Maddie Moe

Maddie Moe sitting on a bright orange sofa in a sunlit living room, holding a grey and white cat, with framed botanical artwork on the wall behind her.Maddie Moe sitting on a bright orange sofa in a sunlit living room, holding a grey and white cat, with framed botanical artwork on the wall behind her.
and Ziggy

How we met

Here’s to the creature who constantly knocks pens off my desk, interrupts a good night’s sleep, and tears around the house like a race car in the Daytona 500: That’s my cat, Ziggy.
The day we met still makes me chuckle. I had an entire schedule planned for meet-and-greet cat appointments. Maybe I’d find the pet for me, maybe I wouldn’t—but I was going to make a day of it anyway.
Maddie Moe seated on an orange sofa, smiling, with a grey and white cat resting on the sofa arm beside her.
An oval-cropped photograph of a grey and white cat walking across a wooden floor in front of a bookshelf.
At my first stop, I met the cat I was scheduled to see, and they were very shy. I quickly realized that we weren’t a match. But throughout that interaction, another cat was begging to be seen—vocalizing, dancing, wiggling. I didn’t have an appointment for him, but I asked if I could meet Ziggy.
A grey and white cat perched along the back of an orange sofa, partly hidden behind a vase of autumn flowers.
Right away Ziggy showed his need for affection with snuggles that were more like sumo slams. Throughout this enthusiastic full-body greeting, he looked up at me with big moon eyes, and he wore his heart on his little furry sleeve. Sigh. Love at first sight. Then came the chaos—he waited for the adoption attendant to leave, and swiftly pried open the door to a locked cabinet (!) before I could react.
He zeroed in on the food storage and started gobbling. The attendant came back in a flurry, scrambling while Ziggy zoomed and avoided capture. I laughed. The combination of a zany, outgoing guy who knows what he wants, but who is also secretly a softie? I couldn’t resist. The rest of the day’s visitation schedule now in shambles, I took Ziggy home.
A black and white photograph of Maddie Moe smiling as she strokes a grey and white cat lying on a white surface.

All love, all the time

Ziggy is the perfect combination of silly and sweet. Even though he gets the zoomies daily and demands dinner an hour (or more) before mealtime, he is the most loving cat. Ziggy constantly wants to be in the same room, in your lap, or cozied up in a blanket with you.
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He’s pretty much happy as long as you’re giving him attention—my partner picks him up and flies him around the house like an airplane, and Ziggy doesn’t bat an eye because he’s happy to be loved and included. I still remember reading this sweet anecdote in the entries from his medical history: “Friendly and affectionate, unable to hear heart sounds well due to purring.”
A black and white close-up portrait of a grey and white cat resting its head, looking towards the camera.

Navigating choppy waters

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing on the SS Catnip. Ziggy started having medical problems which warranted many stressful vet visits. After what felt like eons, we finally figured it out—Ziggy had diabetes, and he’d been developing it before I even adopted him. This was the first time I had to navigate a serious medical event for a pet, let alone a chronic condition.

I was heartbroken, but there was a sense of relief in identifying the problem at last. I now have him on a prescription diet and give him insulin twice a day, all while periodically checking his blood glucose levels. It was a big adjustment for both of us, but he’s regulated and living a happy life, and for that I am grateful.
A black and white photograph of a grey and white cat standing on a wall-mounted mesh shelf, peering downwards.
A black and white photograph of Maddie Moe laughing with a grey and white cat draped across her shoulders.A black and white photograph of a grey and white cat stretched out asleep on a wall-mounted hammock shelf beneath a starburst light fitting.
Maddie Moe sitting on an orange sofa, reaching towards a grey and white cat seated beside her.

Finding more than 
what I was looking for

I was looking for a furry friend that day at the shelter, but Ziggy has become so much more than that. He’s taught me about resilience, bravery, and jumping in feet first to meet new challenges. He’s shown me that positivity is crucial, and that your weirdness is what makes you, you. Who knew that the cat I didn’t have an appointment for was the one who would teach me so much?
Credits
Photography

Briona Mosbrucker