Cat comes home with note attached to its collar – and an unexpected correspondence begins
On January 2, 2021, Zack King announced that he and his partner Olga Shipunova’s cat Billy had a new job.
The momentous occasion was celebrated in a long Twitter thread that’s already been shared thousands of times in just a few days.
My cat Billy became a postman in 2020, a thread: pic.twitter.com/WLPcfQeCAy
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Making the rounds
Billy is an indoor/outdoor cat and is when he decides he likes a person, he can become very affectionate. So it wasn’t a huge surprise that he managed to make some friends in the neighborhood.
“He is feisty, curious, and independent,” King told Bored Panda. “He’s friendly but affectionate on his own terms.”
Really looking the part here pic.twitter.com/mRp8SdisTx
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Of course, Billy’s owners were surprised when they realized Billy had found some new humans to hang out with.
“He has a cat flap so he comes and goes as he chooses. He has no timetable—sometimes he will be gone for a whole day or a whole night (he likes to mix things up). The only real trouble he makes is with the local mouse community. However, as he usually brings them back alive, we have humane traps so we are able to set them free again.”
A neighborly gesture
One day in 2020, Billy returned home with a note attached to his collar.
The note was from a neighbor in Hackney, London that Billy had been visiting and who had taken to feeding him.
Really looking the part here pic.twitter.com/mRp8SdisTx
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Strangely enough, the neighbors had guessed his name correctly.
With no idea who or where the note had come from, she replied pic.twitter.com/xlQEmmb7Ha
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
The name guess wasn’t simply lucky though. Billy had been out and about for a while, so other folks in the neighborhood had seen his name on his collar in the past.
With no idea who or where the note had come from, she replied pic.twitter.com/xlQEmmb7Ha
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Of course, what’s most funny about this back-and-forth is that Billy carried these notes between his owners and the same neighbor for months.
Here he is loaded up, checking out the day’s route pic.twitter.com/F5hoGXeCFE
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Keeping up the lines of communication
Billy is still at it (and so are the neighbors). But since they have not only the Internet but Billy to keep them in touch, there are no plans to meet up any time soon (which is good, since a pandemic is not really conducive to meeting people in person).
“To be honest, with modern communication all being online, it’s nice to have some mystery and intrigue,” King told Bored Panda.
But the pen pals have even started sharing recipes as well as little hellos.
He really was the last of the litter to be homed. Here’s a pic of him wonkily greeting us at @GoddardVets Plaistow back in September 2019 pic.twitter.com/Jc1tLb7u4C
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Even when things get stressful, the neighbors seem keen on keeping up the friendship, though it’s unclear if Billy has any idea what role he’s playing here.
Due to a crazy (and tough) time recently, we hadn’t replied in a timely manner so received another note pic.twitter.com/6ytqO08Ixh
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Nevertheless, King suggested that others might consider the feline postal service in the future.
“With so many cats likely visiting other homes, maybe others should reach out via cat delivery.”
You can scroll down below to click on the first of many hilarious Tweets displaying this burgeoning friendship between neighbors.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
My cat Billy became a postman in 2020, a thread: pic.twitter.com/WLPcfQeCAy
— Zack King (@zacharyking) January 2, 2021
Source: Bored Panda, Twitter – @zacharyking