As I write this, Violeta is dozing in the sunlight atop her cat tower in the living room.
She is an all-grey cat (we think Russian Blue) about nine months old. My wife Saraí and I found her in the Missaukee Humane Society’s listings and applied right away. By sheer luck, our application was at the top of the pile for a kitten that drew so much interest, the shelter pulled her listing.
Readers of my column will remember that in June of last year we had to say goodbye to our dear friend, Leonidas — Leo for short. Saraí and I agreed that once our grief subsided a bit, we would adopt another cat. She was adamant about taking in a kitten, wanting as much time with our new feline friend as possible.
So we began our search, and reader, there are many, many options. At times it was painful looking at page upon page of adoptable kitties and realizing I could only give a home to a handful at most. “Can we just adopt them all?” I asked more than once.
As I wrote before, cats have been a part of my life since I was born. One of my earliest memories is chasing our calico, Ivy, into my parents’ room and her getting even, clawing my foot from under the bed. Over the years I formed a special bond with our family felines, and Leo reminded me how much a cat can add to your life.
Violeta is no exception. We fell in love with her instantly upon seeing her in person. Now, she’s the first to greet us when we get home and her antics keep us endlessly entertained — even when she’s doing naughty stuff. Mainly, she brings a lot of joy to our lives, so we try our best to make her happy in return.
So for those readers who can take in a cat, I urge you to consider it. Shelters in the area are full of kitties who need loving homes. Same goes for dogs and, occasionally and in smaller numbers, other pets like rabbits and guinea pigs.
Of course, this is a big decision, since you’re making a commitment to care for that animal for the rest of their life. So don’t go into it lightly.
At the same time, don’t let trivial doubts hold you back. I was uneasy about Leo coming to live in my apartment because I was afraid he would have a hard time adjusting to yet another move. Instead, he quickly became my work-from-home buddy. And while Violeta hid for the first few days after we brought her home, she soon accepted her new situation and her new humans.
Now, the three of us are a family, and the joy she brings us can’t easily be put into words. So if you can, give a cat (or dog, etc.) a home. It’s good for your heart.