After adopting Esidisi (formerly Crispin) from HSHV at the beginning of 2025, I knew where to look first when I needed a “replacement” to fill Esidisi’s role in my barn after he was promoted to an inside cat.

I spent several weeks waiting for the right cat to pop up. I love working with rough-looking, angry feral cats. One day, Mr. Big (formerly Unitas) appeared on the HSHV site. He was an older guy with a very unique look, and I immediately fell in love.

When we went to meet him, the lady who took us to see him told us not to make eye contact with him and explained that he was pretty aggressive. While we stood outside the door, she kindly took a picture on my phone so I could see him. Even after all the warnings, I didn’t hesitate to follow through with bringing him home.

I walked out of the building with a heavy, growling kitty who kept throwing himself against the carrier, trying to break free. When I got home, it took me over an hour to get him out of the carrier because he wouldn’t stop trying to attack me.

Most feral cats I take in prefer to hide when I walk in. Mr. Big was much bolder than that. He’d come out ready to fight anytime I was nearby. He’s also a very “grabby” and curious guy – If he wants something (or someone), he’ll reach out, extend his claws, and grab.

Surprisingly, after roughly two weeks, he would patiently sit and wait while I went through our morning routine. He gradually became more chill and polite. Within a month, he was predictable and seemed quite content with the situation.

I made sure to set him up near my friendly barn kitty, Polly Pocket (PP), and made sure he watched while I snuggled her. Two months after coming home, he let me pat his head while he ate. Now, five months later, he’ll grab me while I’m petting PP and pull me over to pet him. He loves rough booty scratches and getting his cheeks rubbed! He purrs much louder than any cat I’ve ever met, and he even started meowing recently to get my attention!

He’s a slower old guy with special needs and a heart of gold. He prefers to sit and watch the other cats, but everyone is super respectful, so we have no issues. He’s not much of a hunter (as far as I can tell), but his personality and presence are exactly what I needed in my barn! He doesn’t do well if he can’t see or be outdoors, but I’m hopeful that one day he’ll be ready to spend the rest of his retirement inside the house.

In my experience, the most reserved, unapproachable, and fearful cats have ended up being the sweetest, most loyal cats. With a bit of time and patience, the end result has always been worth it. If money weren’t an issue, I’d take in all the Mr. Bigs and Esidisis that just need a little extra time and effort to learn to trust.

Unitas now Mr. Big