Meet Cleo: My Spirit Animal

No one knows what life had been like for this lovely stray cat prior to “rescuing” her last month, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t have a friend in the world. The greatest story though is how much she has changed since then — all thanks to love.

Meet Cleo. Our miracle cat. My spirit animal.

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Last January, we found a stray cat wandering outside our house. The lonely cat has a wound on her left ear and she was obviously in pain. Upon closer inspection, we noticed that this cat has two different colored eyes. I must say that it’s hard to ignore the extraordinary beauty of a cat who has two different colored eyes.

After winning her trust, we rushed her home to get the care she needed. By the way, we named her CLEO. Bringing her home was the moment everything began to change for Cleo in an immeasurable way.

Our little Cleo proved that she's truly a fighter. I can still remember how we fed, played, and cared for this fragile and broken cat during her early days inside our home — I’ll forever cherish those getting-to-know-each-other moments. After a couple of days, Cleo began to recover fast and she turned into a cat that has a sweet, playful, and lovable spirit. Cleo's days of pain and sorrow were now in the past. Cleo was finally herself — all because of love.

Fun fact: Heterochromia is the term used to describe the condition where a creature has different colored eyes — this cat has one green eye and one blue eye.

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Why did I choose Cleo as my spirit animal?

CURIOSITY • FREEDOM • GUARDIANSHIP • INDEPENDENCE • MAGIC • MYSTERY • SECRETS • SENSUALITY • SPIRITUAL POWER

According to this article, all of the traits above belong to those who has a cat as their spirit animal. I must say that those traits define me as a person — specifically the Harry Potter side of me. LOL

Cleo is independent. Remember, she was once a lonely stray cat living on the streets by herself. She had to be independent in order to survive. Being inspired by Cleo’s spirit, I can relate to her very deeply. After graduating from high school, I had to live far away from home for college. Thus, there was a need for me to be independent. It was not easy at first but I got the hang of it eventually. Being independent taught me that being alone is okay and that you’ll discover more of your strengths once you step out of your comfort zone.

Cleo is social. She has a lifestyle that includes independence yet enjoys social connections. Being alone is alright but you shouldn’t always be alone, we are social beings who need social connections. In order to feel, we have to connect with other people. You know, Cleo was very distant from us when we first met her but after showing her compassion and love, she became a very playful and affectionate cat — that eventually became a valuable part of our family. Having family and friends around me and actually interacting with them helped me express myself and know my true value.

Cleo is intelligent. Although she doesn’t know any amazing tricks, Cleo is definitely smart. She has the ability to stay quiet, be observant, then act when the time is right (when catching her own food). Hashtag Cleo the Predator, anyone? That ability can make you realize that you can also be in a better position to reach your goals in life even in moments of tension and uncertainty. You just need perfect timing.

Cleo is curious. I noticed that Cleo easily gets extremely focused and excited when she sees something new, be it a thing, an animal, or a person. Just like her, I am curious and there’s always a need for me to explore and experience something new. I guess you know by now that I’m a self-proclaimed “traveler” who is constantly longing for new adventures. When we are interested and more curious in what we are doing, it’s definitely easier to be involved, put effort, and do well.

Cleo is a visionary. Literally... As we all know, cats have the ability to see in the dark. Not all creatures in this planet has that ability. Incorporating this ability to me, it could help me start exploring areas in my life that I do not know well yet — those that are still in the dark. This will result to me learning more about myself.

Cleo is a foodie. Okay, I don’t eat cat food. But I can relate to Cleo in terms of food intake. Haha. She is one of the best food buddies you can have. She eats anything — even your leftovers! Imagine her transformation, from a weak stray cat that eats almost nothing to a beautiful and fluffy cat that eats almost anything, this kind of change in Cleo is what I’m really proud of. It’s as if I’ve raised a healthy baby. Well, Cleo is our family’s baby. Hehe.

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I know that almost everyone has various pets in their lifetime, but once in a while, a special kind of pet comes along the way that stands out from the rest. That pet inspired me to be the best version of myself, connected with me emotionally and spiritually, helped me heal from my wounds and miseries, and made me realize that love can change someone for the better. And that pet is a cat. Her name is Cleo. Our miracle cat. My spirit animal.

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This is my entry for @maverickinvictus’ ”Hayup Ka!” contest.