I have always loved animals, especially cats. But my mum didn’t. In fact, when I finished high school and came to stay with her in Nairobi, I begged her to let me adopt a cat. My pleas fell on deaf ears.
Enter Missy, the Queen
Fast forward about ten years later, I adopted Missy — the queen herself. Somehow, Missy liked my mum more than me. I still don’t know why, but I accepted it. What surprised me most was not Missy’s affection, but my mum’s response.
The woman who once swore she didn’t like cats now has Missy’s food at the top of her shopping list. Ten years on, Missy is still very much the queen of the house.
The Cat Who Chose Her Person
When I shifted to a nearby house, I tried to take Missy with me. At night I would carry her over, determined to make her mine.
But by morning, she was already back at my mum’s, eating breakfast like nothing happened.
After a few attempts, I gave up. Missy had chosen her home — and her human.
Calm, Quiet, and Full of Grace
Missy isn’t big on petting and prefers her own space. You’ll be lucky if she lets you touch her.
No kittens, no chaos — just her quiet company. She’s disciplined, too. Missy has never once jumped on the seats. Instead, she rests neatly in her bed tucked in the corner of the house.
When she isn’t lounging indoors, Missy can be found at her favorite spot: the gate perch.
Every day, she perches there like royalty, calmly watching people pass by. And without fail, she waits for my mum to return home. It’s her little throne — and from there, she rules her world.
Whisker Wonders Reflection
Missy’s story reminds me that sometimes pets choose their people, not the other way around. She turned my mum — once a self-proclaimed cat hater — into her biggest admirer. Now, my mum can’t imagine life without her quiet companion.
It’s proof of how children’s love for animals can spark change, but it’s the animals themselves who seal the bond. Sometimes, one gentle soul is all it takes to open a heart forever.
Read more: How my rescue cat Billy got me into trouble with neighbours.
