😼 Would you keep a pet who was a jerk?

Jun 4

In the past, we’ve shared the story behind Cotl’s namesake pets.

Charlie, Odin, Thor, Loki, and Domino (the name behind our legal partner, Booper Legal!) have all held a special place in the heart of our founder, Sean.

But being an animal lover to the core, his experience with pet parenthood didn’t stop with them.

A couple years after Loki passed, he and his partner, Spencer, felt it was time to get Thor a friend.

That’s when they decided to get Jack (who made this special appearance in our Christmas newsletter)!

But what happened next was something they never expected.

Welcoming Jack into their home would be a completely different experience than anyone could have imagined.

Leaving with Jack wasn’t their plan

“We were at PetSmart to check out a couple different cats, but as soon as we walked in, this little black cat just immediately jumped up and sat next to us. He was talking to us and rolling over, looking at us… He was being super affectionate and playful. You could just tell he was like, ‘Hey guys, what's up? Time for us to be friends!’” - Sean

Sean’s cats, Thor and Loki, were the best of buds. Always cuddled up next to each other, not only did they bring a sense of calm into Sean’s life… They did that for each other as well.

So when Loki passed, Thor was deeply affected.

After some time had passed, Sean and Spencer felt Thor might be ready for a new cat friend.

By this point, Thor was around 8 years old. He was very calm, but sometimes, he channeled that “grumpy old man” energy.

They knew they’d need the perfect friend to complement his personality.

Reaching out to local rescue organizations, they found a couple cats they wanted to meet: two young siblings and an older cat as well.

When they got to PetSmart where the rescue was set up, they first met the older cat. He was so terrified and scared.

While time could help him feel more relaxed, they were concerned that with grumpy Thor (and the energy of two dogs as well), it just wouldn’t be a good fit.

Then, they went on to meet the kittens. They were cute, but Sean and Spencer didn’t quite feel the connection they were hoping for.

That’s when Jack came in.

He walked right up to them and immediately made his presence known, rubbing up against them, rolling around, and meowing hello. With an affectionate, playful demeanor, he stole their hearts within seconds.

“I think we both just looked at each other, and we knew that this cat obviously had to be ours.” - Sean

It’s Jack’s world… They’re just living in it

Once they brought Jack home, they learned he was a confident cat with his own agenda.

“We tried to do the proper introduction, slowly letting the others meet him… And he just didn’t care. He immediately popped out of his carrier and started walking around the house like he owned the place. He wasn’t phased by Domino or Thor.” - Sean

Thor was not pleased. If cats could have defined emotions, he was definitely annoyed.

And Jack? He just lives in his own little world.

“There’s that phrase, ‘curiosity killed the cat,’ …That's Jack. He has almost died multiple times from his curiosity.” - Sean

One morning, around 4am, Sean could hear Jack meowing outside but just couldn’t find him.

That’s when Spencer looked up.

Jack was on top of a 2.5 story abandoned building next to their yard, peering over the edge, looking down at his humans.

Next thing they knew, Jack had jumped. He landed rough against the patio wall. Clearly in shock, he came to the door and laid there, somewhat dazed. They went straight to the vet.

Thankfully, everything was okay and just two days later, it was as if nothing happened.

This kind of strong, carefree personality was completely new to Spencer too.

“I was not a cat person before knowing Sean. With dogs, you interact with them in a very different way than you do with cats, and my experience with cats was not great… I was attacked by some moody cats growing up.” - Spencer

Thinking back to his neighbor’s aggressive cats, he was at first reluctant to be around them.

But Thor and Loki were different. They were so calm and sweet, and Spencer was able to warm up to them and accept their love.

Jack was a new experience altogether.

“He has the biggest personality of any cat I've ever encountered. I've never met such a vocal cat. He legit just talks to us and I swear, I know what he's saying.” - Spencer

Instead of spending time on a cat tower or tucked away in a safe space, Jack will place himself dead center in a room. And he won’t move if they need to walk by…

But he also loves being part of his people’s lives. Running to greet them in the driveway as they arrive home, hanging out in the middle of a party, and leading them to his toys when he’s ready to play.

The challenge they weren’t prepared for

“Jack has not been the comforting friend for Thor that we wanted him to be. That was the whole reason we got another cat… And Thor, frankly, hates him.” - Sean

When Jack tries to play, Thor usually wants nothing to do with it. But Jack also doesn’t understand Thor’s cues… He can’t restrain himself when he plays too rough.

They feed on each other’s frustration, and it becomes a cycle. Little spats will get the dogs riled up too and it turns the calm house into immediate chaos.

Jack knows how to get himself into trouble, and he ends up having to go into time out often.

“It’s quite literally just like having a toddler. He can be very sweet, but he can also be kind of rude.” - Spencer

“His personality is so huge, and it’s like he feels empowered to just do whatever he wants. It's definitely been a challenge… And I still feel bad that Thor now has this added stress in his life. That’s not what we wanted.” - Sean

The ways Jack shows love

“I feel like the bond came very naturally and it was immediate… Jack and Sean’s love languages seem to be more similar than mine and Jack’s, and so they bond more in that, but we’re all definitely bonded in our own ways.” - Spencer

Throughout the day, Jack will often come spend time with Sean and Spencer. Walking into the room, he’ll start meowing at them, as if he’s telling them what he’s been up to.

The way he rolls around, comes to them when called, constantly wants to be in their presence is a steady reminder that life is a little better when you can welcome play into it.

“I like to talk to Jack sometimes and thank him for bringing a bunch of silliness to my life, because he is so silly… I feel very connected to him.” - Sean

As Jack gets older (he’s 3 now!), he’s slowly moving out of his teenage phase and into his adult personality.

While he still fully embodies confidence and chaos, he’s also settled a bit more too.

If they’re watching TV, he’s always nearby. He’s started to sleep in the bed at night. If they’re working in the home office, he’s there too.

“He might not be a cuddly, sweet cat all the time, but he’s very silly and entertaining. He’s fun to have around. It’s just not the same as Thor, who’s constantly on your chest and rubbing himself against your face. Jack will rub up against you, say hello, and then settle down nearby.” - Sean

Life is better with Jack in it

“He’s not a cat plotting world domination. He’s just living his life, and he’s not going to apologize for how he inconveniences anyone else around him.” -Sean

“Honestly, maybe we should look to him for inspiration.” - Spencer

When Sean and Spencer consider all the things Jack does, they might say he’s made their life more difficult in a sense.

But in that, comes a lesson for patience. Can they still show up and give a cat love, even when they might feel frustration?

Turns out, the answer was always yes.

The initial thoughts of “what did we get ourselves into?” have been replaced with joy that they get to come home to a cat who feels like their buddy.

“He’s just so fun. It's kind of like a tough teenager where you love them, and they're really difficult at the same time, but they're just really difficult on the surface. Deep down, they love you too.” - Spencer