I Badly Want a Shelter Cat, but the Why of It Matters

Investigating the need behind the impulse

Investigating the need behind the impulse

Image by the author

Her name is Jade. She’s the exact age of the two cats I have — down to the same birthday. I see her face on social media, and I’m filling out an adoption application. I’m making an appointment to go see her. I’m sitting in the room holding her and thinking, this is my cat.

But I don’t know why. …