I’m a big advocate for adopting animals, and if you want a cat, they are usually easy to come by. My first cat was a stray that lived in a nearby garage. A year or so later, another stray wandered into my life and I took him in as well. The next round of pets was more deliberate and were adopted as kittens from Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh. The last cat from that group, Kayleigh, died in 2025 at 20 years old.
Just as my house was beginning to feel lonely, my neighbor, Peggy, picked up a stray. That is how Lucy came to live with me. She appreciated her new digs and all the cuddles, but I felt guilty because she was alone all day and I thought she might like some company. I decided to find her a friend. No sooner did I utter those words out loud than my co-worker (it was Merle) told me he knew someone fostering a litter of kittens and had one little black and white girl left. Before I knew it, Lucy had a new “friend” and Peppermint Patty had a new home.
Just because you bring two cats together with the intention of them being best buds doesn’t mean it will happen easily. Cats are territorial and suspicious of others invading their space, and Peppermint Patty — only 8 months old and still a kitten — was rambunctious and wanted to play. To start, I put her in an extra bedroom by herself for a few days, giving her space to get used to being in a new place. This also gave Lucy the chance to get used to a new smell. Patty had everything she needed, and I spent some one-on-one time with her so she could get used to her new human. Lucy was rightfully suspicious…
After a couple of days, I opened the door to let them get acquainted and, yikes, becoming “friends” wasn’t their first instinct. There was hissing and chasing and more hissing. Back into the room Patty went. Eventually, they sniffed each other out and the hissing subsided. A couple of months later they still chase, but there’s no hissing, blood or fur clumps. Fingers crossed, they’re just having fun. I think they are on their way to becoming best buds after all!
This cat story ended happily ever after for my little family. I don’t feel guilty about being away all day, they are both living comfortably with lots of time for playing and relaxing, and I know I made their lives better by giving them a furever home. I encourage anyone who has a little extra love to give to adopt a pet because there is a grateful fur baby out there waiting for you!
October 29 is National Cat Day, so there is no better time to adopt than now!
Some worthy resources to help you along your animal adoption journey:
- Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh (HARP) – 1101 Western Avenue and 6926 Hamilton Avenue, 412-345-7300, humaneanimalrescue.org [1]
- Animal Friends – 562 Camp Horne Road, 412-847-7000, thinkingoutsidethecage.org [2]
Both HARP and Animal Friends have adoptable animals on-site and in foster, all of which are spayed/neutered, and an animal clinic that provides healthcare, check-ups and vaccines at a discounted rate.
- Pet Search PA – P.O. Box 1653, Washington, PA, 724-228-7335, petsearchpa.org [3]
- Animal Advocates – 35 Wabash Street, 412-928-9777, animaladvocates.net [4]
Pet Search and Animal Advocates provide up to date healthcare/vaccines and records. They rely on foster family volunteers, using their own time, money and homes and are truly angels in disguise.