'What made you decide to get a cat?': Joy-filled adoption stories that turned a hesitant pawrent's "maybe" into a purrmanent "yes"

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Feb 5, 2026 11:00 AM EST

How will you know which cat is the "right" one? We have one, simple secret to tell you: they're all the right one. 

"You will never regret being loved by a cat". 

We've said this time and time again that adopting a cat is a big deal, and we won't stop staying it until everyone understands that it's a 15+ year commitment. We would rather you be overprepurred than underprepurred, if you get what we're saying. It's natural to have doubts before adopting your first cat. Like we said, it's a lot to prepurr for! What food is best for them? Where should you put the litter box? Do you need two litter boxes, just in case? Will they be okay at home alone while you're at work? Are they going to destroy your furniture? These are just a few of the many questions potential pawrents ask themselves before signing those adoption papers. Many people stop before ever answering them, leaving their lives unfurtunately feline-free.

The question people probably ask the most is: "How do I know I'm picking the right cat?" Sure, each cat has their own purrsonality, habits, wants, and needs. Some cats are naturally more active, some purrfectly fine with cuddling all day, and others need their purrsonal space. But all cats want to be loved, even if it's only in their own way. All cats want to love as well, some just take a little longer than others to warm up first.

If you're on the fence about adopting, maybe these joy-filled adoption stories of pawrents picking their first cat will help ease your worry. Each one is truly unique, but all of them share the same sentiment: no matter which cat you pick (not even taking into account that the cat might even pick you), you two will live a happy life together. A cat's love can't be replaced by anything else, and once you hold them in your arms and feel them purring, you'll understand purrfectly.

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  • 01

    What actually made you decide that was the right cat?

    Young person enjoys cuddling a fluffy cat in a cozy living room including 'You will never regret being loved by a cat'
    via sviatlanalazarenka

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    MeanSecurity I've always loved cats. When I moved out on my own, I adopted a kitten. I looked at the variety of kittens and I pulled a super cute one out of a kitty condo. She clung to me, so I thought it was love at first sight. Well, she was just a scaredy cat but she was my companion for 15 years!
    via MeanSecurity
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    Cheezburger Image 10602458368
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    When I got my second cat, I picked him out online because I wanted a playful cat. He's been a great companion for 10 years now too! I looked at the other cats but I got him.
    via MeanSecurity

  • Sometimes, the cat picks you, and other times, you just feel it. Maybe you get caught in their sad stare, maybe they meow at you until you take them home, or maybe you want the shy one that doesn't want to play with the others. It's not something you can judge beforehand, you have to feel the energy between you two, and you'll just know.

  • 05
    Last year I was ready to get another cat. I went to the shelter where I used to volunteer and put in an application for the oldest cat there. But then I drove around to a couple other places. I met another cat with a local rescue, and she was very sweet but seemed a little down on her luck. I told myself whichever application got back to me first would be the cat I would get.
    via MeanSecurity
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    Well I ended up with the sweet but down on her luck kitty. I've had her about a year, we think she's about 10 years old now. (She's the one pictured)
    via MeanSecurity
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    runningdinosaur97
    via runningdinosaur97
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    We were guilted into really, she was depressed for 6 months and was due to be put to sleep for her a ressive behaviour towards volunteers. Taken a year but now she's a softy.
    via runningdinosaur97
  • 09
    GasStrange2380 Don't think there is anything practical about owning a cat. It's not practical to be woken up every morning to feed them, not practical to clean their litter, not practical to have them destroy your carpets and sofas but wouldn't have it any other way. Below we have Dexter, my first pet. Got him with the girlfriend. Picked him because well just look at his face
    via GasStrange2380
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    princ
    via GasStrange2380

  • In our times of adoption, we always met the eyes of the cat we were going to adopt and every time, we couldn't look away. Once they caught us, that was it. The papers were always signed, sealed, and delivered within minutes.

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    At four years of age he has taken more naps on my desk that I can count while I work away from home. Great company to be honest.
    via GasStrange2380
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    He can be a bit of dick as he has gotten older and he isn't the nicest to his new sister but still love him to bits. An absolute looney of a cat.
    via GasStrange2380
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    No explanation needed

    Carrit-u-Ternip Adoption Fee: Kitten- Adult- $175 $150 $125 Adult Cat (Adult or Kitten): $25 off total adoption fee Shed and did aut much I let of weight RESIDENT CATS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
    via Carrit-u-Ternip

    Read the folder!

  • 14
    sonchatnior Cats tend to choose their person, so you'll probably just kind of know. But honestly, just go in and meet a bunch of them and see if any just speak to your soul.
    via sonchatnior
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    You might click with a kitten, you might click with an absolute knockout beautiful feline, or maybe that old man with matted fur and moder in his eyes will just become putty in your hands.
    via sonchatnior
  • 16
    I've had a lot of cats throughout my life (used to live in a high dump area and if they showed up in our barn randomly one day, they just became part of the family) and the only cat I didn't like was because he took sides and always tattled on me to my mother. But even he had my respect.
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    And every single one of them has had wildly different personalities and needs and wants, and can take months to fully open up to you. But I can promise, you will never regret being loved by a cat.
    via sonchatnior
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    Francie Nolan1964 I had a Siamese flame point. She talked. Loudly. All of the time. I inherited her when her owner died.
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    At first I hated it. It was constant. Then I grew to love being loudly greeted by her when I got home. I eventually would have whole conversations with her where she would politely wait her turn to respond. I had to put her down a month ago. I miss her so much.
    via Francie_Nolan1964
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    But I got a new kitty. A Siamese of course. I hope that she'll grow up to be a big talker too.
    via Francie_Nolan1964
  • 22
    Soggy-Beach-1495 My wife and daughter were in a pet store looking at cats. They didn't see any they thought were the right fit, so they started walking out. A little orange cat reached out and hooked one of its claws in my daughters sweater. They were stuck for a couple minutes trying to get him out and decided he must really want to come home with them.
    via Soggy-Beach-1495
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    Interestingly, he's been oddly imprinted on her ever since. If she's ever in her room with the door closed, he will sit outside it crying. One time, I knocked on her door, and when she opened it, she jumped back in surprise. I asked her why she would be surprised I was outside the door when I had just knocked on it, and she said she
    via Soggy-Beach-1495
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    thought it was the cat. I said the cat knocks on your door? She said yeah he does it all the time, and sure enough, I've seen him stand outside the door and tap on it with his paw until she opens.
    via Soggy-Beach-1495
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    "I honestly couldn’t resist this face, and he came right up to me"

    Winter_Cricket_2603
    via Winter_Cricket_2603
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    MaybeNotAMillenial I've always wanted a cat but I waited till I had enough money for an emergency surgery fund to get one. I went in without an idea in mind and saw my girl cat hiding in a corner on the bottom left of the room. I almost missed her! | could tell she was scared but wasn't aggressive and when the foster told me she was abandoned by her previous owner on the street I knew I wanted her. She had 5 kittens from her time on the street and they convinced me to take one of them with her t
    via MaybeNotAMillenial
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    Cheezburger Image 10602462464
    via MaybeNotAMillenial

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Joy adoption cat adoption cat rescue pawrents hesitant Cats cute kittens animals
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