i adopted my cat Mister from the rescue org BARCS (plz support them if you can) in early 2023. he was found as a stray and at first was deemed unfit to live inside a house due to his behavior, so they TNR'd (Trap, Neuter, Release) him, hence the clipped ear. they then decided to try to rehabilitate him for adoption, and he was fostered for several months before i found him in the BARCS listings.

the timing could not have been more perfect. i had just found a stable place to live after becoming temporarily homeless when an abusive ex-long-term-partner kicked me out of our house without warning several months prior... and he'd stolen my three cats in the process. i was heartbroken at the loss of my cats (although glad to be free of the asshole human), but more than ready for a fresh start. i also wanted to specifically adopt a black cat, since they are the least likely to be adopted, and i wanted to provide a loving forever home.

enter Mister. his listing was charmingly written by his foster hoomin, and he's gorgeous, so my interest was instantly piqued. i contacted BARCS, set up an introduction, and decided right there and then that i wanted him. something in my intuition told me we needed each other, and that wound up being so unbelievably true.

he had ~behavior problems~ at first. he would hiss and/or bite if he felt cornered, and he was jumpy and skittish. but there were signs of his true self underneath his spiky exterior. he was almost immediately a lap cat, even though he was still prone to perceiving everything as a threat.

but... i related so deeply. even though i was finally free of my abusive, controlling long-term relationship, and even though i craved safety and intimacy, my nervous system perceived threats all around me at the drop of a hat. i understood Mister, and (pardon my anthropomorphization) i feel like he understood me just as much in return. we needed each other, and found each other at just the right time.