After over 100 days in RSPCA NSW care and just minutes before the Sydney Adoption Centre adoption window closed one Sunday, Baloo found his people.
The eight-year-old tabby cat spotted Daniel and his partner and quickly made himself known.
“We were debating getting a dog, but then when we saw Baloo. He basically looked at us, came up to the door, climbed up, meowed and we knew he was the one,” Daniel said.
After telling staff they were keen to take Baloo home, the besotted couple were seen by a vet who gave them a run-down of some medical requirements they had to be aware of.
While those and his advancing age had possibly put others off from adopting the friendly feline, Daniel was adamant Baloo was the cat for them.
“I’ve always wanted to have a senior pet, and, in the past, I wasn’t able to because of rental laws and things like that,” Daniel said.
“I do love kittens and of course there’s this aspect of like, ‘Oh, I’m going to have less time with a senior animal’ but I’ve always just had this thing about giving older animals a second chance to have a really good life.
“So, seeing that Baloo was eight years old, it didn’t put me off at all. I was very excited and wanted to adopt him because I was thinking of the 10 years we could still have with him and making them the best possible years for him.”
Baloo has unsurprisingly settled in quickly and is now a cherished third wheel to the couple.
He’s especially fond of head rubs and has grown in confidence knowing he’s found his forever home.
Baloo loves to keep close to his new family.
“It’s really hard to imagine not having him in the house with us. He literally has the whole run of the place now like it’s his castle,” Daniel said.
“He is so chatty and vocal. When we’re sitting on the couch watching movies or it’s just dinner time or anything like that, he’s just with us, and he’s so affectionate, and it’s just so beautiful.
“Seeing him roam around the house and just be so comfortable. It makes me so happy because I just hope on some level, he knows that he’s safe and he’ll be looked after. We love him so much, and he doesn’t have anything to worry about.
“It’s really like having a child or another family member, they’re just so embedded in your life and there’s just something about really taking care of an animal family member.
“As time goes on and you spend more time together, there’s just a trust that you build with them. With Baloo for example, he’s not afraid of loud noises anymore because he knows we’re not a threat and there’s nothing in the house that’s going to hurt him.
“He was very skittish to begin with and was on anti-anxiety meds but he’s completely off them now. So that bond that you get when you grow together, you trust each other, there’s like all this love and they just bring a warmth to the house that just nothing else can.
“We were on the hunt for a couch, and we came home with a cat, and I don’t regret it.
“If you’re already thinking and contemplating about getting an animal, it means that you’re ready. There’s an animal companion out there who is ready to steal your heart and just add to your home and to your life.”
