Otis

Entrant's First Name
Miranda

Your Pet's Rescue Story
Otis was delivered to the Orlando Pet Alliance shelter in a laundry basket with his 2 sisters in December of 2020. I was an animal care specialist at the time and working intakes that day. As soon as I lifted the towel over the basket and made eye contact with this gigantic, fluffy 6-month-old kitten I said, "oh my God, is this my cat now?" And he was. The universe's cat distribution system had chosen me, and who was I to deny it?

This cat didn't make a sound for the first week I had him, and now he won't shut up. He meows, chatters, and chirps for every slight thing that catches his attention. He screams at us for dinner like he's ever missed a meal. He's so vocal, we were able to put it on cue and he'll now respond to a request to "speak." He also knows how to sit, give a high five, spin in a circle, and sit up on command. Sometimes he'll even come over to you when you call him, so long as something more interesting isn't going on.

He holds a full time job as a biscuit maker. He sleeps next to his beds, not in them. He doesn't mind loud noises like fireworks, but hates the sound of doorbells. He tears up his toys like he's a dog. You can't take your eyes off him when he's sunbathing on our porch because one time I did and then had to pry a fully grown male anole out of his mouth. Our kitchen and bathroom cabinets are always ajar because opening them is one of his favorite activities. My partner has a cat allergy, but they're best friends.

He was truly, 100% meant for me.

My parents never need to worry about when I'm having kids because I could never love a child as much as I love this cat. In lieu of grandkids though, I thought I could at least offer them a bottle of Otis wine.