Rescue Stories - Jackson & Benny: Two Stray Cats Who Became Best Friends

Hello, and Happy Monday! Today we have the rescue story of Jackson and Benny. Jackson and Benny are brothers from different mothers, who became family and best friends. And more than that, they were angels sent from heaven to their new family. So without further ado, let's meet Jackson and Benny. 

Lola

Benny and Jackson were two strays who came into our lives at a difficult time. I had lost my cat of 16 years, my mother was gravely ill (and subsequently passed away), and my husband had been in a car accident. Jackson showed up in a field near my friend, who could not keep him because she had multiple pets. We reluctantly went to look at Jackson. It seemed too soon to adopt another pet. But when my friend handed Jackson to my husband he put his paw on his face, and Jackson was ours. 

Later that week we went to PetSmart to buy Jackson a tag, and we passed the adoption cages. We decided Jackson needed a friend, so we choose Benny, a stray from a local animal shelter who was in danger of being euthanized because he had been up for adoption for several months. No one wanted Benny because was older (about three at the time), not a lap cat, and overweight.

In retrospect, I am glad that no one adopted either Benny or Jackson because they, like most cats who have shown up in my life, appeared to be angels sent from heaven to watch over my husband and me. Benny and Jackson are sweet and fun-loving cats. Although they are not litter mates, they have become best friends. They eat together, play together, sleep together and sometimes even go to the litter box together. They have become truly inseparable. Benny may not have been raised around cats since he did not know how to meow or purr, but Jackson taught him how to do that. Jackson had lived on the streets and did not know how to play, but Benny was his mentor in that department.

Even though each cat has adopted the other’s habits, they still maintain their own unique identity. Benny is the ultimate party animal and although older than Jackson, he can romp and play for hours. His favorite trick is to take small items off a desk or counter (watches, name badges, pens, etc.), carry them to another part of the house, and play with them. Benny also likes to drink water out of the bathroom sink. 

When Jackson hears something, he stands up on his back two feet (like a meerkat) and will stay that way for 10-15 minutes. Jackson loves to curl up next to people, and just before my mother passed away under hospice care, I took him to the nursing home and he jumped in her bed and curled up next to her. My mother didn’t smile much during the last days of her life, but at that moment she had the biggest smile on her face that I had seen in a long time.

Benny and Jackson brought love and laughter into our house at a difficult time. With the addition of one more cat several years later, Trixie, whose owner had to move into a nursing home, these cats have made our house a home.

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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.