I hate saying this but Link wasn’t  my first option - the cat I applied for was adopted before my application was approved. I met him once before adopting him, and honestly didn’t remember much about him specifically because he had six brothers and sisters who looked exactly like him. I kind of threw a shot in the dark and said “I think I remember this one being nice?” I know, not the most responsible decision-making, but I was a depressed college student looking for a friend. 

Somehow, though, I ended up with a cat who is almost exactly like me and I couldn’t be more lucky. For example, our love language is not physical touch but quality time. He’s sat on top of me approximately two (2) times but will always be within eyesight of me. We’re generally quiet, but not afraid to speak up when we need something. We’re introverted. We love naps. We love bird watching. We also look alike now that I’ve dyed my hair black, so he looks more like my biological son. 

One of my favorite things about Link is that he’s quite intelligent - he taught himself fetch because I was too lazy to run back and forth to get his toys. He has his hairballs in the litter box… how did he learn that? I’m not complaining, I just need to applaud them. He also tells me to what he wants: the faucet, his food, his toy. I appreciate not having to guess, but I swear it’s like he speaks English. 

Another special thing about my boy is that he has a congenital heart defect. I took him to the vet very soon after he came home and was immediately told that he had a grade 5 murmur. When I tell you I cried all day, I mean I cried all day. I was convinced he was dying when I literally JUST got him. The next step was taking him to get an echocardiogram which is how I learned that he was okay, just born different! Because of this, he gets tired relatively quickly and apparently metabolizes medications differently. I found that out the hard way after he was “sedated” a few different times and always came back acting as if he had been given ten shots of espresso. 

All of this is to say that our paths crossing feels fated. Link taught me responsibility. He taught me patience. He taught me about unconditional love. He brought light when things were dark. 

In honor of saving animals like Link, I’ve compiled quotes from my friends and family about their favorite things about Link:

“I love when he walks in the room and just lays on the floor instead of coming to you. He makes you go to him. He’s also got a good voice. Not too harsh. I also like when I mistake him for a slipper or vice versa in the middle of the night.” -Lindsay

“My favorite thing is how curious and friendly Link is.” -My mom 

"I love the expression he makes when he turns his head up and you can see his little fangs still out. I love how no matter how nonchalant he tries to be 90% of the time he’s watching the people in the room." -East

"He is simultaneously the most photogenic and the most unphotogenic cat I've ever met." -me

I’m raising money for pets like Link and organizations like Animal Friends Alliance that help animals find their furr-ever homes. Please consider helping out however you can!