Unlike dogs, cats can be pretty enigmatic creatures.
Decoding their subtle personalities and body language is an endeavor for inspired minds. Although kitty behavior can be kind of confusing, some cats know exactly how to get their message across. And a black cat named Yuuki definitely fits into that category.
Yuuki was adopted by the Nimrichter family earlier this year.
Erin and her son Max, 19, had scoured the Cleveland Animal Protective League in search of the perfect pet. Max would soon be graduating and leaving for a six-year term in the Navy, and he wanted his mom to have company while he was away.
The two of them explored the shelter, meeting the furry residents, but when they saw a sleek, black cat, she immediately caught their eye. Erin and Max adopted the little panther and named her Yuuki. The name was a tribute to Yuuki Matthews, a musician from Max’s favorite band, The Shins.
Max spent six months with Yuuki before leaving for his first year of service. During those few months, they developed an incredible bond.
“Max has always felt connections to any animal he was around,” Erin told The Dodo.
“He’s a sweetheart.”
And Yuuki must have sensed his kindness! Although the feline was meant to be a companion for Erin, she fell completely in love with Erin’s son— and these personalized feline relationships are more common than you’d think.
Dr. Elizabeth Stelow, chief of animal behavior services at the University of California, Davis, told The Dodo:
“Cat relationships with their people vary greatly. In fact, a cat’s relationship can differ with different people in the same house, just as an owner’s relationship can be different with different cats in the household.”
In fact, when Max first left for the Navy, Yuuki would constantly sit at the window, awaiting his return.
Eventually, Yuki realized Max wouldn’t be walking through that door. Instead, she found a new way to keep his memory alive.
Yuki has started staring at a framed photo of Max. The feline will spend ages huddled near the photo, sometimes talking to it in meows. “Very often I find Yuuki sitting here, staring at him meowing,” wrote Erin. “[Max] picked her out from the APL, and they bonded quickly.”
“She just sits there, stares and meows and then lays down next to the picture to nap.”
“I know for sure she misses him.”
“She does it often,” Erin told Fox News. “I used to think it was a fluke… the reflection or light bouncing off… But now it’s just too often.”
Sure, cats can be enigmatic— but it’s clear Yuuki misses her owner.
Luckily, Yuuki wouldn’t have to wait too long.
When the story went viral, Erin told media they had planned a trip to go visit Max. It was set to happen in the next few weeks, and they planned to bring the black cat along.
“My son worries that she won’t remember him,” said Erin.
“It gives me comfort knowing she does, and it’s nice to have proof to show him.”
Since being uploaded to YouTube, this heartwarming story has been viewed thousands of times.
The kitty’s grieving is so obvious and blatant, it’s hard not to be moved by her display. Comments on the footage read:
“Who’s cutting onions?”
“Awww I hope she gets a playmate to take her mind off her overwhelming loneliness for her BFF!”
“And silly people say cats don’t bond with their people! Ha!”
See the video below!
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