Sara Ahlgrim had never had a cat before she met B, a stray cat who adopted her through the ‘cat distribution system.’ This is when a cat finds you and you just have to take them in!
B went from sleeping on Sara’s patio and fearing humans to going in and out of her house as he pleases and loving attention! Now, he joins her in her daily activities, and she can’t imagine life without him.
A hesitant beginning
Like many stray cats, B started out anxious and wary of people. Sara fed him and even put out a box for him to sleep in on her back deck, but B refused to make eye contact or allow her to approach him.
It took six months for him to see that she wasn’t a threat. But once he did, his bossy, adventurous, and charming personality was able to shine through.
Sara was also a bit wary of owning a cat, since she’s slightly allergic and doesn’t have prior experience with them. But, she says that B “came into her life by his own choice,” and that she does consider him her cat.
A new daily routine
Now, Sara caters to B’s every whim, and he’s happy to be in charge.
B comes and goes from Sara’s house as he pleases, demanding to be let in each morning and back out each night. They’ve established a routine together, starting with the moment she wakes up and opens her curtains and he paws at the door until he’s allowed inside. (The only exception is if he’s too comfy inside of his heated cat house. What a spoiled cat!)
He’s involved in Sara and her dog’s day to day activities, from trailing after them on walks to joining her while she works in the garage. He’s also silly, loves to play, and enjoys chewing on things like shoe strings and backpack straps.
In the evenings, he has dedicated ‘couch time’ when he insists on cuddles. Then, he leaves before Sara goes to bed.
A perfect pair
While many stray cats are insecure about food and can’t get enough of it, B isn’t very food motivated. According to Sara, he’d much prefer her attention, cuddles, and pets. Luckily, he’s found a mom who is happy to give him cuddles and include him in her daily activities.
Not much is known about B’s history. Sara found him sleeping on her back deck, and has seen other black cats in the area. He was very young when they met, so he may have been part of a litter.
He does have a clipped ear, meaning that he went through a TNR program before they met. TNR stands for “trap, neuter, return,” which is helpful for community cats as it stops their population from getting out of hand. Many TNR groups provide continued support for the cats as well, such as providing them with food, shelter, and veterinary care.
What Sara does know is that she found something special when she met B. Previously a dog person, she now can’t choose between cats or dogs and loves them for their unique differences. The best part of her morning is seeing B waiting outside for her on the back deck, as excited to see her as she is to see him!
You can learn more about Sara and B on her Instagram.