Rescue Stories - Clio: A Gift That Rescued Her New Mom

Hello, and Happy Monday! I'm very happy to bring you our first rescue story of 2021. Today we have the tail tale of a beautiful cat named Clio. Clio was on her way to the shelter because no one wanted to adopt the runt of the litter. Her adopter soon realized that they saved each other. So, without further ado, let's meet Clio. 

Lola

Clio, my one-eyed, three-legged cat, was not a stray but was one day away from being taken to the local animal shelter. She was one of my birthday gifts from my staff. My staff told me that no one wanted to adopt her (even though she was being offered for free to a good home) because she was the runt of the litter. Fortunately, for both of us, my staff knew that I desperately needed a companion because I was going through a bitter divorce after a tumultuous and abusive marriage.

During the 15 years of our marriage, I was not able to have a pet (although I had always had pets as a child). My ex-husband claimed he was allergic to cats (even though he remarried someone who had cats), and said dogs required too much care. The gift of Clio made a good companion for me. As I soon would find out, this little runt had spunk and was no ordinary cat. She helped me rebuild my self-esteem and recover from my abusive marriage and divorce.

In retrospect, the divorce was the best thing that ever happened to me, but at the time I was devastated and angry, and my self-esteem and self-confidence were in shreds. I also felt that I would never recover from this ordeal and would never be able to love or trust again. My long road to recovery may have been different because the surprise gift of a cat became my salvation which empowered me to overcome my hurt and pain.

Clio’s antics, her uncanny ability to get into trouble,  and her intense love of tuna were all part of her personality and made her unique. If this cute little cat who was the runt of the litter had no problem with being herself, then why should I? The days and months passed, and little did I know that as my love for Clio grew, so did my self-confidence and self-esteem. Yes, I was alone again, but at least I was with someone who loved me and who was not constantly belittling me, yelling at me, and making me feel worthless and unloved. Yes, I had made mistakes in my life, but everyone does, and I did not need to beat myself up over it. Because of this new cat who came into my life, I began rebuilding the close relationship I had with my mother and with my friends. And when I did something silly or was a bit clumsy, I realized that was okay and there was no need to beat myself up over it, and there was no one who was going to scream at me for those actions.

While Clio’s companionship and unconditional love after my abusive marriage and divorce played an important role in my recovery, she continued to provide inspiration and hope throughout her life. Clio survived two bouts with cancer (eye cancer and proliferate fibrosarcoma in her back leg) that left her with one eye and three legs. However, that never dampened her spirit or her love for me. Looks did not affect her attitude nor did the disability of having three legs. She developed muscles in her tail to help with balance and eventually was able to outrun me. When my mother became extremely ill and I had to place her in a nursing home, regular visits from Clio helped brighten her day. When I had a cancer scare, she gave me hope that if the diagnosis were cancer, I would beat it.

In short, my staff’s decision to give “rescue” to a little runt of the litter cat so I could have a companion turned out to be a blessing for me. In the end, she was the one who rescued me.

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Kathy Finley lives in Indianapolis, IN with her three cats. Kathy is writing a book about Clio and their life together. You can get more information about Kathy and read her blog at KathyFinley.com.  Kathy enjoys sharing the message of how animals can provide unconditional love, acceptance, and insight into oneself and is available for public speaking engagements.

Don't forget to check out the rest of our Rescue Stories in case you've missed any. If you'd like to submit your story, please email us at LolaTheRescuedCat@gmail.com.