I have always been a dog person. I was born into a huge family, including an extended family that never explored with any other animals except for dogs. Never cats, bunnies, hamsters, or fish, just a lot of dogs. Whenever family parties occurred during the holidays, every family member would bring there dogs, so pretty much growing up, whenever we got together, the pups got together too. For my family, we had one (eventually two) I was in love and still will forever be in love with my first dog Jersey, the most beautiful, yet extremely fat, sweetest Golden Retriever you'd ever meet. I've never had anything against cats, in particular, but for some reason, I feared them, because whenever the rare occasion I did interact with a cat, I was clawed, scratched, attacked or bitten.

Then I met my boyfriend... a complete cat person. Yeah, he mentioned he has had dogs, but never compared to the cats he talked about growing up. When we met, I was able to meet his childhood cat Bruin, but had many other stories about other cats that have come in and out of his life. "No, we'll never have a cat" I remember telling him, but i was being really stubborn because my only mindset of ever having a pet would be dogs. Dogs bring so much comfort to my life, bringing so much comfort to me as a child, I cannot imagine never having a couple dogs when I start a family of my own. Cats we're never in the picture, until about a month ago when my boyfriend and I picked up this pretty lady:

Having MJ come into my life, even after a month has been life changing. Not because I now have the responsibility of caring, and feeding someone other than myself, but makes the atmosphere of coming home so much different. I know now that I'll never be alone and it's the best feeling, because it helps for someone like me who suffers from depression and anxiety to have her presence, but also has brought those same feelings and emotions I used to feel coming home everyday to my dog Jersey when she was alive. She feels mine, and it's something cool to experience as a first time cat owner. It's creating a closer bond between my boyfriend and I because she is also shared between us, and we now just constantly send snaps, and pictures like the cat parents we are.

For a long time, I just thought because cats we're a little more passive than dogs, that they could not give the same love. Everyday, MJ cuddles close, gives kisses, follows you around, and tries to steal food off the counter. Even now, meeting new cats is easier for me, and a more calming, less stressful experience. I no longer feel that fear, or feel the stigma, and it feels awesome. Adopting Mary Jane has helped me so much understand the werid spieces of cats, increases my mood, and in general, I want to be able to be more open in the future. If I was not open to cats, MJ would not have come into my life, and even after a month... I can't imagine not having her in my life.

*And as I write this sentence, she is climbing up on my lap, so I think i'll stop writing now:)