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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsFamily Was Planning To Adopt A Kitten -- Until They Saw This Sad-Faced Cat
"Big chose us and we will always choose him" ❤️❤️❤️By Caitlin Jill Anders
Published on 9/18/2020 at 11:56 AM
Stacey Arrieta and her family arrived at the Lake County Animal Shelter in Tavares, Florida, three years ago with the intention of adopting a kitten. They were waiting in the meet and greet room for the kittens to be brought out when Arrietas son, Ari, suddenly noticed a very scared older cat hiding under one of the benches.
He was covered in wounds and had a scowl that broke my heart, Arrieta wrote in a post on Facebook. He looked sad and scared. After a few moments he laid down next to my sons feet.
The family learned that the cats name was Big, and hed ended up in the meet and greet room by accident. Despite being scared, Big immediately took a liking to Ari and began nuzzling up against him. He wasnt the kitten theyd come to the shelter to adopt, but it didnt take long for Ari to fall completely in love.
The volunteers finally brought in the kittens the family had come there to see, but Ari wouldnt even look at them. He had already chosen the cat he wanted.
He was now holding this scary-looking gray cat that crept out of the shadows and into his heart, Arrieta wrote. One of the volunteers came to return Big not knowing how he was even in this room to begin with. My son stopped her and insisted he was the cat he wanted.
Ari looked right past the tiny, adorable kittens and chose Big instead. He knew this was the cat who was meant to be his best friend.
The family officially adopted Big and brought him home. He was still so scared. They knew it was going to take some time for Big to warm up to his new home but everyone was up for the challenge.
When we first brought Big home he slept, Arrieta told The Dodo. For days. I honestly questioned if he was OK. My gut told me he just needed rest.
It took some time, but slowly, Big began to explore his new home and get to know his new family. He and Ari had a special bond from the very beginning, and today theyre closer than ever.
Right now we are doing the virtual school program and both Big and Ari love it, Arrieta said. They get to spend all day together and I often find him taking naps on the table while Ari schools.
Big is also best friends with his rescue dog brother, Jaxson, who was adopted from the same shelter. Big loves his life and his family so much now, and they couldnt be happier that he somehow snuck his way into the meet and greet room that day.
He wasnt supposed to be in the room that day, Arrieta wrote. We wanted a kitten. But Big chose us and we will always choose him.
https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/boy-falls-in-love-with-sad-faced-shelter-cat
hlthe2b
(102,200 posts)gopiscrap
(23,736 posts)great rescue story and he looks as though he adjusted well. Hes a handsome cat! So many older cats get overlooked. Thanks for adopting him!
niyad
(113,232 posts)Abandoned what a wonderful family. Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.
trueblue2007
(17,203 posts)Smiles. Happy, Smiles. Happy, happy smiles. happy Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.smiles. Smiles. Happy, Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.happy Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.smiles. Smiles. Happy, happy smiles. Smiles. Happy, Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.happy smiles.Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.Smiles. Happy, happy smiles.Smiles. Happy,Smiles. Happy, happy smiles. happy smiles.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)lucca18
(1,241 posts)3Hotdogs
(12,366 posts)sheilahi
(277 posts)What a beautiful kitty and what an amazing little boy you have. I think I just fell in love with both of them. How blessed you are to have both of them in your family.
Tanuki
(14,918 posts)I really appreciate the good tidings and beautiful pictures you bring us! This was another great one.
😺💕
sandensea
(21,621 posts)Gotta be.
So sweet - thanks for posting this! We needed it, on a day like today.
StarryNite
(9,442 posts)sandensea
(21,621 posts)We'll only know when the day comes, right?
niyad
(113,232 posts)sandensea
(21,621 posts)I've long since felt that, if there is a soul, God would like us to come back a number of times - to experience, learn and evolve.
For otherwise we'd all be like Cheeto (wither the thought!).
Stuart G
(38,414 posts)liberalla
(9,234 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,562 posts)I wish all scared and lonely animals ended up with a storybook ending like this.
RicROC
(1,204 posts)erpowers
(9,350 posts)The cat does not look sad-faced to me. In some of the photos it looks angry. In the picture where the cat is lying on a blanket and leaned up against a wall the cat looks perturbed, annoyed, pissed-off, and arrogant. The cat does not look sad.
Karadeniz
(22,492 posts)STAR! THANKS SO MUCH!!!!❤
catbyte
(34,367 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,841 posts)Too many people overlook older cats (or dogs).
titanicdave
(429 posts)........and this is the story of one such thing.....BRAVO!!!!
Chicagogrl1
(418 posts)Big chose his person. Animals know good people. Hoping that they have many years of adventure together.
Evolve Dammit
(16,723 posts)trueblue2007
(17,203 posts)colorado_ufo
(5,733 posts)Rough day. Thank you so much!
dhol82
(9,352 posts)3catwoman3
(23,970 posts)Wishing them many happy years in together.