Originally Posted by catfeeder
Sometimes love follows a commitment, and not the other way around. My cat, Layla, grew ill at the same time my sister had rescued a lap cat, Butch. Problem was first perceived to be her adult male dog, Miles, who went out of his skull over the adult male addition. Miles was too well behaved to cross a kitchen barrier without permission, and so Butch would wander up to the barrier just outside of Miles' reach. And sit there. When sister would invite Miles to the family room, he would plow past the cat to join the family. Then the cat would sneak into the kitchen unnoticed, make his way over to the dog's water dish, and pee in it.
No wonder Miles was not happy with Butch.
Butch got caught by one of the kids and was promptly relegated to the garage during the night. While he was permitted free roam of the property during the day, he was no longer allowed into the house. A search for a new home had begun for Butch.
Layla died shortly afterward, and when I called my sister for sympathy, she gave a quick "Awww," before suggesting that I take Butch. I couldn't stand the thought of him sleeping in a garage, and so I showed up to claim him within a day. The drive home in the carrier really upset him, but he seemed curious to explore my place when I opened the carrier.
I guess I should have 'showed' him the litter instead of placing him directly in it while he was still frazzled from the drive. He jumped out, grabbed my ankle, bit me, then ran off into my bedroom. I hollered after him, "Now I know why you were in a shelter!"
I already knew that I would not send Butch back to a shelter. I'd committed, and Butch had immediately returned to his friendly, unfazed self by the time I checked on him in my bedroom. Sure, it was difficult to learn a new cat's personality while I still grieved for my Layla, but my focus was more invested in preventing Butch's homelessness than on begrudging him for not 'replacing' my prior pet.
In short time I fell in love with Butch in a way that still honored the differences between both animals. As predicted, he was clean and cooperative minus other male competition, and I couldn't have asked for a more loving companion. I never regretted taking in Butch so soon. I believe that he helped me to heal.