Some cats need a little extra time to figure out that humans can actually be pretty pawsome, and Cheddar has been taking that journey entirely at his own pace.

Cheddar and his sister Wensleydale were adopted at around 6 or 7 months old after a rough start. The siblings were underweight, undersocialized, and so frightened of people that their new pawrents could barely touch them. They spent almost two months getting comfortable in one room before they were ready to explore the rest of the house.

Six months later, both kitties have made huge strides. Wensleydale has become a certified cuddle bug who enjoys snuggling and being held. Cheddar, however, has been a little more cautious. He loves pets, but being picked up? Absolutely not. Laps? No, thank you. The couch? For months, also a firm no.

Recently, though, Cheddar started testing the waters. He began joining his humans on the couch and even lying beside them, although touching was still apparently a step too far. For a kitty who once wanted plenty of space between himself and humans, even that was a pretty huge win.

Then one morning, everything changed.

Cheddar spotted his pawrent lying in bed from his window perch. After she asked if he wanted to come over, the formerly fearful feline took a leap of faith… literally. He launched himself onto the bed, charged across her husband, and climbed right onto her chest.

And once Cheddar discovered bed cuddles, he went all in. He climbed over his humans, curled up on his pawrent’s legs, groomed himself while lying against her, purred, drooled, made enthusiastic biscuits, and even smashed his face into her sleeping husband’s face. You know, normal cat affection.

For a kitty who had never willingly climbed onto a person before, this wasn’t just a cuddle session. It was six months of patience finally paying off in the sweetest possible way.