I visited HSHV with my mom without the intention of finding a kitty of my own. I was visiting with some cats in a different room from my mom when she came and told me I had to come see this cat (Stevie) right away. The moment I saw Stevie, I instantly started crying. His markings resembled my childhood cat that had passed about a year prior and I was still having a difficult time coping with that loss. However, it wasn’t only the resemblance that drew me to him. I instantly felt a connection and knew I had to take him home with me. Unfortunately, Stevie was already on hold for another adopter. Still, I put in an application in hopes that fate would bring us together. And it did! A couple days later I received the phone call and soon enough, we were on our way home to our new life together.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. During the adoption process, I was made aware of Stevie’s CKD diagnosis. He also had some litter box issues which was most likely an unfortunate result of him being declawed by his previous owners. These things, on top of him already being an older kitty, caused fear in me that we may not have much time left together. There were many people who doubted us, but I knew that I had to give him a shot at living his best possible life with however much time he had left.

Almost two years later, I am so grateful and delighted to say that Stevie is doing wonderfully!! Not only his kidney levels, but his overall quality of life have improved significantly!! He now has a kitty brother, whom he has taken under his wing, as well as a dog sister that he has learned to coexist with (lol). Stevie enjoys sitting on his cat perch and keeping watch over his blended family. He loves rolling around in cat nip and showing his kitten side that we unfortunately didn’t get to experience together. He can be very insistent on getting chin scratches and pets (but only on his own terms, in typical cat fashion).

Stevie came to me at a time when I didn’t even realize I needed him most and I will be forever grateful that fate brought us together. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but it’s been 110% worth it. The only regret I have is us not finding each other sooner.