Annalisa recalls her first meeting with Elisa and how they built their bond:
“I remember my first meeting with Elisa like it was yesterday. I had been wavering for months as to whether I was ready to adopt my first pet. In late August 2015, I stepped foot into CARA and met Elisa (then known as MM) for the first time. People say you’ll just know when you’ve found the right one and it was like that for me. In a room full of 30+ cats, Elly was the one who kept drawing my attention. She was neither the prettiest nor the most flamboyant cat in the room. Her quiet and affectionate nature was what drew me in that day. Although I did not make my decision when I left CARA that day, I knew deep down that there was going to be no other cat for me.
“In mid September, I finally received the okay to take her home from CARA. What followed next were 2 stressful weeks for me as we both adjusted to each other. Upon letting Elly out of her cat carrier, she immediately ran off to hide. She wouldn’t stop meowing the whole time and only quieted down when she would fall asleep. She was terrified of all the new people and refused to even let us go near her.
“All the stress and heartache were worth it though when she finally began to come out on her own. I wanted to cry with relief the first time she nudged me so I would pet her. Soon after she began to follow me around the house. It is in those moments that I realize why I decided to adopt her. She’s the friend who will always be there for me no matter what. Whether I’m happy or I’m sad, she’ll be there for me regardless. After a day at work, I always look for her first and she always comes up to greet me. She makes all the stress of the day go away.
“Of course not everything with her is sunshine and rainbows. Elly thinks the proper way to wake me up every morning is either by digging her claws into my leg or swatting my face with her paw. She also likes to climb my shelves and knocks books off them while she’s at it. These are small prices to pay for all the joy she has brought into the lives of my family and I. 6 months on and I do not regret a single day with her.”
Words and images by Annalisa Pua.
About the contributor: Annalisa is …