One of the first things Emily Bott and Dylan Loewke noticed when touring a historic home was all of the cats lounging in the front yard. The property appeared to come with 15 barn cats, which piqued the couple’s interest.

“We asked our realtor if the cats were going to be left behind, and we were told that they would all be gone by the time we moved in,” Bott told The Dodo. “Once our offer on the house was accepted, my boyfriend took it upon himself to request that the cats stayed on the property. I was apprehensive at first only because I had never owned a cat before. However, at the time, I worked at the local humane society and knew, at the very least, I could get them all spayed/neutered and even rehome them if absolutely needed (spoiler: it was never needed).”

The previous owners had left out dry food for the cats, but that was pretty much the extent of the care they received. Many of the cats had health issues, and none had been spayed or neutered yet. The couple quickly took it upon themselves to make sure all 15 of their new cats received the care they needed. After that, the next step was earning their trust.

“At first, there was only one cat, Valencia, who was nice enough to approach,” Bott said. “She’s the queen bee in our hive. I could tell there were a few others who were intrigued and interested in us, but it took months (and in some cases years) for them to trust us enough to approach them and even pet us! I sat in my driveway several evenings tossing snacks at them, feeding them catnip, and interacting with them with toys.”

Finally, after putting in the work, the pack warmed up to their new parents. Even though not all of the cats are comfortable being handled, they still love and trust Bott and Loewke very much. Every cat has a name and a distinct personality, and the couple wouldn’t trade any of them for anything. Now, wherever Bott or Loewke go on the property, they’re almost guaranteed to be followed by at least a few cats.

“I consider having so many barn cats to be a blessing,” Bott remarked. “I’m immediately greeted by them every time I go outdoors.” A couple of them will follow me practically everywhere on the property, and if I shake the treat bag, they will all swarm to me. To fetch my mail, I have a complete staff that walks me down the driveway. When Valencia sees my automobile on our street, she will sprint down the driveway.”

Since moving in, the couple has adơрted an additional barn cat, Tofey, who has settled in beautifully with the rest of the pack. They’re hoping that eventually they can start their own animal sanctuary so they can keep helping cats in need — and it’s all inspired by their adorable pack of barn cats.