Murphy

Murphy came to live with us a year ago. We got him from the Oregon Humane Society when he was approximately 7 months old. He was from a house suspected of cat hoarding. He was tiny…so skinny. Who knows how much he ever got to eat if he had to compete for his food. That would seem to explain why he wouldn’t stop eating every time we fed him. I eventually had to get him a food timer so our neighbor didn’t have to come over twice a day to feed him when we were on vacation.

When we got him, he was also pretty timid. In the transition room we set up for him when we first brought him home, he would always hide under the bed or in his crate when we walked in the door. After some cooing, his curiosity won out and he would come out and eventually cuddle. He was anxious but did love to be around others.

Over the year, Murphy has changed so much and become such a personality in our home. He now chases the 11 year old dog around and steals his bed. He also likes to torment our 4 year old cat who doesn’t care for him much.

Murphy spends the days roaming the neighborhood, chasing moths, waiting for the food timer to dispense his food and, I believe, he’s now trying to recruit baby squirrels into the house telling them that there are warm places to sleep and all the food they could want. He was actually successful in getting a squirrel into the house the other day, though I don’t believe the squirrel thought it was so great. We were able to shake it out of its catatonic state and get it to run out of the house.

But at the end of the day, Murphy is nearly always waiting at the door when I get home. He loves to cuddle. He will always let you pick him up and hug him and kiss him. He coos like a pigeon. After dinner, he always comes straight over to knead my stomach, purring all the while. Then he sleeps. His favorite spot is on top of my fiancé and me while we’re watching movies from the sofa.

When I look at this peaceful picture of him, I am overwhelmed. I love that we were able to give him a home where he is comfortable and knows he is loved, especially when his life could have been so much different if the Oregon Humane Society had never rescued him.

So…if you ever have the hankering for a funny, loving companion in your life…I HIGHLY recommend you visit your nearest Humane Society or a rescue and adopt. You’re not only helping these animals but you’re also helping your community and the previous owners.