His small quirks and calm nature made Nicola Griggs and her husband fall instantly in love with their rehomed cat Pierre.
A cat was always the companion of choice for the duo, but especially a moggy in need of a new home, “because so many are already out there looking for a second chance”, says Nicola, who had never owned a furry friend until Pierre purred his way into their quiet London lives.
“We knew we wanted a cat,” she says. “My husband had them growing up and we always knew we’d adopt because a kitten can require more time and training than an adult cat. But it’s also because adoption just feels like the best way.”
A Cats Protection kennel was close to home, so Nicola and her husband began scouring the adoption centre’s website to see which lucky feline would eventually win their hearts. “We kept checking the website and Pierre stood out. He sounded nice,” explains Nicola. “We went in to meet him and collected him a few days later.”
Having never had a cat or an adopted pet of her own, Nicola freely admits she had some reservations about rehoming an animal. “I was concerned they would be older, or older with health problems,” she explains. “But Pierre is between age one and two and is a lot younger than I thought a cat from a shelter would be.”
Many cats in the shelter they looked in had been given up by their previous owners due to a change in circumstances, she says. “When we went to the shelter, there were quite a lot of cats that I would consider as normal. Maybe some had behavioural issues, but there was a range of personalities that would suit most people.”
The adoption process was smooth and simple and since bringing him home, the married couple have had few, “if any”, challenges with Pierre. “He’s an easy cat. I was concerned we’d maybe have issues with toilet training, but he knew where to go. He’s also quite independent and can be left to his own devices if we need to go out for a few hours.”
image011.jpgBut it’s the time spent with Pierre at home that Nicola and her husband relish the most. Along with feeling the ethical benefits of giving a cat a second chance, Nicola and Pierre very quickly fell into a comfortable, affectionate relationship.
“Quite early on we got into a routine of us going to bed and him sitting on me for cuddles. That’s my favourite time of the day now and it makes me feel special because he doesn’t do that for other people. Also, when I get home, he wants attention which is really nice too.
“There have been times when I’m down or have had a bad day and Pierre will come and be nice in those moments – I think he knows,” she says.
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But then it’s also those other moments Nicola is grateful to Pierre for, such as during the lockdowns when “we’d have nothing to talk about if Pierre wasn’t there”. Also laughing at his strange quirks, particularly how tidy he is; the fact Pierre will only walk around rooms and the garden in an anti-clockwise direction; as well as his ability to reach up to take food from peoples’ hands.
Surely all of this love and eccentricity displayed by Pierre is deserving of a reward or two? Quite so, as Nicola explains: “My husband bought him a real sheepskin rug to sit on, which he likes to clean, and this keeps him entertained. I’d also love to buy him a chaise longue because I like the idea of Pierre lounging on one.”
image013.jpgWith all that Pierre has already given to his new home, of course Nicola would encourage others to adopt. But she does offer some words of advice to would-be adoptive pet owners. “Figure out what you want, there’s nothing to be ashamed of in knowing you’re looking for something specific,” she says. “Then understand everything you will have to do for a cat and how. Finally, understand your surroundings and how a cat might affect neighbours, for example.”
Aside from advising others consider her wise words before rehoming an animal, Nicola of course encourages others to adopt a cat of their own just like Pierre.
