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I honestly didn’t know what the fuck I was thinking. At first, I thought it was one of those weird intrusive thoughts that come up as something you think you need when you don’t. Staring at those cats in the little window was giving me weird shivers. They were looking at me with little beady eyes and meowing at the window. Their little paws were tapping at the window, as if they needed something from me. My chest felt heavy looking at them. I still feel that physical recoil I had, my head jerking away and I turned to head straight home.
I didn’t know why at first. I was guessing it was a simple thing, that maybe I just didn’t like cats, but every day, I kept thinking about them. I always took the same street to go on walks to destress, and ironically, it was the same street that pet store was at. It only opened up recently, and I didn’t notice until they moved the kittens near the window since they were running out of space, or probably was, since the cats were all bundled up together every now and them in a small pile. They’d sit there at the window with some crummy cardboard sign that says “CATS FOR SALE!” Or “50% OFF!” To make them get rid of the kittens faster. As much as I knew I could look away from that window, especially with the poor setup, there was something deep inside me that couldn’t. I hated it, sort of. It was a mixed feeling I still can’t really explain now. I always looked at those cats at the window. It was pissing me off, but I couldn’t help but feel bad. I especially felt bad over one that was always looking outside. It was some little kitten, white fur, blue eyes, one you’d see as one of those popular cats in a Disney movie maybe? It looked that oddly taken care of. That might’ve gave it the mystic feel it had besides the rest.
Every day, like it was routine, it wobbled over to the window and stared out of it. I didn’t know if it was a glare, or if it hated people outside, but it just simply sat there. I obviously never knew how long, I’m not about to watch some random ass cat stare outside like it was a fucking staring contest, that’d be next level creepy, but that was somehow in its lifestyle. It got to the point where we’d had acknowledged each other when I’d walk by. After a week, it started to stare right at me and do something odd. I’d pass by, it’d watch me walk by and follow me almost, before it stopped in the tracks of another cat whenever it got let out or the cage’s barrier. I glanced back at it at one point and noticed it a lot when I walked back over. Worst part is that every-time I saw it with someone, I would think it’d be getting adopted until I see it there the next day. It was like clockwork.
After I realized that, every time I saw it, my chest tightened, almost out of remorse. Well, pretty sure it was full-on remorse after I talked about it to a friend.
“I’m telling you, that cat’s fucking creepy!” I said, shaking my head.
“Pico, please!” Nene heavily sighed on the other line. “Just adopt the damn thing! It keeps following you for a reason!”
“Well, I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to take care of one, first off. My apartment might not be big enough.” I flopped onto my couch rested my arm on it.
“You’re funny!” She giggled. “You talk as if your apartment isn’t halfway empty. And I should know, you’ve showed me and Darnell that place!” She continued, “No offense, but like, besides those figures you have lying around, your apartment’s a fuckin GRAVEYARD. If anything, that cat might make it more lively.” She replied so nonchalantly. I couldn’t tell if I should’ve been pissed she was treating this so calmly or that she was right. It was maybe an over-exaggeration on my part.
“Well. I don’t know. I just don’t want to...” I paused. The silence I gave off on the other end gave her a chance to pipe up again.
“Look, Pico, maybe ask to maybe interact with it a bit? Or just go into the store— actually, have you even WENT in there?” Her voice got louder asking that question. I hesitated.
“Well, no, but I still think it’s not a good idea.”
“Oh, why? Do you think you’re gonna hurt it or something?” I knew she guessed that on a whim from her spatting that out as soon as I replied, but it made my stomach churn a bit.
“No. I mean, I think no.” I sighed.
“I’m pretty sure you would hurt everything but a cat. As concerned as I would be, I think that would be a pet that’d live the longest around you, if that makes you feel better.”
“And why do you say that?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Well— it’s a cat. They’re more durable. Duh.” I could hear her shrug as her audio annoyingly adjusted to be louder. “They can get out of situations easier.”
