Story time:
A bit less than a decade ago I had a friend who had a cat, a tiny void who was pretty skittish and not fond of strangers. I grew up with cats and have always had a “green thumb” like for gardening but for cats. When I started hanging at his and his GFs place at least once a week me and the cat became comfortable with each other, but I also saw that they had no idea how to actually care for a cat.
They bought the cheapest food, even though they definitely weren’t strapped for cash, almost never played with her, didn’t know how to read cat body language etc.
I tried teaching them, giving them (well her, the cat) toys but they just ended up collecting dust in a drawer, I told them what cat foods I knew were good and to test different kinds to see which she both likes and were good for her health but they never changed.
When I moved apartment to one a lot closer to where they were living they asked me to pet sit whenever they went abroad and I happily obliged. The first day the first time wasn’t easy for her, she had never been outside their apartment since they got her, but the very next day I was woken up by her climbing ontop of my chest and dragging her cheeks all over my face and licking me almost like I was catnip, we were best friends after that and I loved having her with me and seeing this new comfortable and happy side of her. I played with her daily, had nice (as in good for her, not just more expensive) food, treats every now and then etc.
Then after 10 days they came back and as soon as I opened the door and she noticed it was them she darted under my bed and pressed herself up against the back wall… We had to lift the bed up and drag her out and into the cat carrier.
It fucking broke my heart, it’s not like I could say “hey, I don’t think you guys are good pet parents, so I’ll take her and give her a better life”. And that first time I wasn’t completely sure if it was specifically them she reacted like that to but after pet sitting her a couple of more times that was definitely the case, if other people came over she was shy but not even close to what she did whenever they came to get her.
I tried talking to them about caring for cats, or just being a fucking human being and understanding animals are “people”, living beings with feelings, but I think they didn’t have it in them to understand that.
We stopped being friends over other differences, and then I learned she had gotten sick and passed away. I mourned her more than I think they ever did, I’m of course not gonna say it wasn’t a hard thing for them at all but as far as I’m aware they never grieved and just got another cat right after.
I still miss her and think about her every now and then, she deserved better.
Poor kitty. At least she knew love, as fleeting as it was. Poor cat :(
One of my previous cats was a mother at a kitten mill. She’d never known love. She’d only ever known her bubbas getting taken from her. She was going to be euthanised if someone didn’t take her as she could not have any more kittens as she was old. I wasn’t really looking for a cat, but there’s no way in hell I’d stand by while a perfectly healthy cat got euthanised. I had planned to find her a new home to live in, but when I got her, I immediately fell in love with her. So I kept her and gave her the best life i could.
When i first got her, she just hid under my bed. After a while, she must have realised that her hellish life was over. After a couple nights, she came out and she was sooooo lovey dovey on me. She had never known that. she’d only ever known pain and suffering.
I loved that cat so much. She’s since passed away, but I still think about her. She was a great kitty. I only had her for a few years, but I’d like to think I gave her a great life for as short as it was.
Story time:
A bit less than a decade ago I had a friend who had a cat, a tiny void who was pretty skittish and not fond of strangers. I grew up with cats and have always had a “green thumb” like for gardening but for cats. When I started hanging at his and his GFs place at least once a week me and the cat became comfortable with each other, but I also saw that they had no idea how to actually care for a cat.
They bought the cheapest food, even though they definitely weren’t strapped for cash, almost never played with her, didn’t know how to read cat body language etc.
I tried teaching them, giving them (well her, the cat) toys but they just ended up collecting dust in a drawer, I told them what cat foods I knew were good and to test different kinds to see which she both likes and were good for her health but they never changed.
When I moved apartment to one a lot closer to where they were living they asked me to pet sit whenever they went abroad and I happily obliged. The first day the first time wasn’t easy for her, she had never been outside their apartment since they got her, but the very next day I was woken up by her climbing ontop of my chest and dragging her cheeks all over my face and licking me almost like I was catnip, we were best friends after that and I loved having her with me and seeing this new comfortable and happy side of her. I played with her daily, had nice (as in good for her, not just more expensive) food, treats every now and then etc.
Then after 10 days they came back and as soon as I opened the door and she noticed it was them she darted under my bed and pressed herself up against the back wall… We had to lift the bed up and drag her out and into the cat carrier.
It fucking broke my heart, it’s not like I could say “hey, I don’t think you guys are good pet parents, so I’ll take her and give her a better life”. And that first time I wasn’t completely sure if it was specifically them she reacted like that to but after pet sitting her a couple of more times that was definitely the case, if other people came over she was shy but not even close to what she did whenever they came to get her.
I tried talking to them about caring for cats, or just being a fucking human being and understanding animals are “people”, living beings with feelings, but I think they didn’t have it in them to understand that.
We stopped being friends over other differences, and then I learned she had gotten sick and passed away. I mourned her more than I think they ever did, I’m of course not gonna say it wasn’t a hard thing for them at all but as far as I’m aware they never grieved and just got another cat right after.
I still miss her and think about her every now and then, she deserved better.
Thank you for showing her love.
aww. you got me in tears bro :(
Poor kitty. At least she knew love, as fleeting as it was. Poor cat :(
One of my previous cats was a mother at a kitten mill. She’d never known love. She’d only ever known her bubbas getting taken from her. She was going to be euthanised if someone didn’t take her as she could not have any more kittens as she was old. I wasn’t really looking for a cat, but there’s no way in hell I’d stand by while a perfectly healthy cat got euthanised. I had planned to find her a new home to live in, but when I got her, I immediately fell in love with her. So I kept her and gave her the best life i could.
When i first got her, she just hid under my bed. After a while, she must have realised that her hellish life was over. After a couple nights, she came out and she was sooooo lovey dovey on me. She had never known that. she’d only ever known pain and suffering.
I loved that cat so much. She’s since passed away, but I still think about her. She was a great kitty. I only had her for a few years, but I’d like to think I gave her a great life for as short as it was.