A Cat Story

2017 was not a good year for me. I took a medical leave from college and went into an intensive outpatient therapy program. It was the right decision. I need to figure some stuff out, and I did.

But that’s not the point of this post.

By November of that year I had a plan. I had an apartment and a therapist again and I was going to get a cat.

I went to the shelter a few times and even came close to adopting one time but it never felt right. I had a list of qualities I was looking for, mostly I wanted a cuddly cat.

Then on December 26, after finding out Austin Pets Alive! is having a don’t go home alone for the holidays sale on cat adoptions, I went to just look.

At Austin Pets Alive! they have these little rooms with sliding glass doors where four or five cats can run around together and prospective adopters can interact with the cats.

So I head straight for the second room. Not the first or the last but the second one. When I slide the door open a small black cat ran out. In a moment of panic I slid the door close and yank up the escapee.

That was the moment. I picked up this cat and the most amazing thing happened. Instead of fighting and yelling, this cat turned around in my arms to face me, threw his front paws around my neck and pulled me close.

That was my first Spezza hug.

Of course I didn’t immediately go to adopt him because I wanted to see some other cats first just to make such. But when I got Spezza back into the room and sat down he jumped in my lap and started playing with my shoelaces. What pushed me to make a commitment was that there was another guy in the little glass room with me who was also interested in Spezza and I knew in my heart I couldn’t let him have this cat.

We had a race to fill out forms because you can’t call dibs on a cat apparently. But don’t feel too bad for him because I won, he ended up with a beautiful black cat with stunning green eyes.

It was a rushed decision but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Spezza is so sweet and loving. If I’m crying he comes and curls up in my lap. If I’m working he’ll sit on my shoulder just to be close.

Three years later and I can’t imagine my life without him by my side.