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My cat Baby had passed away in 2014 after being with me since she was 6-months-old. I found her as a stray kitten on the property where I was living, and she was with me for 18 years after that.

I had gotten to know the employees at my local PetSmart, as I had shopped there every week for 18 years. One day, I went into PetSmart to say hello to everybody, without knowing they were having a cat adoption event from a rescue group. I saw cages and cages of kittens and knew I would not adopt a kitten out of fear that she would outlive me and would have to go back to the rescue. Then I spotted an older cat.

CAT. PHOTO: PIXABAY / LINDA BIGGS

Her story read that she was 10-years-old and named Apple. I stayed around for a while talking to the employees, who told me most people coming in were looking at the kittens. Apple looked so sad that I decided then and there to put in an application for her. They called me the next day, and I went to pick her up.

I called her Apple for several days and she did not respond to me at all. I started to wonder what I had gotten myself into with an unfriendly cat. Then I sat down and read all of the papers that came with her and found a handwritten note from whoever brought her into the rescue. It told me her background, which was pretty sad, and said her name was Rocky.

As soon as I called her Rocky, she meowed and came to me. It’s been all uphill since then. I’ve had her for six years now.

PHOTO: BARBARA SCOTT

Story submitted by Barbara Scott from Las Vegas, Nevada.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!