Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of Della and I finding five newborn kittens (including Snowapple here) in our yard. In the twelve months that followed, we’d find about twenty more because we were living on the mouth of a kitten portal. When we moved from the Bay Area to the desert, the portal followed us and cats continued to happen. It's still happening to us in New England. We have consistently lived with double digit cats since 2016.
I wrote about it last year here on cohost and mentioned how finding the cats truly altered the course of our lives and the more I think about it that's such a fucking understatement.
For example, I can draw a direct line between my 2018 cat twitter thread to becoming close friends (she's the cat's godmother) with the former mayor of a major US city. Our move to the desert may not have happened had we not needed larger space for less money to accommodate cattery. Our move to New England likely might not have happened as well, but most importantly - if it had (without cats), it wouldn't have been a 'cross-country in a rented RV' adventure due to the sheer number of animals. Hell, I've worked on several musical projects and creative things with people I likely wouldn't have met had I not been 'the person with all the cats'.
I'm not gonna be all "I didn't rescue them, they rescued me" but like god damn- I'm looking back at photos from February or early March of 2016 and thinking 'the person in these pictures has no fucking clue what's about to happen' in the best way possible.
Anyway. You should adopt a cat if your living or health or financial situation allows for it. And if possible, help spay or neuter outdoor cats in your area because one unfixed ladycat can become a kitten factory so quickly. Many cities have free or low-cost TNR programs as well.
If you've read this far you deserve another kitten photo. Here's baby Possum. Happy belated Kitten Portal day to all whom celebrate.
