Story #49: The Cat I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About
As told by Emma Farley, Adopter
The One-Eyed Girl Who Stole Our Hearts
The minute I saw Polly’s pictures on the Anderson Humane website, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. There was just something about her face. Maybe it was her one bright eye, maybe it was the softness in her expression. Whatever it was, I kept going back to her profile.
I grew up in a house with three cats, so having cats around always felt natural to me.
I had been wanting one of my own for a long time. My partner, though, was not so sure. She was hesitant about the responsibility and about changing the dynamic of our home. When I showed her Polly, she agreed she was adorable, but she said she was not ready.
Still, Polly stayed on my mind. I found myself checking her profile again, wondering if she was still available. After a few days, I finally told my partner I was going to meet her. I promised I would go alone and that I would not bring her home. I just needed to see her in person so I could stop wondering “what if.”
On my way to Anderson Humane, my phone rang. It was my partner. She said, “Can you turn around? I want to meet her too.”
In that moment, I think we both knew.
When we met Polly, she was shy and cautious. She had been born in a shelter environment and had lost her eye at a very young age. She carried herself carefully, almost like she was trying not to take up too much space. But when we sat with her, she leaned in. She let us pet her. There was a quiet sweetness about her that felt so special.
We adopted her the very next day.
The Polly who came home with us was timid and unsure.
The Polly who lives with us now is confident, vocal, and full of personality. She has turned into quite the sassy little lady who loves to “talk” and make sure we hear her opinions. She follows us from room to room, jumps into our laps the second we sit down, and insists on being part of everything we do.
She is playful and silly, chasing toys and surprising us with bursts of energy. But she is also incredibly affectionate. She curls up against us at every opportunity, completely at ease. Seeing her fully relax and trust us has been one of the most moving parts of this journey.
Polly has overcome so much in her short life, yet she is warm, loving, and open.
She has shown me what unconditional love truly looks like. I did not realize how deeply she would impact both my partner and me. Our home feels fuller. Our routines revolve around her. Our days are brighter because of her.
I wanted to share our story because I know that animals with disabilities are sometimes overlooked.
People may hesitate when they see something different. But Polly has more love and personality packed into her little body than I ever could have imagined. She did not just join our family. She changed our lives completely.
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