When I walked into Bideawee’s Manhattan location one morning in October, I was ready to bring home a new cat. We had been talking about finding a sibling for our cat, Smitty, for months. The night before, I had picked out another kitty who was recovering from a cold. But when I returned the next morning, a thoughtful suggestion from an adoption counselor led me to Bodee (then known as Ayaan) instead.
He and his siblings had just arrived from Bideawee’s Long Island location. The adoption counselor recommended I check them out since they were healthy — and I’m so glad she did. Choosing between Bodee and his three adorable siblings wasn’t easy, but the moment I saw him lying belly-up in the counselor’s lap, completely at ease, I knew he was the one. I already had a feisty, independent “girlboss” cat at home, so I was hoping for a cat who’d be cuddlier and more affectionate. Bodee fit that description perfectly.
Within 10 minutes, he was on his way home with me.
We renamed him Bodee as a nod to his roots — his mom, Hala, gave birth to her litter in the backroom of a bodega. Their story was even featured on The Brooklyn Rescues Instagram page, so we’ve been lucky enough to see his baby pictures (back when his fur had more noticeable brown patches).
Since coming home, Bodee has brought endless entertainment and warmth to our lives. He and Smitty have become close companions. Smitty is independent by nature, but she’s also a relentless groomer. If Bodee tries to escape mid-groom, she’ll put her paw on his head like she’s saying, “I’m not done with you yet,” and keep going. They get the early morning and late-night zoomies, racing around our (thankfully) spacious one-bedroom like two little ponies.
Bodee is a quirky little guy. He loves to lick my lips and his dad’s nose, and for some reason, his favorite kneading spot is our faces. He’s a cuddlebug, a goofball, and a sweet, odd little cat who fits perfectly into our family.
We’re so grateful to Bideawee for helping us find Bodee. He’s exactly the cat we needed.
