The man who loves my cat
a nice story about the Internet
Here is a nice story about a nice man being nice on the Internet. In 2018, I wrote a Reductress article about my cat being so cute, because she is, and I even sent the editors a picture of my cat to use in the article, because I believe her cuteness deserves to be shared with the world. Here’s the article.
In the article, I mentioned that anyone who wanted to witness her historic cuteness could contact me by phone or email.
And one man did! He found my email (not creepy; my email is very easy to find) and politely requested pictures. Not just politely — he used a journalism voice. Frankly, it was delightful.
FOIA standing for Feline Of Incredible Adorableness? I was charmed! I sent along some photos. But he was not sated. Six months later, an equally polite and humble plea for pictures of my cat hit my inbox. She’s just that cute of a cat.
For the record, this is how all cat owners should be spoken to. As if they are in possession of rare, perhaps mystical creatures. (Because we are.)
When he reached out again, the man had something to offer in return. Not only did he enumerate my cat’s many fine picture-worthy qualities, he also gave me pictures of his friend’s kittens.
This was in December 2019, and all of our communication thus far had been on the same email thread. I didn’t hear from the man for a year after this, until December 2020, when a new email thread began. And oh, how it began!
He wrote a poem about my cat. Specifically, a sonnet in iambic pentameter.
(If at this point you are wondering, “is this weird?” that’s a fair question. But the answer is: no, it’s cute.) I supplied a handful of cat pictures in return, and then that was the end of it.
Until.
February of this year, after four years of silence, he reached out with the best news ever: homeboy got his own cats. He fostered five kittens (Itty, Bitty, Nitty, Gritty, and Kitty) and kept two (Nitty and Gritty; names since changed). He describes them as “the two best cats in existence.” I believe him.
We emailed a bit about our cats, mostly his, and I expect I’ll hear from him again some time between six months and ten years from now. And it’s so nice!
Since your appetites have obviously been whetted, a pic of my cat:
Meow meow meow,
Lizzie