“Well, golly fuckin gee, what a friend you are.” I rolled my eyes.
“HEY! I didn’t mean it like that!” She sounded slightly panicked. “Well, I sort of did—“
“Uhuh.”
“You’d rather honesty anyway! The honesty is that a cat’s your best bet!” She piped up more confidently. I slouched on my couch.
“You’re sort of not wrong… keep going.” I felt the lowering of my voice. I blamed it on contemplating. Lots of it.
“Yeah, I just mean it’s a more better animal for protection and stuff from icky disgusting things that should die and never come back like bugs and rats. They also make good therapy pets according to Google! Like a dog, but smaller and hisses. Maybe it’d be good for you.” I contemplated with a few moments of silence from my end.
“Sure.” I huffed. “I guess I’ll maybe just go in first, see how it goes.”
“There you go!” She grinned. “But I have one question.”
“Yeah?”
“Is it cute?” Her voice got higher, I sighed.
“It’s a kitten. Of course it’s cute.”
“A KITTEN??” She squealed. “Aawwwhh, I didn’t know that!”
“I said it was a small cat?”
“I thought you meant an adult one— you should totes get it now. I’m being dead serious, they’re like super cute and cuddly!” She squeaked with more happiness than I was giving.
“I think small cat and kitten are the same thing.” I tilted my head.
“Right, right, whateverrr.” She huffed.
“You sound a lot more excited over this than me.” I laughed a little. I wouldn’t regret it if I hadn’t snorted while doing it.
“Well, because kitties are cute!” She chirped. “Anywho, gotta let you go now. Call me back tomorrow and tell me the tea later. I gotta get back to gossip, you know, that good stuff.”
“Alright, see ya.” I hum.
“잘 있어요!”
“You too… whatever that means..”
-
Going into the store made me oddly relaxed. It was either the fact I fed myself donuts for breakfast since my meds tasted like ass or the odor of the place surprisingly didn’t smell like complete shit. I had to throw on more baggier pants to make sure I didn’t get kicked out for carrying around a firearm. It’s not like I was gonna use it, but it helped me feel safer. For emergency reasons.
I walked in and immediately locked eyes onto the cat that I kept seeing in the window. It was already staring me down, even when I was approaching the store. I got there at around what? 7-8am? The fact that thing was wide awake already was slightly off-putting, but it made my little choice making easier. I was second guessing it as I walked in with so many people. Maybe the cat could’ve just been adopted by any of them? Then again, the cat’s area was just empty and dead, so.
I approached the small cats as the white one meowed at me almost immediately, crawling over from inside the cage. I crouched slightly to get a better look as it stared at me, a small paw poking out from the cage to me. It was kind of cute. It kept meowing and making a small little fuss until I hesitantly moved my hand forward. I wasn’t sure what it wanted, but I lightly tapped its paw. It sat flat on its belly, and kept reaching out for me with a stretch. I stared at it until I heard footsteps approach me. I snapped my head to a worker that was curiously watching me. She smiled at me as I raised an eyebrow.
“You must be getting along with Milkshake.” She grinned.
“Ah, I guess so?” I scratched the back of my head.
“You must have magic touch or something! She’s usually never like this!” She seemed to hum and walk over to the cage. “Would you like to maybe consider adoption? She’s a very sweet cat.” She gestured to the cat in the cage that was blinking slowly at me, tilting its head. I stared for a minute. I knew I could, but I didn’t know if I should. My mind shut down as I stared at her, my thoughts scrambling slightly, until the worker walked over and opened the cage. The cat wobbled over, almost falling if I didn’t frantically throw my hands open to catch it. Bitch didn’t even make sure it was away from the door. What if I was allergic?? Hypothetically, it’s not like you’d go into a store with pets if you were allergic to any pet’s fur either way. That’d be a death wish.
“Whoops!” The worker panicked a bit. “You’re a lifesaver… I was just gonna let her out to help you decide better.”
