The Cat Next Door Adopted Us Again, And My Heart Is Full

Even if she has a temper

Michelle Marie Warner
Catness

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Photo selfie taken by author, sitting down with her black neighbor cat, Rosie, on her lap. She’s a light-skinned, middle-aged woman with a dark red and black, patterned tank top, hummingbird tattoo on her arm partially showing, two necklaces with symbols/blue stone, smiling, with medium-length ash blonde hair and blue eyes.
Photo selfie with our favorite neighbor kitty, Rosie, courtesy of author — Eugene, Oregon, October 2020

We moved to our upstairs corner apartment on October 20, 2020. It was early evening by the time we arrived. We began hauling suitcases up the steps from my little red Honda Fit, and that’s when we saw her.

As we found places for our belongings, I looked up at a young black cat splayed across our front window screen. She was begging us to let her into our apartment.

Had she lived here before, and her owners left her behind? I had no idea. But she wanted to be with us either way.

At first, she was a sweet little thing, purring and nuzzling like she’d known us her whole life. Then she’d unexpectedly turn into a holy terror, hissing and growling like we’d taken away her favorite treat. She was especially disappointed that we wouldn’t let her inside, getting pissed off every time we opened our door.

We guessed she was a stray or lost, but in retrospect, she acted too comfortable to be either. Since she magically disappeared by nightfall, I figured she might live with someone nearby.

We thought about this cat all evening. We talked about her as we got ready for bed. My kids hoped she didn’t have a home so we could adopt her. I reminded them we needed to get approved for an Emotional…

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Michelle Marie Warner
Catness

Grateful, sassy, sober GenX mom with plenty to say and enough energy to listen. Learning to laugh a little more as I age gracefully. Bring it on.