As winter crept into San Francisco last year, cold rains swept through the city — and while most people retreated indoors, one local homeowner couldn’t stop thinking about a feral cat roaming his neighborhood.
That cat was Domino.
“As the nights turned cold and rainy, I was worried about him,” the man — who affectionately calls himself “Domino’s dad” — shared on Instagram. “I wanted him to be warm and safe.”
Though he couldn’t bring Domino inside — the cat was fully feral, and the man already had five cats and two dogs — he knew he could still do something. A skilled woodworker, he set out to build Domino a home of his own.
After researching the safest and warmest shelter designs, he constructed a snug, single-story wooden cat house with two exits for security and a heated pet bed inside. To keep an eye on Domino, he even installed an indoor camera.
“The heated beds are designed for outdoor use and maintain a comfortable temperature for cats,” he explained.
Sure enough, Domino began spending every night in his new home — and soon, he wasn’t alone. Footage from the camera revealed a curious companion: a female cat who would later be named Tabitha. Wherever Domino went, she followed. Together, they made the cozy yard their own.
Word seemed to spread among the neighborhood strays. Before long, a mother cat and her two kittens — later named Winnie, Bowie, and Ziggy — showed up. Then came Big Howie, a burly tomcat who decided to make the shelter his personal lounge.
“He became a regular,” Domino’s dad wrote. “He enjoys the food, the catnip, and especially the warm shelter.”
With the growing feline community, Domino’s dad built a second shelter — this time, a blue two-story condo complete with a shingled roof and more space for guests. The strays quickly turned his backyard into a sanctuary.
Though he couldn’t adopt them all, he treated them like family. He trapped, neutered, and microchipped each one with his contact info to ensure they’d be safe — wherever they roamed.
“I wish I could bring them all inside,” he said. “But at least I know they have warmth, safety, and love.”
What started as a gesture for one cat turned into something much bigger: a haven for an entire colony.
“Giving shelter to a stray cat won’t change the world,” Domino’s dad wrote. “But for that one cat, the world changes completely.”
To keep up with Domino and his friends, you can follow his dad on Instagram.
