Already living in her loving home 💚🏠
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When Mikaela moved out of her family home into her first apartment in 2021, it was meant to be a fresh start and a quiet refuge after living in a chaotic household. But what she hadn’t anticipated was just how lonely it could be.
“I suffer with anxiety and depression,” Mikaela shared, “and while it was liberating to have my own space, it was also incredibly lonely. I decided I needed a companion - and that’s how I found Cuddles.”
Mikaela first set eyes on nine-year-old kitty Cuddles, who was in the care of Mandalong Animal Sanctuary & Rescue while searching PetRescue, and he quickly found his way into Mikaela’s heart.
“I found the PetRescue website extremely easy to use and appreciated the filtered search options,” Mikaela said about her search for a new bestie. “I was specifically looking for an older cat, and having a ‘senior cat’ filter really helped with that. I also liked that there could be a short sentence or description of the pet before clicking on the profile. It made the whole process feel much more approachable and personal.”
“I’m a very affectionate person, so it was important to find a cat that was cuddly,” she said. “I had no desire for a kitten - I didn’t have the time for litter training, and I wanted to give an older cat a second shot at life.”
And Cuddles turned out to be exactly the cat she had hoped for!
“He’s my entire world and has changed me for the better,” Mikaela said. “We’re so compatible. Even on his first day, he was snuggling with me.”
A kitty with purr-sonality!
Cuddles settled in quickly, showing his affection and confidence from early on. Since then, he’s been by Mikaela’s side through multiple apartment moves, always easily adjusting.
“What surprised me most is how much humour he’s brought into my life,” she said. “He’s full of zoomies, always meowing at my door, and has such a cheeky, loving nature. Every morning, like clockwork, he jumps on my lap while I do my makeup. Every night, he curls up beside me in bed.”
And the bond between them runs deep. “I was in a very dark place before I adopted Cuddles,” Mikaela shared. “He gives me purpose. No matter how unpredictable or stressful life gets, he’s always there. He’s the reason I smile every day.”
A mental health lifeline
Cuddles didn’t just fill Mikaela’s apartment with life - he transformed her mental and emotional well-being. After experiencing a tough home environment and her difficult move out of home at nineteen, Mikaela found herself in a challenging place. But with Cuddles by her side, things began to shift.
“He’s given me stability, unconditional love, and a sense of responsibility that I genuinely needed. Even just knowing he’s there waiting for a snuggle or a kiss on the head when I leave for work - it grounds me,” she said.
Cuddles even encourages Mikaela to stay in a healthy routine. “At 10:30pm each night (my usual bedtime), if my lamp isn't off yet, he will assume his bedtime spot and plop down - his way of telling me to turn the lamp off and go to bed!” Mikaela shares.
As Cuddles experienced some health issues, Mikaela has remained fiercely dedicated. With the help of a compassionate and dedicated vet, Dr. Brooke from the Inner West Cat Hospital, Cuddles is now thriving.
“I would go to the ends of the Earth for Cuddles, and it still wouldn’t be enough to show him how much I love him,” Mikaela says about her BFF.
The magic of senior pets ✨
Cuddles was already litter trained and emotionally mature when Mikaela brought him home, which are benefits often overlooked in senior cats.
“Older cats are so grateful for the second chance at life,” Mikaela said. “They deserve to have a warm, loving home just as much as kittens. Adopting a senior cat has been the best decision I’ve ever made.”
She encourages anyone considering pet adoption to think about giving an older pet a loving retirement home.
“Kittens will always find homes. But the senior cats - they sit in shelters waiting and waiting, full of love to give. They were babies once too, and they will always be your baby.”
Creating memories together
Today, Mikaela and Cuddles live together with her (human) best friend, and their days are filled with snuggles, lazy Saturday mornings, YouTube sessions, and even walks in the pram to the local grocery store and coffee shop! Mikaela loves seeing people’s reactions to seeing Cuddles in a pram - especially the people who stop to share stories about their own beloved pets.
Whether he's demanding dinner at the door, curling up for a nap, or reminding Mikaela when it’s bedtime, Cuddles is more than a pet - he’s a loyal best friend.
“He’s been through everything with me,” Mikaela said. “I can’t imagine life without him. He’s not just a cat. He’s my heart.”
Thinking of adopting a new family member? Consider welcoming a senior pet into your home - you might just find your new best friend!
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