On a brisk October afternoon, Marissa Eller decided to enjoy a few quiet moments on her front porch, expecting solitude. However, unbeknownst to her, a visitor was lurking nearby. Shortly after, a tabby cat with white paws appeared in her driveway. Eller recognized him as a familiar face in the neighborhood, initially believed to be part of a stray colony in the woods. Yet, his behavior that day hinted at a different story.
Instead of scurrying away at the sound of her voice, this little feline confidently approached her.
“I called out to him, and he responded with loud caws,” Eller shared with The Dodo. “He came right up to me, let me pet him, and then sat down next to me on the porch step, even climbing into my lap.”
Eller was taken aback by the cat’s instant affection. Despite having little experience with cats at that time, she sensed that his immediate comfort around her was unusual.
“He head-butted me, a behavior I didn’t recognize as typical since I had never been around a cat before,” Eller recalled. “You can see the shock on my face in the photo of us together.” The cat, whom they later named Boots, charmed Eller, and she pleaded with her family to adopt him. While her mother was on board, her grandmother and father were against having a cat in the house. So, Eller and her mother spent as much time outside with Boots as they could, enjoying his company as a regular visitor.
Then one day, her grandmother changed her mind.
“As the weather grew colder, my grandmother came home one afternoon and found my mom and me on the deck, bundled in our coats, spending time with Boots,” Eller explained. “She thought it was silly and told us to bring the cat inside.” Eller obliged, and Boots quickly made himself at home. Initially, he could still go outside whenever he wanted, but eventually, he chose to stay indoors with his new family.
“He was always ours, even when he had the option to be outside,” Eller stated. Shortly after Boots joined their household, Eller discovered the heartbreaking details of his past.
“He had been abandoned by his previous owners, left outside to fend for himself after they got a puppy,” Eller recounted. “That’s why he was wandering around the neighborhood.” Despite the betrayal he suffered from his previous family, Boots didn’t let it affect his affection for humans. His immediate bond with Eller was even more surprising after learning about his background.
“He was incredibly trusting,” Eller remarked. “It’s amazing to me that he walked right up to me after what he had been through. He adores people and has this golden retriever-like energy.” Along with his loving nature, Eller described Boots as “chaotic, but in a way that emanates from love.”
As Boots’ life transformed after finding his new family, so did Eller’s. Seven years later, she can’t imagine her life without him.
“He’s become a source of endless emotional support and immense joy. I find it hard to put into words how much he has improved my life,” Eller shared. “He has become so incredibly special to me that I struggle to articulate it.” But Boots hasn’t just captured Eller’s heart; he brings joy to everyone he meets.
“Everyone adores him,” she said. “Cat sitters, friends, family, the vet—thousands of people on Twitter. He fills my life with happiness, and I love that he spreads that joy to everyone he encounters.” For the past seven years, Boots has relished every moment by Eller’s side, looking forward to many more.
“He continues to be delightfully chaotic. Just this week, he managed to dip his paw into my soup, topple a few trash cans, and create several messes,” Eller said with a laugh. “He keeps me on my toes, and he ends each night by snuggling his not-so-insignificant weight on my chest.”
Eller never anticipated gaining a family member when she sat on her porch that day seven years ago. In retrospect, she believes their meeting was destined.
“I truly feel like he chose us rather than the other way around, and we are all so much better for it,” Eller concluded.