One day I read something along the lines of plants are new pets and pets are new kids, and children are like weird animals – you have to be a little rich and a little crazy to have them. And it’s very true.
For many younger generations my age, pets are replacing children because they are less expensive to maintain. You’ll never have to sweat saving for college funds when you have a cat! And with that comes an increase in proud pet parents using social media to show off their furry babies.
One of these examples is Angela Rasuse and her 15-year-old child, Mackenzie, depicted as a kitten with a “relaxing grimace at rest”.
But don’t let looks fool you. As Angela explained Dodo, “She might just be the happiest cat in the world – likes, thrives, and has the best time, and she just has this smug look on her face.”
Angela shared that Mackenzie was originally her grandparents’ cat. Then, when her grandfather passed away in 2019, Angela took her in. Of course, Mackenzie has a bit of an adjustment period.
To help the kitten adjust to her new life, Angela went out and bought Mackenzie her own little harness and leash, and it turned her into a brand new cat!
Angela told The Dodo, “She loves being in the backyard and playing around. And, I took her to our house and we were playing on the beach and she absolutely loved it. It was amazing. Strangest in the world. Here’s this ferocious, murderous cat, but the second you strap it on, it’s going to be an adventure cat.”
With Mackenzie now loving her leash, Angela has been able to take her pet most places. And for Mackenzie, her favorite place to go on an adventure is the local Pet Valu store in Nova Scotia, Canada. But just when Angela didn’t think her cats could ever love their pet store anymore, the holidays have arrived – and it’s a whole new opportunity.
Pet Valu Store announced that they will be holding a fundraiser for their local food bank. Pet owners can bring their pets for a free photo shoot with Santa as long as they bring a non-biodegradable donation treat. Angela wasn’t sure how her cat would react to a stranger in a red suit, but she decided to give it a try.
Well, she was surprised, Mackenzie enjoyed her visit with Santa Claus! As Angela shares: “She scurried in as if she owned the place and waited in line with all the other dogs. I put her next to Santa and she growled, because she didn’t know what was going on. But then she played with the ball on Santa’s hat, she sat on his lap.”
The cat mom even added, “The funnest part is when we say, ‘OK Mackenzie, you’ve got your turn. We’ve got the pictures, it’s time for the next animal. ‘ She hissed at me as I tried to get her away from Santa. I don’t know if Santa reminds her of my grandfather, but she absolutely adores Santa.”
Check out the TikTok of Mackenzie’s trip to meet Santa below:
@ angrafus3 Reply @cheesyhotdogwater_ She may have put herself on the naughty list #catsoftiktok
Inspired by the adoption of Mackenzie, Angela started a nonprofit organization My grandfather’s cat to help seniors and people with terminal illnesses find a place for their animals after they’re gone.
