What do you when you find a cat and a litter of kittens under your bed?
It’s not easy to be a fur-parent in an instant. In a snap, you have a bunch of “little ones” to take care of. Worse, if you’re allergic to cats. But how can you turn your back on cute, little kittens?
This man definitely had that struggle in the beginning.
Paris Zarcilla went home one day and found a cat and four of its kittens under his bed. It was a surprise of his life since he doesn’t have a cat – and never had a plan on getting one. Here’s how his story started:
So… I JUST FOUND A CAT THAT IS NOT MINE AND IT HAS HAD BABIES UNDER MY BED. pic.twitter.com/83ktBHGgT5
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) May 30, 2018
And in a short span, the entire litter captured his heart.
He kept the Twitterverse updated on his new #CatDad journey. From only wanting to get a jumper upstairs in his bedroom to a full fur-parent real quick! Paris even shared how he canceled all his plans for the day to spend time with the kittens!
Commitments on hold and budget for leisure were then redirected to the kittens.
Wanting to fulfill his new fatherhood status, he canceled the comics and single malt whiskey he ordered to buy cat food. A few more days and he declared that he is “in love” with his new babies.
His love for all five cats has a deeper reason and meaning.
This is too much. I’m approaching nirvana. I legitimately suffer from anxiety attacks and depression and my capacity to deal with it recently has been waning. The Cat Gods have smiled upon me with benevolence and turned the monsters under my bed into kittens.
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) May 30, 2018
Indeed, the sweet universe conspired for this to happen.
To my cat sons and daughters, I’ll be the hero you deserve, but not the one it needs right now (because of mama cat). So I’ll hunt for you, because I can afford it. I’ll be your silent guardian, your watchful protector. Love, #CatDad pic.twitter.com/JkaUpGzXCP
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) May 30, 2018
What a touching promise to his fur-babies!
Literally re-emerging from underneath the bed. Possibly now as a different person. Reborn as #CatDad. Wiser. Hairy-er. Learning secrets of the universe and life through the unexpected birth of these gaddamn fluff miracles. Praise be to the Cat Gods. Meow pic.twitter.com/IAcqYK6eBN
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) May 30, 2018
Like most pets, cats are good pets to help improve mental health.
They can help in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Pets also provide good companionship for those who are living alone. In time, they will grow up and give you unconditional love and joy that you can’t explain.
Pets also tend to know when you are happy or sad.
They make capable companions and can give an instant pick-me-up on your sad day. According to a study by Moriah Galvan and Jennifer Vonk of Oakland University in Michigan, cats can read facial expressions and body language tied to emotions. They learn to do so the longer they stay with you.
This explains how the cats react to Paris’s mental and emotional state.
However, his bliss of having the litter in his home led to a bumpy road.
Beginning to experience the dread and emotional turmoil of the idea that I might have to give up the fluff blessings at some point. This may be someone’s cat and I don’t want to take away this joy from anybody. But my dad instincts have kicked in so hard. Fuck. I want this
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) May 31, 2018
He wanted to do more for the cats – have the mama cat scanned and all of them neutered. But here’s the predicament: he might need to give them up. Spaying or neutering a pet should have the owner’s consent.
He realized this mama cat (and her kittens) might be someone else’s.
It took him to a rollercoaster ride – from sticking lost and found posters in his neighborhood to taking them to the vet to check if they’re chipped or not.
The great news came in: nobody owns the cat, and Paris has all six cats to call his own!
It’s official! It’s thanks to YOU ALL & the amazing team @CeliaHammond that Forever & her brood have now been chipped, vaccinated and neutered. Please help them continue their amazing and vital work providing care for ferals and strays. Thank you so much! https://t.co/PNenDqBPwc pic.twitter.com/RARWm7Nfz0
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) October 3, 2018
Two years after, here’s Paris and the entire litter now.
Happy Birthday my fam. I love you more than you’ll ever know. You’ve brought so much light to my life. You have me forever. X #Caturday #TwoYears pic.twitter.com/syNwYj70up
— Paris Zarcilla (@ParisZarcilla) May 30, 2020
He’s been open in expressing how much these cats changed his life. He embraced being a #CatDad fully, and he won’t trade it for anything else. Pets really do create a positive impact in someone’s life.
May we all find this same kind of love with any pet we have.
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