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A family with two young kids and four dogs may not sound like the perfect match for a geriatric cat like Dexter, but when mom Jill Williams met the opinionated little tuxedo, she knew he was special.
Kitten season. Jill, who works for Best Friends Animal Society, knew the shelter needed homes — even temporary ones — for cats. Deluged with kittens, the non-profit needed to make space.
Jill walked into the cat room, not to a pile of excited kittens, but to the loud and cantankerous meowing of a scraggly old cat weaving between her legs and demanding attention. Turns out Dexter, a rescue from a hoarding situation, didn’t get along with other cats and only got short turns in the cat sanctuary playroom.
Taking a chance. Jill knew bringing antisocial Dexter home would relieve a lot of pressure on the cat sanctuary. And while her kiddos might be a little less excited for an elderly cat companion, she thought Dexter’s calm adult energy would be a better fit in her home of rescue dogs. And in any case, she had a quiet room all prepared for a cat and nothing to lose.
Homecoming. Jill brought Dexter home to meet the family, who fell so deeply in love, especially her youngest son. Jill writes, “JJ didn’t see a 20-year-old cat with falling out fur and a crooked smile. He saw a best friend, a fuzzy soulmate.”
From under the door, Dexter and the dogs got to know each other’s smells and sounds, and after a few days, Jill tried a baby gate. Dexter and Jill’s 140-pound malamute Flora immediately fell in love. And like that, Dexter was king of the house.
For two years, Dexter ruled the roost. And instead of lamenting their short time together, Jill is overwhelmed at a depth of the connection her family shared with this special cat. “Dexter is a reminder of why every single pet who is currently homeless in a shelter deserves a chance to have a warm bed and family, no matter how long that may be.”
You can read more about Dexter’s life here on Jill’s blog. We love your story.
