The Cats Who Run This Household

Every man has his teachers. Mine happen to have whiskers, attitude, and a firm belief that 4 a.m. is the perfect time for life reflection. Holly and Ivy aren’t just pets, they’re part of the story of how my life has rebuilt itself in ways I never could have planned.

Holly – The Original Survivor, The One-Brain-Cell Queen

Holly came into my life through a friend of my former girlfriend, back in a chapter where very little felt stable. She arrived with the name Hope, but since we already had a cat named Buddy, I turned to Facebook for help and Holly won by a landslide. It suits her. She’s elegant, stubborn, mysteriously aloof, and capable of giving side-eye that could level a grown man.

This cat has survived everything: relationships that ended, the woman who cleaned me out, tenants, roommates, and the general chaos of my life. Through all of that, she stayed steady, showing up with her tiny chirps and unimpressed glances.

Holly was always meant to be Megan’s cat one day, and when Meg moved in, she made it official complete with a fake adoption certificate that remains a household treasure. So while Holly technically came in with me, she chose Megan as her primary human long ago. I’m simply the guy who pays the rent and serves as backup cuddler when her favourite roommate isn’t available.

Ivy – Godiva, The Shy Girl Who Learned to Love Loudly

Ivy (formally Godiva) is, on paper, Megan’s cat, but don’t tell her that. Ivy is a lovely black DSH with a white spot on her chest. She’s slightly smaller than Holly, I think she has a bit of Munchkin in her. When Megan rescued Ivy, she came from a hoarding situation and had every reason to distrust the world. She was terrified of men in particular. For a long time she would vanish the moment I entered a room.

And then slowly, gently, in that way animals know how to take their time, she started to trust me. First with cautious glances. Then with tiny steps into shared spaces. Eventually with full-on flops beside me on the couch.

Today Ivy is one of the most affectionate cats I’ve ever known. My Scots mom had a term for it, “sookmatoorie.” Somewhere along the way, the cat distribution system did what it does and she enrolled me as her human. Watching her transformation has been a privilege. The scared little shadow became a soft, round, loving companion who now insists on supervising everything from preparing her food to sitting here writing this.

If you spend enough time with animals, they remind you of the simple truths: trust takes time, healing isn’t linear, and love shows up in small everyday moments. Holly and Ivy are a piece of that truth in my home, and I’m lucky to share my life with them.