Bri Berglund, Harlem & Leo
Left to right: Harlem, Bri, Leo
I have always been a cat lover, raised with cats and been around cats my entire life in one way or another. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I really found my cat niche; senior cats. They make my heart melt and burst more than any other cats. It’s a love and a yearning to help that I have never felt before. When I go to The Humane Society and see their old tired faces and signs that say their owner died or had to give them up I just can’t take it. My heart aches for these scared old cats. The thought that I can take one or two of these cats home and make them comfortable and care for them in their last year(s) just brings me so much joy and even purpose to my life. I am an extremely introverted person that has struggled with social anxiety and depression since I was a teenager and I’ve found that old cats’ simple needs and calm demeanor soothe my soul and fill my heart up more than I can explain.
Currently, I have Harlem who is around 12 years old and Leo who is around 17 years old. I had been looking for an old, bonded pair for a few months when, after an emotionally and mentally challenging thanksgiving visit with my family, I decided that it was time; I needed a cat and there was a cat in need. The night I flew home back to Portland I laid in my bed and scrolled through petfinder.com. There she was, beautiful and oh so fluffy and she was in need of a home because her only owner had died.
The next morning I drove to The Humane Society and picked her up. She’s a funny cat and a big cat! Definitely the largest cat I’ve ever owned. When I only had her, I was able to have her on a diet and she lost some weight and became noticeably more active. She’s a very content cat who is obsessed with all food. My food, your food, her food. I even witnessed her trying to eat corn based litter. Eeeek! I immediately did away with that litter. She follows me around the house, does not allow any door to be closed—even when she’s asleep in another room, if she hears a door shut she is frantically scratching at the door. She always sits next to me when I’m on the toilet and typically that is when she shows me the most affection. When I go to bed she always hops up and lays right next to me—but never on me—for about 5 to 10 minutes max and then hops down and sleeps on the couch.
After a year and a half of just us, I felt I was ready for my second addition. My landlord, who is also one of my best friends, was not fond of this idea. Even though he is completely a cat guy and loves Harlem and cares for her whenever I am gone. I decided he would most likely get over it once he met the new cat, so I went about my cat searching without really letting him in on it. When I saw 15 year old Leo online he looked so sad and scared and he looked so much like a senior cat I had previously whose name was Cleo. I was immediately interested in meeting him.
A few days later I went to The Humane Society to see him in person. I was not prepared for how bad of shape he was in. He was hiding, shaking, bony and just looking completely terrified, like he probably hadn’t come out of his little box he was hiding in his entire stay at The Humane Society. His paperwork said he was given up because his owner had terminal cancer and was moving into a care facility. I couldn’t imagine having to give my cat up because I was dying. I asked to see him and the lady that worked there tried to talk me out of even meeting him but I was adamant. I knew that because Harlem and I lived alone and I rarely had guests or friends over, it would be the perfect place for him to get comfortable and start feeling safe. I read what his previous owner wrote about him and how he hadn’t eaten since arriving at The Humane Society and I just knew he needed a calm, quiet home if he was going to recover. I had to give this scared ragged looking cat a chance to feel safe again.
I took him home that day and while the first few weeks had me questioning my own choice, once he felt safe and once I started learning more about him we were immediately bonded and we both shower each other with so much affection. He is the cuddliest cat I’ve ever had. At night, he either sleeps on my chest or lays against me letting me full-on spoon him. It’s so clear just how much he trusts me and is grateful for me. I feel more connected and bonded to him than any other cat I’ve ever known. He’s about 17 now and he’s on daily meds for his arthritis pain. I was also able to get in contact with his previous owner to share with them pictures and stories about how Leo is doing and that warmed both of our hearts.
Bri Berglund is a professional career nanny who is also in school part-time and has a passion for mountains, hiking, solo backpacking, rock climbing and of course cats (especially senior cats!).