This is Cinnabon after his first “slumber party” with his new owner Lex.

The amazing thing about this photo isn’t that a cat would feel so comfortable after their very first night, but that Cinnabon and Lex had “known” each other for over a year and it took that long for the cat to even begin to trust the human at all.

Lex wasn’t really a “cat person” when he first saw the straggly stray run through his yard. And he was content to leave the animal alone since there were plenty in the neighborhood who tended to keep to themselves.

But one day he noticed that the cat looked very thin and he wasn’t quite sure what to do. Lex then decided to leave a can of tuna so he could be assured the little cat would have something to eat.

And anyone who has given a cat a can of tuna knows that they will not only scarf it down, but they will come back for more!

Of course, that doesn’t mean the friendship is assured.

The tabby was still terrified of humans and wouldn’t come anywhere near him.

That’s when Lex decided that he’d leave a food and water dish outside his back door, just in case the cat wanted to come back.

“He would just eat out of his little food and water bowl outside of my house. And if he noticed me on the other side of the glass, he would run away,” Lex told The Dodo.

It turns out Lex was a cat-lover, deep down. He might not be able to get the cat to trust him, but he could at least give him some creature comforts.

When he began to worry about the little tabby being cold or unsafe at night, he decided to build him a little house of his own in the backyard.

Unlike most cats, who enjoy dismissing any effort or gesture made by humans, Lex was pleased when he saw the cat climb right into the little cubby full of blankets.

“I remember looking out the glass and seeing him in his house. He was looking at me. He just kind of put his head down and just started sleeping. When he slept in the house, I thought of it as a pivotal moment. As being part of the family,” he said.

Despite giving the cat a name – Cinnabon – the cat himself wasn’t ready to play family just yet. Their friendship took over a year to come together!

Alas, one day Lex found Cinnabon sitting in the snow outside his back door, meowing. Lex interpreted this as the cat wanting to come in but still being nervous, so he lured him into the warmth with some treats.

And once Cinnabon was inside and allowed Lex to come near him to give him a little pet, the floodgates opened.

“I kept the slider glass open and I’m throwing treats at him…and he would eat them. He got close enough to me. It kind of went really fast. From him not being able to be petted to him being petted and them coming in the house was a pretty quick process once we reached that milestone,” Lex recalled.

Now Cinnabon really is part of the family. He spends much of his time indoors after getting acclimated, but Lex does let him out every now and then so he can explore.

In fact, it’s even more rewarding to watch him come home from a day outside.

Cinnabon now has his own Instagram page and YouTube channel, where you can follow his furry adventures.

Be sure to scroll down below to see a video of how a stray became a pet.

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Source: The Dodo via Facebook, @lexcinnabon via Instagram, Lex & Cinnabon via YouTube