Moving out of my dorm and truly living like an “adult” for the first time was something I had always been excited about. To me, it felt like the first time I truly was going to feel like a grown-up, the start to my adult life. I was aware of the fact that moving into a house with my friends where I would need to grocery shop, pay my rent and bills and take care of myself was going to be a huge responsibility. So, when my friend called and said she had found a kitten that needed a home, I was a little hesitant.
I have always been a cat enthusiast. I grew up with both cats and dogs, but I have always been drawn to my cats. There is something about a cat curling up next to you and sleeping the entire day that leaves you feeling so loved. I had always talked about getting a cat when I moved out of my dorm, so it wasn’t to anyone’s surprise that I was the first person people asked when they found this kitten. What I wasn’t expecting was that I would receive this call the very same day I was moving down to Richmond permanently. After thinking about it for a little while, I thought, “Why not?” So I drove to Harrisonburg the day after moving into my first ever “adult” house and picked up a tiny new addition to my life. And that is the villain origin story of my cat, Gatsby.
Gatsby has been in my life for almost two years now, and it’s definitely kept me on my toes. He is an orange tabby cat and has the personality of a two-year-old. He is frisky and funny and makes sure my days are never boring. The very first lesson I learned from him was how expensive it is to own an animal. From vet visits, shots, neutering, food and toys, it isn’t cheap. He’s also taught me that it’s nice to have a friend.
People hate on cats for being mean or antisocial, but when a cat loves you, it’s the biggest form of flattery. When I feel lonely, he’s always there to keep me company and sit with me during days I have no plans at all. He also keeps me in a routine. Every morning I wake up at the same time to feed him, and I have to clean his litter box, which usually leads to me cleaning up my spaces as well. I like to think we hold each other accountable.
Having a cat has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in college. Gatsby and I are going to be together until the very end. He has taught me the ins and outs of caring for another living being and, while doing that, has taught me how to care for myself more. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think we need to rethink calling dogs “man’s best friend.”