This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog!

In 2018, we lost our beloved Siamese, Freddy, to congestive heart failure. My wife, Diane, was devastated because she and Freddy had been deeply bonded. She spent a lot of time looking online at Siamese cats available for adoption until she found a Siamese mix at a shelter in the mountains of Virginia, a few hours away from us.

Amy Baggott

She was convinced Freddy was guiding us to him, so we got in the car and drove out to meet him. The shelter had him in a cage with a “hide me” box because he was feral and very shy. They did not want to open the cage, but Diane persuaded them to let her play with him using his toy mouse. Before long, he had won her heart, and he seemed to be warming up to her. She looked up at me and said, “Go do the paperwork.”

Soon enough, we had him in a carrier and were driving home, with me at the wheel and Diane sitting in the back beside him. He spent most of the trip crouched in the bottom of the carrier, making little unhappy moans. As we got closer to Fairfax County, I tuned in my favorite classic rock station, and “Rock You Like a Hurricane” came on. Diane burst out laughing. At the first sound of the song, the little cat sat up and poked his head and front paws out of the top of the carrier. He looked toward the front of the car with wide eyes and perked ears.

Amy Baggott

When we got home, he was still very shy and stayed in the middle room, mostly hiding under a stool we had there. After a few days, Diane came out and told me his name was Oliver. Gradually, he started venturing out and wandering around the apartment, and it became clear that he had “don’t-pet-me” spots, where we were not allowed to touch him, and “pet-me” spots, where he would allow us to pet him.

Amy Baggott

Eventually, he worked his way up to “pet-me-now” spots, where we were required to pet him if he was there. He is now 10 years old and thoroughly spoiled. He loves curling up next to Diane on the couch or on her bed, and he sometimes plays tag with our 5-year-old Norwegian Forest Cat, Leroy. His tail looks like it was truncated at some point before we got him, and he has a slight wobble when he walks, but he still perks up whenever we play classic rock. He is our little rock and roll dude.

SHARE YOUR OWN RESCUE STORY

Story submitted by Amy Baggott.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!