Behind every cat story is a cat purrson: Meet Ayala and Cassie of I Can Has Cheezburger

Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor

Sep 30, 2026 6:15 PM EDT

I never imagined the cat I adopted as a broke student in my mid-20s would become my daughter's childhood cat, but here we are.

I knew I wanted to adopt a cat, but Cassie dropping into my life still feels like chance. She wasn't named yet, and had a very different life. She was born to a stray cat on my university's dorm premises. She was the tiniest and sickliest of the litter, making mama abandon her. A classmate of mine followed her closely, even tried to reintroduce her to mama, but to no avail. The rejection was harsh, and there was no time - she needed help. My classmate took her in, despite the dorm's strict no-pet policy, and posted on Facebook that she needed to have this tiny kitten adopted ASAP.

And me? I was looking for a cat. I called her up, she invited me to meet her. When I entered the dorm flat, I was greeted by the tiniest dust puffball - the kitten was so small, barely a month old, she could fit in my palm. And she was still very sick. Most of her fur was gone because of a skin condition, and she was thin, despite having a round worm-belly, and her eyes had all problems possible. But she ran to me, snuggled inside my hands, searching for warmth. As if saying, "I still have life in me, I want to make it."

A few days later I could finally adopt her for good. I named her Cassie, after the absolute fierce warrior character I love - Cassandra Pentaghast from Dragon Age. I hoped her holy fighter spirit would stick to my little Cassie. Months of vet visits and intensive care finally made her healthy, and she grew the sleekest, shiniest black fur coat I've ever seen. Having black hair is where the similarities to the original Cassandra end. My Cassie might be named after a mighty fantasy holy warrior, but she's actually the princessiest princess that has ever princessed.

She's 7 now. I can't believe I'm a cat mom for 7 whole years. And… I'm also a human mom for 1 year. I can't believe I'm raising a cat and a human! That's insane. But more on that down below.

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This is Cassie as a tiny kitten, after her fur started to grow back and I could let her roam the apartment. My roommate had a cat and they needed to stay separated for a time, but this was taken after.
01
My student room window and how tiny she was makes me nostalgic

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All of our first months together were spent getting to know each other. I found out she likes to sleep like a long sausage, and that she's curious enough about the outside to be leash-trained!
02
Cassie's a back sleeper

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03
Fearless, furrbulous, curious

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Cassie likes the outside so much, that she enjoys it from the inside as well. Many flowers I tried to grow didn't make it because Cassie just loves lying in the soil and sun so much.
04
Getting toasted, a burnt loaf of bread

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I also soon realized that if I plop a bag anywhere - Cassie will find her way onto it. She's the meowster of the fits and sits, and not just in cardboard boxes.
05
Demonstrating her skill

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When I moved in with my wife, then girlfriend, I was worried about whether Cassie would accept her. But Cassie was used to the company of a student flat-share, and they both bonded very quickly. She's now her mom just like I am.
06
First hugs between my wife-to-be and Cassie in our old apartment

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Cassie was always an energetic kitten, but she kept that youthful energy in her adulthood, making her such a wonderfully weird cat.
07
Whatever she was doing here with her favorite fish toy

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08
I swear she was purring in this picture

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09
Just... cat.

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10
The weirdness never stops, she's such a creature

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But she's not just a little weirdo - Cassie is also a legitimately beautiful cat. I might be a bit biased, I know, but look at her and be honest - isn't she just pretty?
11
Meowdeling for the camera

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12
Showing her cute white belly spots

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Since I have been raising Cassie for 7 years now, it means we have gotten to experience so much together. We moved apartments a few times, we met people (and sometimes their dogs!), we explored the outdoors, and we constantly enjoy each other's company.
13
Cassie hearing her first thunderstorm and not being the bravest

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14
She's not impressed with my art skills

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But with all the experiences spent together, the absolute best one was cooking more than a year ago…
15
Cassie sitting on my wife... and her future sister

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16
All things we bought for the baby were claimed by Cassie

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17
Our first full family picture

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18
About a year ago, and about now

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19
Cassie's face in the last picture says a lot

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20
She tried to get Cassie's attention, she let her smell a piece of chicken... and ate it herself.

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21
Cassie allows contact through the fence

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There will come a time when my daughter is going to be the best friend of Cassie. She's still too young to understand how to approach her gently enough for Cassie to allow her full access, but Cassie is being the best. She never scratches, never hisses, never shows aggression. It's true in general, but especially with my daughter. Cassie is a gentle soul, and it's okay that she's not 100% on board with being manhandled by a baby, obviously. But I know there will come a time when they sleep in bed together, when my daughter will give her treats, and they'll be BFFs. I can't wait for that day to come.
22
I love my Cassie

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