When the Murphy family pulled into the Yarmouth SPCA, they didn’t expect to find love at first sight. But they left with their new best friend.
“My daughter, Sierra, wanted to adopt a cat. We drove to the shelter and as we were pulling up we could see a black and white cat staring at us through the window,” says Shannon Murphy.
They toured the shelter, meeting lots of adoptable cats. When they entered the final room, they saw Felix, the big fluffy tuxedo cat, looking calm and regal.
“Sierra fell in love right away,” says Shannon. “As soon as she realized this was the cat she saw from outside, her mind was made up. Felix was coming home with us.”
Felix had arrived at the Yarmouth shelter on November 1, 2023, with a few battle scars to show for his time as a stray. His affectionate personality came through quickly and it was clear he was ready to give up his life on the streets. He waited patiently for a month before finding his forever home on December 2. It turns out, he was just waiting for the perfect family. 
Coming home meant adjusting to more than just a new space and human family, because Felix also gained two very large brothers, Winston and Hershey, the family’s Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Winston is the elder brother at 10 years old and is a bit of an old man who’s set in his ways. Hershey, at five, still bounces with puppy energy. Felix, a small 7-pound cat, was not phased and was excited to play with them from the beginning.
“Felix gets on his hind legs, opens his front paws wide, and then chases them. Winston let him know right away, with a bark, this was not acceptable behaviour. This did not deter Felix. He still goes to him, purring, for cuddles,” Shannon laughs. “Hershey, on the other hand, is more tolerant. It’s hilarious seeing this tiny cat chase a 90-pound dog around the house.”
All three animals have formed a unique bond. They wait together by the back step for their meals and treats. Felix even stands on his hind legs, placing his paws on the door where their food is kept with a look on his face that says, “move it, we’re all hungry here.”
He’s the household’s watchman too, meowing at the window to alert the family when the dogs are ready to come back inside. “If these three were a gang, Felix would be the enforcer, the one that gets the message across while the other two look on innocently,” says Shannon.
He’s clever, spicy, and has a sense of humour too. Felix discovered Winston’s aversion to squeaky toys and now weaponizes a squeaky mouse-on-a-stick whenever he wants Winston to cuddle with him. “He squeaks it, then looks at Winston until he goes upstairs,” Shannon laughs. “We’ve tried hiding it, but Felix always finds it.”
Even though he started on the streets, outdoor life no longer appeals to Felix. He made two brief escapes from the house, but both times he returned quickly. These days, he’s content to lounge in the sunroom, watching the world from a windowsill. He knows where he belongs. And where he belongs is wherever his family is.
When Shannon was sick with the flu, all three animals stayed by her, the dogs at her feet and Felix at her side. “It felt like they were watching over me,” she says. “If someone in the house is upset or crying, all three are right there. It feels like our family is a unit.”
“Adopting from a shelter is so meaningful,” says Shannon. “These animals may not have had the best experience before, but they are lovable and deserve kindness, and maybe a little pampering too.”
Felix, once alone on the streets, has filled his home with love. He’s living proof that showing a little love can get you loads in return.
