Jude arrived in foster care needing a place to recover after being injured in a suspected car accident. His bones needed time to heal, but his foster-turned-adopter knew right away: it was love at first sight! She immediately renamed Jude “Catcow,” and made the changes necessary to ensure this planned short-term foster cat could become a forever member of the family. Hearing Catcow’s caretaker talk about his many fine qualities, it’s no wonder this gentle boy quickly became her “heart outside of her body.”
Here’s Catcow’s story, in his adopter’s own words:
I fostered Jude when my allergic-to-cats boyfriend got a summer fellowship in Washington, D.C. I knew I'd be lonely, and it seemed like the perfect short-term commitment; I definitely wasn't going to get attached to my temporary kitty.
Jude came to me with a broken pelvis and tapeworms, but he was SO sweet, brave, and cuddly. He charmed all of my friends who came to visit him. He never let on how much pain he must have been in. After a few months, someone expressed interest in adopting Jude. Naturally, I panic-called my boyfriend and told him that I was so sorry, but I had to keep this 16-pound lump in our lives.
Eight months and one HEPA air purifier later, we're all a happy little family living under one roof! Jude now goes by Catcow (who am I kidding, I renamed him the second he emerged from his carrier back in June). Catcow is still a cuddly baby and makes sure to get at least 16 hours of beauty rest every day, but he's also become MUCH more playful as he's healed up. Our sweet feline bovine is a master rainbow wand hunter, and he loves showing off how zoomzoomzoom FAST he can be at 5am.
We recently moved to a house with a fireplace, and Catcow wasted no time in exploring it. He gave himself some new spots, and left little black sooty paw marks on the floor; they're the most precious thing ever, and I've forbidden my boyfriend from cleaning them up. We also recently adopted a pitbull/cattle dog mix (we do love a bovine theme in this house). Catcow is absolutely disgusted by this dog, can't believe she lives in his house, and has no fear of her.
I have nothing but admiration for Catcow, his bravery, his opinions, and his willingness to stand his ground.
Catcow came to me when I needed a little support buddy, but he really made our house a home. It's been so fun watching my boyfriend, who's never had any extended interaction with a cat, fall in love with Catcow. For every couch he rips up and email he ruins by walking across the keyboard, Catcow remains our fur baby and #1 source of entertainment, humor, and love (especially during shelter in place). And his precious little black nose makes up for the truly insane amount of white fur he sheds on our bed. Catcow is my best friend.
Photography and video by David Yeung
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