Cat Family Story #14: Milo

What is the name of your cat?

Milo

Photo (above): Milo enjoying the outdoors. Taken by @meetmymilo. Check out more photos of Milo on Instagram.

Where is your cat family located in?

We live on a small acreage just outside of Gympie, in Queensland

What is the breed of your cat?

He is a Grey tabby - Domestic Short Hair

How old is your cat?

He is 4 years old - Milo's Birthday is on the 29th of April!

Where can we find your cats on social media?

On Instagram @meetmymilo

In a few short words/sentences, tell us about your cat's personalities.

The stereotypical cat sleeps 15-20 hours a day and my past, Dazzle, our previous cat did just that. Milo, however, is completely different and I love him for that!

He's very adventurous in the morning (we go for a big walk or he hangs out in his enclosure) all the way up to midday when he likes to sleep. He has 3 spots in the house he likes to sleep and will go to one of these for the rest of the day or rotate throughout the day. Then he wakes up and goes for a dusk walk/play which is when he takes his crazy pills and we have to whip out the laser.

He hangs around the house by himself after I go to bed but always ends up sleeping on the blanket at the end of my bed.

Three words for his personality: "Curious, Crazy, Sleepy".

How has your cat transformed your life from the moment you've met him till now?

I was halfway through a Bachelor of Marine Science course, and volunteering at some zoos nearby, with the hope of graduating and working in an aquarium (grandiose dreams of being a dolphin trainer) when I adopted Milo. I finished the course and still hoped to be a trainer but found it difficult to gain employment/work placements/internships in Australia relating to caring and training for marine life.

In the meantime, my past cat, Dazzle, had passed away from kidney failure and I was determined for Milo to live an even longer, happier life in any way possible. Thinking it would enhance my employability in the industry I was already hoping to get into, I enrolled in my nearest Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing course.

So every week, I traveled 4 hours return to attend classes in Brisbane twice a week and 2 hours return to a veterinary placement once a week. This was on top of a boarding kennel job which I attend 2 days a week (which was 15 minutes away from home). It's been hard on my relationship with Milo.

I can tell that he feels frustrated that his walks have been reduced because I'm not around as often (he has the crazies all the time when I'm home). I've worked on making his days more enjoyable when I'm away - He's got a large enclosure outside and a Petcube that I can see him with and play with the laser with him which has made a difference.

But lately, thanks to Covid-19 restrictions and that classes are online and my job and placement are temporarily suspended, he is certainly much happier! I'm much less stressed too knowing that he is happy and we have a bit more of a routine going.

What does your cat mean to you?

Milo is my best friend and family. He's always there, enthusiastic or not. He's simply there. I might go to a different room and he'll join me and plop down. Every time I see him he makes me smile.

How did you and your cat first meet? Tell it to us in the form of a short story.

I first saw Milo, his brother, and their Mum at the RSPCA in a crate all together - not a week old. I held out my hand and the little ones sniffed my finger. I volunteered there once a day every week and I saw them every time I was there. They were so cute with their blue eyes and they light grey tabby fluffy fur!

One week I went in and the foster care manager, who always seemed to walk in on me taking them out of the crate for a play, asked if I wanted to foster them. One of them (Milo's brother, Whiskey) had an eye infection and needed some eye cream. I immediately said yes! By this time, Whiskey, was beginning to develop his green eyes while Milo still had his blue eyes, so I could tell them apart.

When I got them home I kept them in the bathroom away from my past cat, Dazzle. As they got older, and I had ideas about keeping them and convincing my Mum that they definitely fit in with the family, I put them in a crate in the living room to become a part of the daily operations. They loved it. So much room to play! A giant scratching post! They had a blast together. And every day I fell more in love with them. Even getting out of bed in the middle of the night just to make sure they were ok.

Photo (above): Milo and Whiskey when they were little kittens. Taken by @meetmymilo. Check out more photos of Milo on Instagram.

Towards the end of the stay, I started to teach them to sit. Milo was a little slow, while Whiskey picked it up quick. But then came time to return them to the RSPCA for their desexing and adoption. Of course, this was the time to throw my final argument out there to adopt them both. And threw I did! Unfortunately, the agreement was to adopt only one. I adopted Milo because, even as a kitten, he was always there. Whiskey was adventurous and boisterous, even eating all of Milo's food so that I had to separate them at mealtimes.

I was devastated and it's still something that can keep me up at night. Wondering if Whiskey went to a good home (volunteering at the RSPCA). Once, some people came in looking for a kitten that "was a good mouse catcher" because the last one never came home. Wondering how their personalities would have developed if they grew up together. Ultimately, as every argument goes when you adopt a pet (make sure you have enough money and time to care for them), having one cat meant that I could give Milo the best of everything.

What do you think your cat thinks of you?

I like to think that Milo thinks of me as an annoying sister or an overprotective Mum! I love to hug him, get in his face, make him have a bath to smell pretty, trim his nails while he's sleeping, brush his teeth while he's sleeping, clean his ears while he's sleeping, take him in the car with me on adventures. All the while, he puts up with me and still loves me too! Following me around, sleeping on my bed at night.

Your cat is part of your family. What are some things they do that make you think that consider you part of theirs?

Tough question! I think a pretty strong indication to me that Milo considered me his family is when he catches something outside, he sprints to the door to bring it in. Of course, I don't let him take it inside or eat it fully. But he just loves to bring things back home.

What are some accounts your cat likes to follow on Instagram?

@theadventuresoflumosandnox

@thegibsonchronicles

@pebbles_and_printer

@cat.school

@dashtheorangetabby

@theoneandonlymojochicken

@tomonhajime

@hellopistachio

@lamingtonandjamucats

@lucy_and_charlie

Why do you feel that it is important to show the world that Cats are Family?

Cats are often compared to dogs or thought of as an easy pet to take care of. This is not true. Cats are just as complicated as dogs and when you adopt/buy a cat you have to understand and cater for all they're aspects (food, health, enrichment) throughout their long life. Many cats are adopted and the word itself means to "legally take and bring up as one's own". That is what you are signing up for when you adopt a cat. Another family member.

Cats are living creatures and if cared for properly, with time, effort, and money, they will become a part of the family. Cats are just as rewarding as dogs and require the same, if not more (because cats like to hide objects and emotions), effort. Just like everything in life, it's the effort you put in that makes the difference!

Over to you...

YOU can start making a difference to Cats and their families everywhere!

Join the Cats are family campaign and SHARE your cat family story with the world.

Here's how...