The bond between a pet and its owner is very special. They are always happy to see us. They are always there when you come home from work or school. They greet you purring or tail wagging. We get so attached to these little beings living in our homes that they become part of us.
When my cat passed away mid-semester it was like I lost part of myself, part of my home. My small apartment felt deserted. I had to keep reminding myself that he wasn’t there anymore. That the creaks of the old building were not coming from him jumping around.
A half-eaten bowl of kibbles remained frozen in time. And I went to school. It was my final semester, I had no choice.
It was obvious how empty the apartment felt, but neither I nor my roommate mentioned anything.
When my aunt posted online a series of photos of cats from her local SPCA I took a look. I wasn’t expecting to find anything so soon. I wasn’t really looking for another cat right at that moment. But then I saw her. A tiny orange and white 8-month-old domestic short hair. She stood sassily looking up in front of the camera.
I’ve seen a lot of cats at school, at work, or just photos online and none of them piqued my interest as she did. I wrote to my aunt, who then visited her at the SPCA, who then concluded that she was perfect. My aunt wanted to know how I knew she was the best cat, but I just knew.
The only problem was that she was a 12-hour drive away.
I had friends and family who questioned my reasoning. Why didn’t I just adopt a cat in the area–there are plenty in the region. I had doubts too. I was hoping that I was making the right decision, that I was ready for another cat.
When the adoption papers were signed, my aunt brought her home to live with her while I figured out a way to travel to them. I had to figure out the time on the weekend, in between exams so that I wouldn’t miss any school. In the end, my aunt met me halfway.
When I first met my new cat, I picked her up and she instantly started cuddling me and I knew that I made the right decision. After an hour of listening to her meow in the carrier, we decided to try letting her out. We drove home with her sitting on my mother’s lap in the car. The rest of the ride she was quiet.
Now my apartment is not so quiet. She greets me every day at the door when I come home. She is there when I wake up and fall asleep. She is there in the middle of the night singing the song of her people. And it’s perfect.
It is unfortunate that a loss was the reason for our reunion but sometimes it’s the way life goes. Now I can’t think of my home without her in it.
