Meet Butternut (aka squash): The Sweetest (and Most Vocal) Foster Fail

Meet Butternut: The Sweetest (and Most Vocal) Foster Fail with his stuffy

If you’ve been following us on social media, you’ve already met our newest "foster" kitty--Butternut nickname: Squash. This long, orange boy stole our hearts one freezing cold night when he showed up at the barn door, crying his little heart out while we fed our other four cats.

Butternut’s Rough Start: Butternut was in rough shape when he first arrived. His ears were covered in scabs, he was painfully underweight, and—like most outdoor cats—we were pretty sure he was full of worms. A quick trip to our vet, Adele, confirmed it. She prescribed two rounds of antiparasitic meds and antibiotics, estimating him to be a 6-7-year-old fixed male.

Butternut's favourite and most adorable stretchy sleep pose.

The telltale slit in his ear suggests he was part of a community cat TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) program, meaning he was likely living as a stray before finding his way to us.
Our original plan? Get him healthy and find him a forever home.
From Barn to Couch (and Straight Into Our Hearts) To help him recover, we brought him inside—somewhere warm, quiet, and far less scary than the barn. With no other cats in the house, he could heal in peace.

But in just two short months, this cat has completely blossomed. Here’s what we’ve learned about Butternut:

• Extremely vocal – especially when he wants a snack (which is often).
• A champion snuggler – he’ll either curl up on top of me or serenade me with the "songs of his people" at 5 AM.
• Dog-approved – he’s even befriended our 70lb hound, Wren, and naps right on top of her.
• A shedding machine – that winter coat is coming off, and let’s just say… the vacuum is working overtime. (Thankfully, he loves being brushed… until he suddenly doesn’t.)
• A playful spirit – he adores his cat toys and even tucks his stuffies into "bed" with him.
• A true homebody – he has zero interest in going outside and will dodge an open door like it’s lava.
• A professional sleeper – 23.5 hours a day, easy. But when he’s awake? He’s getting braver—slowly warming up to strangers and not bolting at loud noises.​​

Butternut the cat sleeping with our pup Wren

Butternut being brushed

The Ultimate Foster Fail We’ve completely fallen for this lanky orange goofball—his dramatic bed-roll fails, his raspy purrs, and his relentless demand for cuddles. What started as a foster mission turned into a full-blown love story.
So, Butternut is officially home. We’ll care for him as long as he’s on this earth—letting him sleep, play, and only be disturbed by our endless kisses.

Welcome to the family, Butternut. You’re stuck with us now.