A guest post shared with Dog with Blog by Luna, written up by Estefany, Dog with Blog’s intern.
Luna had wanted a pet since she was a little girl. For as long as she could remember, she dreamed of having an animal of her own and, when the opportunity finally came, she knew she wanted to adopt.
But Luna did not know that the cat who would eventually become part of her family had already been waiting for someone to choose her.
Circe’s story began when a young cat suddenly appeared at the home of someone who had never planned on adopting an animal. She had come from the streets, was less than a year old, and seemed to need help. Even though this person had not been looking for a pet, they decided to take her in and care for her.
Then they discovered something unexpected.
She was pregnant.
The cat eventually gave birth to a litter of kittens, and the person who had taken her in began finding homes for the babies. One by one, the kittens were adopted and started their new lives.
The Kitten Left Behind
Except for Circe.
As the days passed, Circe became the one kitten who was still waiting.
She was around one year old, an age that some people already considered “too old” compared to a tiny kitten. And there was another thing working against her. Circe was black, and some people still believe the old superstition that black cats bring bad luck.
So while other kittens found homes, Circe remained behind.
Until one day, Luna’s boyfriend met the person who was trying to find Circe a family. He told Luna about her, and Luna did not need time to think about it.
She said yes.
From the moment Circe arrived, it was clear that she had been through a lot. She was extremely anxious and had difficulty feeling safe in her new surroundings. At times, her anxiety became so intense that she would pull out her own hair.
Luna could have been discouraged by how difficult the adjustment was.
Instead, she gave Circe something she desperately needed: time.
Little by little, things began to change.
Circe started feeling safer in her new home. She became more comfortable around Luna and slowly began to let her guard down. Then came the small moments that meant everything.
Circe started sleeping in the same room as Luna.
She began allowing Luna to pet her.
She started trusting her.
For someone who had once been so anxious, these might seem like ordinary things. But for Luna, they were signs of something much bigger. Circe was finally learning that she was home.
And while Luna was helping Circe feel safe, Circe was changing Luna’s life too.
Luna has shared that having Circe helped her through a difficult period with depression. Taking care of her gave Luna a sense of purpose and a routine to follow. There was someone waiting for her, someone who depended on her, and that encouraged Luna to be more present in her everyday life.
Their relationship has grown through patience and trust. Luna did not expect Circe to become comfortable overnight, and she learned to appreciate every little step forward.
Today, Circe still has her own personality and her own boundaries, but she is no longer the frightened cat who first walked through Luna’s door. She sleeps peacefully in the same room as Luna and allows her to show her affection.
And perhaps the most beautiful part of their story is that Luna knows Circe chose to trust her.
That trust was earned slowly, one day at a time.
A Second Chance, Chosen
Luna hopes Circe’s story can change the way people think about adoption. She wants people to remember that animals do not stop deserving love because they are no longer tiny kittens. Being around one year old does not make a cat less worthy of a family. And being black does not make a cat unlucky.
Sometimes, the animals who are overlooked simply need someone willing to look a little closer.
Circe was the kitten who was left behind when everyone else found a home.
Luna chose her anyway.
And in giving Circe a second chance, Luna found something she had been looking for since she was a little girl: not just a pet, but a companion who would become an important part of her life.
Sometimes, adoption is not about finding the perfect animal.
It is about giving the animal who has been waiting the chance to show you just how special they are.
If Circe’s “too old, wrong color” story sounds familiar, it’s not a coincidence: shelters report black cats and older cats both tend to wait longest for a home. We wrote about the black-cat half of that bias in 20 Real Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat.
Estefany, who brought us Circe’s story, has a rescue story of her own. Meet her dog Alaia on our internship page.
Circe isn’t the only reader story on our site. Read how ET found his home, or browse dogs and cats waiting for a home right now.