🐾 T is for “Thor”
✨ A special series highlighting Cotl’s namesake pets ✨
Cotl (pronounced “coddle”) is an acronym for the names of four pets–Charlie, Odin, Thor, and Loki–who supported our founder, Sean, during the most significant stages of his life.
Sean’s relationship with these pets taught him that pets are more than just something we own. They’re family members with their own wants and needs. In this series, we share the story of each of them.
Once you’ve experienced the unconditional love only a pet can give, it’s impossible to continue living without that.
That’s why when Sean unexpectedly lost Odin after less than two years of having him, the void he felt was strong.
Craving a connection like he had with his beloved cat, he knew he needed another.
Not to replace him, of course… But to feel that special bond he so badly missed.
A life without cats was no longer an option
“Thor came into my life very quickly after Odin died. I really wanted to have a cat in my life again after having that bond with him. Looking back on it, it probably would have been healthier to have grieved that experience a little bit more first…
But thankfully, good things come out of bad decisions sometimes.”
The void Odin left was hard to ignore, and just a few months after he was gone, Sean found himself looking for another cat. (If you missed it, you can read about sweet Odin here.)
Scrolling through various adoption websites, he came across a picture of Thor and knew he was the one.
Just three months old and clearly sick, Sean saved him from a shelter that was unfortunately very overrun and likely over capacity.
The rough start to Thor’s life didn’t phase him though.
After an immediate vet visit and about an hour in his new home, he was already quite settled and ready to make his presence hard to ignore.
The quirks that make Thor so special
“He's the most aggressively affectionate animal I've had, especially for a cat. When he wants cuddles or he wants attention, he’s getting his attention.”
Thor doesn’t believe in boundaries, quickly making any accessible surface his for the taking.
Sometimes that means climbing up someone’s face for snuggles or perching on an available body just trying to relax on the couch.
And the moments when Sean and his partner “need” space? Those are exactly the times when Thor requests the most attention. (What a cat thing to do.)
Even as a kitten, his small-but-mighty personality took charge when it came to getting what he wanted–not just with humans, but with the dogs too.
One of the first things he did in his new home was walk right up to Charlie, a large Australian Shepherd (and another one of our Cotl namesakes!), and rub back and forth underneath her chin while she was lying down.
And when she tried approaching him, not on his terms, he hissed and arched his back to prove he wasn’t scared of anything.
It didn’t matter how tiny he was, being around large dogs never phased him.
“In many ways, I think he thought he was part of the dog pack. He’s still like that with dogs now.”
Making the dogs his “victims,” Thor would sprint around the house with them, then take a quick turn to hide behind an object.
As they walked back, trying to find where their little friend went, he would jump out and swat their butts then run off.
They’d chase each other back and forth, not caring about the difference in size or species, all while providing entertainment for those around.
The challenges Sean never saw coming
Being an energetic, rambunctious kitten, Thor often went outside to explore the yard with the dogs, sniffing various plants and observing all the activity around him.
But after Sean and his ex went their separate ways, Sean got his own place–yard not included.
“He would just sit at the window and howl, pawing at the window trying to get outside. And if there was a bird outside, he would just lose his mind.
I even tried to take him outside with the little harness and leash… But I realized after a while that it was torturing him. Every time we came in, he would just remember there’s an outside and get so sad again.”
Sean had to come to terms with the fact that his cat would have to remain indoors.
To try and provide more socialization, he decided to get Thor a friend.
Loki (who we’ll talk about in a future newsletter, stay tuned!) was about a year younger than Thor, but his temperament couldn’t be any different.
While Thor was wild and assertive, Loki was sweet and calm.
The initial moments together were rough, Thor often taking his pent-up anger out on Loki, but Loki remained loving throughout, eventually providing comfort to Thor instead of frustration.
Luckily, this didn’t last long.
When it was time for Sean to find a home, his main requirement was a safe, enclosed yard for the cats.
One acquired, it seemed like all the challenges had finally come to an end…
Until Thor’s best bud Loki passed about three years ago at just five years old.
“That was the first time I’ve ever seen a cat depressed. Thor definitely grieved him and was really down during that experience.”
Sean would find Thor sitting outside on the back patio, looking off into the distance–something he hadn’t done before.
He also became more vocal and more demanding of attention.
Instead of rushing to get a new cat this time, Sean waited a couple years before getting Thor a new companion again.
“Plot twist… Thor hates Jack. Jack wants to play and is super high energy. Thor is ten now, so he’s kind of a grumpy old man.”
The effect Thor’s had doesn’t go unnoticed
“He’s the longest I’ve ever had a pet. Having that presence for almost ten years in my life has been a constant through a lot that has happened over the years.”
Sean’s bond with Thor formed effortlessly nearly ten years ago and has stayed strong over the years.
And at times, while everything seemed to be uncertain or changing, Thor’s been the one thing that he can always rely on being there.
So many of Sean’s memories of Thor involve Loki too, the three of them just hanging out while Sean watched TV or read a book.
The fact that he could let them go outside and they’d always come back was reassuring too, knowing that they could go and explore but they also knew where home was.
“The reliability of having them there and being able to experience that for so long is very special to me in many ways. They were always part of my home.
And even now, Thor just feels like home.”
Knowing his presence is still there, even after so long, is one of the most comforting and calming things Sean still gets to experience every day.
Cotl exists because of Thor (and Loki!)
“It was so much fun to be a crazy pet parent to Thor and Loki and watch them have so much fun. To see them be stimulated and fulfilled and not just bored… It made me want to protect that.
That’s when the idea for Cotl started coming up, because I never wanted my cats to not have the life they had with me.”
During the time he had these two cats is when Sean really started to embrace his “crazy pet parent” side.
Beyond purchasing a house with them in mind, he’d constantly come up with new ways to spoil and entertain them.
They got to try different kinds of treats and toys, and even “smart” toys that would zip across the room, enticing them to chance it down.
Sean took stimulation to the next level though, purchasing live crickets from the pet store (yes, you read that right!), to release in his home.
The cats would go crazy, running around and hunting them down, until they were hopefully all gone.
Knowing his cats were so well cared for, and seeing firsthand just how happy and safe they felt in their home, was exactly why Sean knew he, and other pet parents, needed Cotl.
Life can go unexpectedly sometimes, but by having a plan in place for his pets, he knows his cats will always live this life they’ve grown to thrive in–no matter what happens to him.
But, can you say the same for yours?
Right now, your pets are used to this life you’ve created for them.
And while you may have someone in mind who will take them in case of an emergency, are they really prepared to follow through?
Putting a Cotl plan in place ensures your pet is taken care of, just the way they’re used to, no matter what happens to you.
