I don’t set an alarm clock anymore. My almost-eight-year-old calico cat, Pookie, has that job. Every morning, she takes it upon herself to jump on my bed, sit as close to my head as possible, and knead into my pillow until my eyes flicker open.
As soon I look at her, she bounds off my bed and to her throne, AKA her cat tree, and waits for me to feed her. Sometimes she tries to wake me up too early–as in four in the morning too early–and I grumble as I wiggle out of bed.
Fellow cat lovers know that pet parents have routines they don’t always love, such as early morning feedings and cleaning the litter box. But Pookie deserves the best, so I wake up early to feed her and clean her litter box. Arm & Hammer ™ Clump & Seal ™ cat litter is 100 percent dust free, eliminates odors, and clumps hard for easy scooping!
As grumpy as my Calico alarm can make me feel some mornings, I can’t imagine my life without her. Who would wake me up if I hadn’t made the decision to adopt Pookie seven years ago? And who would have filled my life with so much love and joy?
Here’s the story of how Pookie came to be my alarm clock and changed my life for the better.
A Shy Kitten Comes Out Of Her Shell
In January 2013, I made the decision to drive two hours from my Los Angeles apartment down to Costa Mesa, California, to see a six-month-old kitten named Pookie. She had big, saucer eyes, and her foster family described her as “chirpy.”
I had been playing with the idea of adopting a cat for some time, and something about her goofy face clicked with me. Sure, there were other kittens on the adoption websites that were much closer to me, but Pookie was special. I could feel it.
When I got to Pookie’s foster home, I started sweating. I’d never had a cat before. What if her foster family thought I wouldn’t make a good cat owner? What if the kitten doesn’t even like me?
I walked in, and the home’s other cats eyed me suspiciously. Pookie’s humans were looking for her, “But sometimes she’s shy,” they said. My heart dropped into my stomach. This isn’t going to happen, I thought.
And then, out she came. She made her way from under a couch as she chirped. I gingerly stuck my hand out and sat on the floor. After a few tense moments, Pookie came out from under the couch and started giving my hand kisses.
I almost started crying. Pookie’s foster mom smiled and said “I knew there was something about you,” and we discussed a home inspection and dropping Pookie off at my LA apartment.
Pookie Finds Her Forever Home–And Inspires More Adoption!
After driving back home grinning from ear to ear, I immediately went to a store and spent entirely too much money on cat toys and supplies.
The next morning, Pookie was home. She was nervous at first, unsure of this new, quiet place where she was the only cat, but she grew comfortable. My apartment went from just a new place to a new home.
As the years have gone by, she’s gone from comfortable to silently-in-charge. Pookie spends most of her days perched on her cat tree, shifting her attention between the birds outside and my two dogs.
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that Pookie inspired me to adopt two more furry family members.
Every now and then, one of my pups will let their guard down, and Pookie will playfully pounce at her furry siblings and bolt away before there’s any retaliation. She requires affection, but only on her terms, which are conveniently set to “whenever mom is working.”
Pookie burrows into cupboards and creates makeshift beds in my closet with dirty clothes that didn’t quite make it into the hamper. She chats to me about her day, and I respond in turn, having a conversation that only a cat and her human can.
I don’t know what my life would be like without Pooks. I might not have adopted my two other pets–two small dogs, Betty and Genie–had I not first gone through the process of adopting her. 2013 was also an emotionally trying year for me, and having that silly little kitten to play with when I wasn’t feeling like myself saved me.
Adopt And Share Your Story
If you’re thinking of adopting a cat into your family, I can’t recommend it enough. Pookie has brought so much joy to my life. I may have given her a forever home, but she’s given me so much in return.
If you think adoption is right for you, check out your local shelters and rescues so you can meet some kitties in person. You can also check out CatTime’s adoption page that lets you search for adoptable cats in your zip code.
Also, remember to share your adoption story! You may just inspire others to give a shelter animal a chance.
And don’t forget that your new kitty deserves the best supplies. Arm & Hammer ™ Clump & Seal ™ litter is 100 percent dust free and comes with a 7-day odor-free home guarantee! Click here to order!
What’s your cat’s adoption story? How did you know your kitty was the right one for you? Let us know in the comments below!
