The Jumping Kitty

Today, I walked into the free-roaming cat rooms at the shelter, fully prepared for the usual routine: tidying up, refilling food bowls, and giving a few head scratches to our feline residents as they lounged around. Little did I know that today, a new cat named Lėja would be making herself unforgettable...

As I was sweeping up near one of the cat shelves, out of nowhere, Lėja made her move. With a sudden leap from the floor, she landed right on my shoulder! I froze, surprised, but she nestled in as if she'd done this a thousand times before. Every time I tried to continue sweeping, she’d cling on tighter, refusing to budge. It was like she'd decided that my shoulder was her new favorite perch, and nothing could convince her otherwise.

A photo of the cat Lėja on my shoulder

In that moment, I couldn’t help but smile. There’s a quiet magic in the cat rooms—those unexpected little connections that remind me why I’m here. This isn’t just about keeping the rooms clean or feeding the animals; it’s about the comfort we’re able to give to animals like Lėja, who are looking for warmth, stability, and maybe a shoulder to cling to. Moments like these, when a cat just decides you’re the one, make all the work worthwhile.