the home one more time, never to return.

Desperate the man’s family did their best to find Bubby, leaving out food, but he was never seen again.

That was until 2019, when a next-door neighbor saw a very familiar-looking three-legged cat emerge, making his way to a house where he had once known love.

Thankfully Ray Pinsent is a huge cat lover and knew the bond Bubby had had with his late best friend.

He quickly saw how weak the once healthy orange tabby had become. The past few years had not been kind to him at all, he was much slower now. Bubby was in the last stages of a downward spiral.

Ray could see something needed to be done before it was too late, so he set about trying to trap, what turned out to be, a highly elusive cat. After months of trying, winter had set in and Ray had all but given up hope.

With only one choice left, Ray walked up to the man’s house and spoke to the new owner, asking that she open the door the next time Bubby showed up. Frightened of cats she reluctantly agreed. The very next day Ray got a call.

The woman rang saying, “the cat is in the kitchen!” Ray dropped everything and raced round to the man’s home, finding a battered Bubby barely clinging onto life.

He picked up the almost lifeless body and raced Bubby to Exploits Valley SPCA Adoptables.

“Bubby was dehydrated, beat up, and all in. He was sent to the vet and wouldn’t have survived another storm,” said Sarah MacLeod, volunteer of Exploits Valley SPCA Adoptables.

“He started the road to recovery at the shelter.”

“His picture was posted online looking for info, that’s when the man’s daughter came forward and told me the story of Bubby for which I am so grateful,” Sarah added.

“She reminded me I met Bubby and her dad once before many years ago. She cried when she saw him and brought his dishes to him. Bubby now eats from the dishes he once did at the man’s house.”

Having fallen under Bubby’s spell, Sarah took him, offering to foster him until he was fully recovered.

“He was loved once before and he is now again. I can tell you that for sure because I just couldn’t part with him and took him home myself!.”

However, it didn’t take Byubby long decided his temporary home was to become his forever home, and Sarah and her boyfriend couldn’t have agreed more.

He hasn’t even asked to go back outdoors even once.

“Bubby purrs the minute he wakes up in the morning and as he goes to sleep every night.”

“He must know that he’s home now, for good.”

Loved once before Bubby is loved once again, and will be for the rest of his life.

Keep up with all of Bubby’s new adventures here on Instagram.

This story originally appeared on kittencatpost.com

Cats are good at self-maintenance. But even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of these more common cat diseases and health issues.

1. Vomiting

Vomiting is a very common problem with cats with a multitude of causes. They range from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes to hairballs.

Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. It may help to collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

2. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

Some estimates say as many as 3% of cats seen by vets have feline lower urinary tract disease ( FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes.

Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight or unfit or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has.

FLUTD symptoms include:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody urine
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting

It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

3. Fleas

Fleas are a very common external feline health problem. But it's one you can easily treat. Signs your cat has fleas include:

• Flea dirt on its skin (they look like tiny black dots)
• Constant scratching
• Frequent licking
• Red or irritated skin
• Hair loss
• Skin infections or hot spots

Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.

Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication. Fleas are uncommon in Utah. If you adopt a pet from a region outside of Utah or are housing a pet that recently came from another state, please be aware of fleas.

4. Tapeworms

One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine and sometimes grow as long as 2 feet.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.

Treatment options include injection, oral, or topical medication. But because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

5. Diarrhea

Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more.

Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or months.

If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent  dehydration. Then remove kitty's food for no more than 12 to 24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, or loss of appetite or if your cat is straining to defecate.

6. Eye Problems

Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including  conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.

A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.

Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.