Four years ago, while recovering from major surgery and mourning the still fresh loss of my father, I felt an urge to expand my family.

I was nervous. I had tried to bring a second cat into mine and Tabitha’s lives before and it had backfired. I wound up with a sweet boy who just wasn’t right for us. When he died suddenly, I’m ashamed to say I was relieved.

So it was with trepidation that I visited the Ottawa Humane Society on a hot Tuesday afternoon. I clutched a list of requirements that the new cat would have to have for me to bring it home. There were dozens of kitties in cages and I spent time with each one. Some shied away, some were very demanding. I don’t know how long I was there but it was at least an hour. And then I saw him, a brown tabby peering out at me from a bottom cage. He was curious, but not needy. I looked at his information sheet and compared it to my list. A perfect match. I put my hand up to him and he came to sniff it. My heart went boom and all my doubts went away. The next day, I brought home my handsome boy, Neelix:

first picture I took of Neelix

It takes a while for me to bond to an animal, but like with Tabitha, I felt an instant tug towards Neelix and I knew he was going to fit into our family just fine.

It wasn’t until several years later that I realised that my list was missing a crucial requirement: a sweet disposition. Thankfully Neelix has one. I have never met a gentler cat in my life.

Happy adoption day my beloved boy.