How Sammy Found His Neighborhood

Every great neighborhood inspector has an origin story. Mine begins at a music festival in Kentucky. 🎵

I did not choose this. It chose me. That is how the best things usually happen. 😸

I showed up at a music festival in Kentucky one day. The details of how I got there are not important. What matters is that I identified a traveling musician named Bennett and his little blind dog Taz. I assessed the situation and determined that they were acceptable companions.

So I followed them.

For several days. Persistently. Bennett could not find my original owner – I will not comment on whether I assisted or hindered this search – and eventually the festival ended. I had made my position clear. I was coming with them.

And so I did. 😸🐾

For several months I lived in the car with Bennett and Taz as they traveled. I had a litterbox in the car. I used it. I am a professional.

This is where my love of adventure was born – or rather, confirmed. I had always suspected the world was worth exploring. Life on the road proved it. Every new location, every new smell, every new window to look out of. Excellent.

Bennett brought me from St. Augustine, Florida to Tampa, Florida. He had found me a new posting. A new neighborhood to inspect. A new family. 🌅

I arrived on September 1, 2020. I was four years old. I had opinions. I had experience. I had absolutely no intention of rushing anything.

I made biscuits on day one. This was my professional assessment that the location had potential. But I slept in the living room. On the back of the couch. I needed to evaluate the full situation before committing to the bedroom. This is standard protocol. 😸

By September 9th – eight days later – I had completed my evaluation. I moved into the bedroom. I have not left since. 🐾

There was already a dog.

Her name is Luna. She goes by many names – Doggy, Puppy, Poopy, Little Puppy, Pooper, Little Pooper, Tiny Pooper – none of which are Luna. She is a Yorkie. She is very small. She was, when I arrived, in a period of significant grief.

Before me, there was Rocket. A magnificent part-Maine Coon who had been Luna's companion and best friend since the summer of 2016. He passed in May 2020. Luna had not been the same. I could see this when I arrived. She was quieter than she should have been. She missed her kitty. 😿

We sat on the couch together on the first day and looked at each other for a while. I assessed her. She assessed me. 

By December, we were cuddling side by side.

Eventually, butt-to-butt.

I would not say she is my best friend out loud. But she is my best friend. 💕🐾

We eventually moved from Florida to Ohio – another road trip. My back porch overlooks an “open field” surrounded by neighboring buildings in the complex. There are pine trees I must sniff every day. Suspicious ducks I must stalk. A very interesting pond at the neighboring complex (with more ducks). A busy street I have no intention of crossing. A sunrise that shows up every single morning without fail.

I claimed it immediately. All of it. This is my jurisdiction now. 🐾

From a Kentucky music festival to a traveling musician's car to Tampa to here – it was a long road. But every patrol, every sunrise, every suspicious smell investigated tells me I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.

Case status: HOME. 🌅😸🐾

Before Sammy, there was Rocket.

Rocket was a Maine Coon mix who spent 16 of his 18 years with me. He was my best friend, my constant, my reason to smile on the days when smiling felt impossible. He headbutted away my tears. He was there through everything. He passed peacefully on May 1, 2020, at 6am, wrapped in my arms. 💕

Luna grieved in her own quiet way. I did too.

Four months later, my brother called and asked if I wanted a four-year-old Siamese cat. My immediate answer was “No.” Followed by “Send me a picture.” Then: “What's his name?” Then three days of "I'll think about it." Then “Yes.” Then almost backing out, but Bennett was already on his way to Tampa from St. Augustine with Sammy in tow.

Then, on September 1st, he placed a Siamese cat who had been living in a car – and somehow already knew exactly who he was – into our home. He made biscuits on day one. He was in our bed by day eight. He was in our hearts (and every box- or bag-shaped thing) forever 💕

I started Meow Sammy Says because Sammy gets me outside every morning. He makes me laugh every single day. He has become, without exaggerating, my therapy – real, warm, ridiculous, rainbow-disco-leash-wearing therapy. And I wanted to share that with anyone who needs a smile.

The world can be a lot right now. Sammy doesn't care. He just wants to patrol the neighborhood, investigate suspicious ducks, and remind me every morning that the sunrise showed up again.

I think that's worth something. 🌅🐾

— Jessica (Sammy's human, Luna's person, Rocket's forever girl) 💕

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About Meow Sammy Says: Real adventures from Sammy, a Siamese cat who takes his neighborhood patrol very seriously. Subscribe at meowsammysays.com 🐾