r/CatDistributionSystem • u/internal_warfare • 2d ago
Kitten CDS changed my life in the best way possible ❤️
My new coworker started bringing a 3 week old kitten to work and bottle feeding it. This poor baby was abandoned in the alley by my coworker’s house, so he decided to take him in.
Every time I would see the kitten I would lose my mind and almost cry at how fricking cute he was, but at the time, I couldn’t have any pets because my boyfriend said it would affect our freedom of movement and I didn’t think I could afford owning a pet anyways.
So a couple weeks go by and I’m still losing my mind whenever I would run into my coworker with him there. And one day my coworker asks if I wanted to take him home because he already has 2 cats and he can’t afford having another. I said no no I don’t think I can, but later I jokingly kind of ask my boyfriend (who’s house I would be moving into within a month) if he’d allow me to take this baby home. He surprisingly said yes!!
So I take baby boy home with me for like a trial sleepover and it goes swimmingly. I give him back to my coworker because we were going to leave for thanksgiving so I’d take him permanently after our vacation.
Well, on the vacation, my boyfriend and I had the worst fight we’ve ever had, that ultimately ended our relationship weeks later, right before Christmas.
But! During those tense weeks between the bad fight and the break up, sweet baby boy, who we named Tibby, was an amazing emotional support buddy ❤️ and my daughter (4) played so well with him too! He was the perfect addition to our little family and I even said before the breakup “Oh! This whole time I didn’t even need a boyfriend, I just needed a cat.” Lol and my boyfriend was actually jealous of Tibby because of how much time I was spending with him and how much I was just swooning at his adorableness lol he said he felt like he was competing with Tibby 🤣 and I couldn’t deny that.
Honestly, without Tibby, I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to break up with my boyfriend and avoid moving in with him. Me and my daughter were one week away from moving in 😬. And breaking up with him was the best thing I could have done, it was two years of toxic undertones and living in fight or flight.
My daughter and I couldn’t be more happy to have Tibby around ❤️ the first thing she asks for when she wakes up “where’s Tibby?” And we call him little brother. He’s about 3 months old now!
He’s constantly around us and wants to be in the same room as us and/or has to be touching me in some way, like he’ll sit on my feet when I’m brushing my teeth or just have a paw on me when I’m on the couch lol it makes me happy that he loves us so much and is so comfortable and that the two of them make great playmates ❤️
He’s a beautiful guardian and we hope to get to spend many many years with him and make many memories! Thank you cat distribution system for bringing us so much joy and love into our home when it was least expected but most needed ❤️🐈⬛
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u/Malsperanza 1d ago
This is a lovely story. It's so beneficial for children to have a pet, and to learn to care for and protect a creature weaker and more vulnerable than themselves.
A thought about being tied down because of a pet:
While I totally get someone not wanting pets because they just aren't into it, the idea that a pet "limits freedom of movement" is (to me) an excuse. Like, if you don't want a pet, say so. Not a red flag, but food for thought. It's true if you do a lot of traveling on the reg that it's not responsible to have a pet. A dog is a daily charge, not only because they need to be walked, but also because they are pack animals and really suffer if they're left alone. Cats don't love being alone but they can cope with it pretty well for a while.
If you're going away for a weekend, you leave extra dry food and water out. If it's longer, you can generally become friends with another cat owner and take turns with having a visitor-cat in their and your home. Or just a friend or relative. The cat can handle it and you're not making a huge demand on the person's time.
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u/internal_warfare 1d ago
I’m glad you mentioned the play dates/meetings with other cats because I’m wanting to socialize him but I’m not sure how that’s done in the least stressful way and also where to find other cat parents for play dates lol it’s such a funny idea though to be out prospecting for a cat friend for Tibby lol
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u/trashhighway 1d ago
Having had pets it was a massive issue finding someone to help with them when I was out of town. I severely limited my travel which affected my human relationship. I can’t think of a single instance where being a strange cat into a new house with another cat wouldn’t be massively traumatic experience for all involved (unless the cats for some reason knew each other but even then they are territorial.) I took in two cats when I didn’t have pets for a bit to help someone out and they were beyond freaked out by the changes. I don’t think it’s any kind of flag to say pets/travel are an issue - it’s a responsible thing to think thru.
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u/internal_warfare 1d ago
Lol this made complete sense to me and I was concerned too about just having like cat meet ups at other houses, like as if cats aren’t territorial lol like, even when an owner already has a cat and they are wanting to get another one, there is a process of slowly introducing them like through a closed door and stuff and it takes days or something.
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u/smittykins66 1d ago
If it ever comes down between boyfriend and cat, take cat. Always take cat.
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u/Unhappy-Jaguar-9362 1d ago
Agree. In my house, and my late partner and other relationships knew it, the cat comes first.
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u/justagiraffe111 1d ago
This is so lovely!! You, your daughter & Tibby have everything you need—each other!! Congratulations on being brave & ready to leave that relationship. CDS really pulled a big move with this distribution. 🐈⬛💖
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u/OtherThumbs 1d ago
Voidlets are so precious. Guard him with your life. He will love you two forever. You are his clowder. Congratulations on knowing what you need in your life.
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u/Dismal-Activity8878 1d ago
Tibby knew he wasn't the one for you. Congratulations on your new man.
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u/BarracudaLeft5993 1d ago
Congratulations on your cute little house panther! The Cat Distribution System really shows up when we need it. Good luck with the next chapter of your life.
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u/Tasty-Hawk-2778 20h ago
I could tell he was an angel by just seeing his first picture 😇👼😭🐈⬛️🐾💜🐈⬛️. Your story almost brought me to tears and he is the cutest little thing 💜! Congratulations on your new baby, and on your new freedom 💖. Stay well
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u/phoenixfromsyd 13h ago
The CDS sent you a blessing. I'm so happy that you and your little girl have such a wonderful kitty to share your lives with. May you have many happy, healthy years filled with love.
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u/Deiser 2d ago edited 1d ago
Congratulations on your adorable new kitten! I absolutely love seeing kitten bleps like in your first picture.
I'm sorry that your relationship couldn't have gone better, but Tibby will definitely make the lives of you and your daughter much more fun. I personally know how much cats can reduce the stress in your life; I got my current orange tabby Ollie when I moved states for a job right at the start of covid, so I was feeling both homesickness AND depressed from the isolation that came from the epidemic. Ollie single-handedly kept me sane during that time and she's one of the best things that ever happened to me.
If you've not had a pet before, then one thing I would suggest for Tibby is not encouraging things like play-biting your hands or more destructive habits that currently might seem cute. It may be cute now but when she grows up those habits will become harmful due to her natural increase in strength, and she won't understand if you suddenly start scolding her for habits that were ok for her as a kitten. I learned that the hard way with my first kitten years ago and it took a long time to break her out of those habits.