“It’s fine.” I gave her a look, but I knew I managed to at least keep the kitten safe. I stared at Milkshake. She almost immediately cuddled up in my arms. I felt a little obligated to stand still and let her rest in them. I was never a person to hold animals, but with her, it’s oddly therapeutic. A warm soft little bundle of fur in my arms. She even purred a little when she rolled up in a ball. It’s way more appealing than it sounds. For once, I was thinking maybe Nene was right. Maybe I did need this. I could use a little more company, anyway.
“Sir?”
I glanced up at the worker, who was just standing there and watching me hold her. “Did you make a choice on her yet?”
I zoned out for once over something that made me content, which was new, I guess. At this point, I was in too deep to say no. I couldn’t. I slowly nodded my head. A small smile forming onto my face.
“Yeah, I think I’ll adopt her right now.”
-
I was a fucking idiot.
After signing papers, I had a realization I had to rush to so many stores first off. I was so hellbent on getting a cat, I forget to get the stuff for said cat. I was hauling a kitten with me all the way there, too I didn’t get anything major because I did want to crush the damn thing. I would’ve called Darnell to help carry things quicker since he has a car, but I’d rather risk accidentally dropping the cage than risk getting her squished between cars from his horrid driving.
Once I did get her home, I had to make the changes small. I wasn’t an idiot, this place was new to her, so I didn’t want het freaking out over it on top of the things I just throw into het view. I set up essentials first: litter box, food and water, regular needs to survive. I got wet food since I had no idea if this cat could eat dry or not. I set up a cage next to the couch so she wouldn’t go trying to eat wires or anything but could still walk around, and plus, my fat ass doesn’t have to walk a distance to keep track of her. The only downside is being more closer to the litter, but it’s whatever. I had to get a comb since I realized the breed I was trying to get was a Persian, which I did not realize since all I took note of was a white cat and two big fucking eyes looking right at me.
After all that, I just threw random toys on the ground and threw down a blanket in there too incase she wanted to rest and sat down next to the cage to relax. I was worried it was too much, since she seemed a little stressed, but after I moved the cage near me, she seemed fine. I watched her shakily but slowly get comfortable sniffing all of the toys and staring at the litter box. I didn’t know if she was trained, but I’m probably gonna have to find out soon. She drank her water and ate some of her food, which was a good sign at least. I thought about how people never gave her a chance, being such a well-behaved kitten surprisingly. She did say a peep until I pet her or looked at her. She also didn’t look like she was fussy or hissing at all. If anything, she was pretty calm, which was nice. She was a really pretty one, too. I’m surprised she wasn’t taken in sooner. I was a little confused, but then I remembered the few words that worker said to me.
“You must have magic touch or something! She’s usually never like this!”
Maybe that was why those people didn’t want her. Maybe they weren’t the person she was looking for. That’s a little creepy a cat would assume that one specific person would one day adopt them and take them in. A bit sad, actually. I guess I’m happy to make that come true. The result benefitted us both, if you think about it. She gets a somewhat decent home, and I get a cat that’s not that bad and has pretty but annoying to deal with fur. That’s what I got from whatever the workers were blabbing about, at least. I should’ve listened better.
It’s whatever anyway. The cat’s relaxed at this point from what I see. I’ve just been glancing between her and the Tv for the past few hours. I still have to worry about getting her spayed and shit, maybe a new name for her too. I feel like I should have regrets, but I somehow don’t. Her tail was flicking around but it was up, and she was blinking very slowly at me still. I don’t know what that means, but I should probably google it, I don’t fucking know. I’m tired, but I feel like I accomplished something. Especially with the rush-job I did to prep. I tried petting her to see help her calm down while she sits on the covers, and she basically just passed out next to me.
As cheesy as I think having no regrets over a pet would be with just it existing near me at home, I would be lying if I said that wasn’t the case.