“We knew right away that we were going to keep him.”
It was a chilly December evening when Madison S. heard a faint cry outside her barn. With a fireplace crackling behind her, Madison opened the front door to find a fluffy stranger staring back at her.
The long-haired black cat looked up at Madison and meowed again before shuffling past her feet into the barn.
Madison S.
Madison had never seen him before, but he didn’t act like a stranger. Instead, he walked into the barn and started communicating with Madison as if he’d always known her.
“He came up to the front door and meowed,” Madison told The Dodo. “He was super vocal.”
Madison S.
The cat warmed up by the fire while meowing repeatedly at his new friend. He was far from the only cat on the property, but 16-year-old Buster and 4-year-old Cheddar were sleeping in the adjacent house and had yet to discover him.
Madison S.
As the affectionate stranger moseyed around the room, Madison thought about her third cat, Rick, who’d sadly passed away just a few weeks prior. The grief of missing Rick and the joy of meeting this new little guy convinced her to make a spontaneous, life-changing decision.
“I think [Rick] was a big factor in us keeping him as a pet, as well as how friendly he was,” Madison said. “We knew right away that we were going to keep him.”
Madison S.
Within minutes of his arrival, the stray cat, later named Reginald (Reggie), secured a forever home. After receiving a clean bill of health from the vet, he quickly settled in with his new family and, in the following days, enjoyed his first holiday season feeling loved.
“He’s super cuddly and loves attention,” Madison said.
Madison S.
It’s been a few weeks since Reggie joined Madison’s family, and he’s been thriving ever since. So far, Buster is his closest friend, but he’s hoping to win Cheddar over soon.
“Buster and Reggie get along great, but Cheddar is still a bit scared of him,” Madison said.
Madison S.
Cheddar may still be apprehensive about Reggie, but the rest of his family, especially his parents, know just how wonderful he is. The sweet boy has been healing their hearts with snuggles and kisses they never knew they needed.
“I think it’s super special that Reggie came to us after the heartbreaking loss of Rick,” Madison said. “And I believe he will be right at home with his new family.”
