When it’s time to bring a new pet into your home, choosing which one isn’t always an easy decision.

For some, it’s love at first sight after seeing a random pet on a social media post.

For others, it’s a careful, deliberate choice down to the smallest details. Age? Breed? They know what they want.

But for Tyler Dawson-Arroyo–pet sitter, personal assistant, visual artist, and Cotl's own Community Growth & Insights Coordinator--the decision to adopt Pamina ended up being the easiest he’s ever made–it just wasn’t the one he was expecting.

Once an animal lover, always an animal lover

“Pets were very much a part of my childhood and I was very attached to them. They were everything to me… They were a safe presence in my life.”

From the day he was born, Tyler was always around pets. And as he grew up, the connection he felt to them was very special.

At just six years old, he experienced what it felt like to lose a beloved pet dog. Then, when it was time to welcome another pet into the home, he got to choose which kitty he wanted.

“The kitty cat was the family pet but I picked her, so she felt a little bit more ‘mine.’”

Next came the golden retriever… And a divorce not too long after. If there was any bit of silver lining to the situation, it was that Tyler was about to have a lot more pets.

For a young boy who, for all intents and purposes, was an only child, these pets would become a reassuring presence in his life.

Between the two households, there ended up being two dogs, a cat, two guinea pigs, and a handful of betta fish.

“Not so much the guinea pigs, but the dogs and the cats, I considered my siblings.”

He participated in 4H with his guinea pigs, spending time with other guinea pig-toting peers trying to train them and teach them tricks.

Did it work? Not so much… But he didn’t care. He just enjoyed being present with his pets.

And that sentiment would hold true well into adulthood.

Tyler: The chosen one

“I had fallen in love with probably 50 different cats over the course of two months, but it’s funny–Pamina is actually the complete opposite of the cat I was originally looking at.”

Traveling halfway across the country to attend college and live on campus, having a pet wasn’t really feasible–or even allowed.

After college, Tyler ended up moving even further from home. He now had a place with a roommate, but it was missing one thing: a cat.

“I was going to a shelter pretty frequently but before they would let me adopt, they required me to have a job. Because of the pandemic, it took me a couple months to get work but I would still go once a week to play with the different cats.”

This shelter ran a cat cafe, where people could pay a small admission to sip lattes and cuddle with cats–not a bad idea!

But since Tyler was going so frequently, he became somewhat of a volunteer by accident. Because they could see his commitment to socializing with the cats, they let him come and go as he pleased.

As soon as he got a job though, he didn’t waste any time.

He had his eyes set on this big boy–a Maine Coon who had the reputation of being a little… spacey (they said dumb, but we don’t want to be mean)!

The cat was genuinely carefree and clumsy, often running into walls. Tyler found it endearing.

Tyler went to the shelter, ready to bring this cat home. He sat on a chair in the cafe, and something unexpected happened.

“Pamina was new to that shelter. She had been in a different one for a little bit. But I was sitting at one of the tables and she literally crawled up my leg and onto my shoulder and just sat here for a little bit. I never had that happen with any of the other cats. I was like, maybe this is my friend?”

So which did Tyler choose?

“I was like, do I want the big, dumb boy cat (said with love, of course!) or do I want the really cute, really smart, princess cat? So I went with the really cute, really smart princess cat.”

Forming an undeniable bond

From the moment he brought her home, Pamina proved to be quite an easy pet to cohabitate with.

“My roommate had never been around cats so I was telling him what to expect… But she disproved everything I said. She is a shadow, she follows you everywhere. She's not ever really hidden. She’s very affectionate and very easy going.”

Any challenge he faced was pretty minor. Like the fact that she is determined to get to food.

Cabinets, locked. Pantry, shut. Plate, guarded.

“She's gotten so bold. She'll just come up and swipe food off my plate. We try to discipline, but I feel like with cats… We grow together rather than training. It’s like, I need to meet you where you're at, and you love food, and you have no respect, and I love it.”

Tyler’s positive attitude allows for them to bond over silly moments like this.

And his life, filled with lots of travel, allowed them to experience some big moments together that would only strengthen this bond even more.

After just five months of having her, Pamina traveled with Tyler across the country, back to his home town.

…Then she traveled back home. Then to a new home. Then back to Tyler’s home town. She’s a well-traveled cat.

But instead of being fearful, Pamina was surprisingly calm.

“I just remember feeling on that first airplane trip that there’s a bond here. She really trusts me. It felt very flattering.”

Not being much of an adventurer, Pamina prefers to stick close to her human and share even the smallest moments together.

No matter the situation–whether it’s traveling across the country or being stuck with six dogs and a bunch of roommates–as long as Tyler was there, she felt safe.

“She's very trusting. It's an honor, and I try to take it very seriously. She really trusts me with her life, and I will uphold that to the best of my ability.”

Pamina knows she made the right choice

Day after day, Pamina knows exactly how to fill Tyler’s life with unconditional love.

During the day, she likes to sit on her cat tree–her watchtower–where she can oversee what’s going on. If there’s a noise or something that alerts her, it’s as if she’s there to see what’s wrong so she can protect her human.

She’s also made it clear: boundaries don’t exist with us. Which means all doors must stay open.

“For example, I used to close the door if I went to take a shower, but now, I have to deal with her batting under the door the whole time. So now it's like, everything is just community time. We're just going to do everything together.”

When Tyler paints, Pamina sits right next to his easel, wanting to be right there for the action.

And every single night, she’ll crawl under the covers and curl up right next to Tyler, ready to sleep until the next morning.

With how much love Pamina gives him, it only feels right to give it back!

This princess cat is spoiled with dozens of toys, available whenever she wants them.

“I always just laugh because it's like, we need to get rid of some of these. She has a couple favorites but she does play with all of them. So that’s just her thing. It’s like having a toddler household–We're just going to have toys everywhere.”

After working at a pet shop for a bit, Tyler learns a lot about pet nutrition. Taking her diet seriously is another way he shows his love.

Since she loves food, he likes to expose her to a variety of things to try, allowing her to experience new tastes and smells.

They also take part in little routines together: like her yearly birthday bath. The present she doesn’t love.

They’ll dress up together for special occasions, complete with little bows and hats.

And she loves being carried in Tyler’s cat backpack during walks in the city. Just don’t let her out. She’s not about to walk on her own.

While Tyler felt connected to his childhood cat, it was more like a sibling or best friend vibe.

Pamina feels more like his child that he would do anything for… And ultimately, that’s even affected how he shows up in life.

Important life lessons from sweet Pamina

“It might sound silly but I think there’s a big amount of truth to it–She’s like my hero and my role model. So many of the things I see in her, I’d like to practice myself. Know your boundaries. Have self care. Rest when you need to. I look at her and she knows what she wants. She rests without guilt. She gives affection freely. So I try to be like, ‘Yea girl, me too! Let me learn from you. How do you do this?'"

Tyler never expected that he’d learn so much about life from a cat.

Through her presence, he felt encouraged to spend more time at home than he used to. And he found he really enjoyed being somewhat of a homebody.

Because of the way she takes life one day at a time, she’s helped him feel more grounded, connected, and even more trusting too. No need to be in a rush.

Even when she had a health scare (cats and lilies do NOT mix!), once she was back to being healthy, he had some major realizations.

The fear of losing her not only showed him how much she means to him, but also reaffirmed the level of responsibility he signed up for–Responsibility he wants to have.

Even if that means leaving toxins and fire (yes, she likes candles too) out of the house, it’s a small sacrifice he’s willing to pay to keep his sweet girl safe.

But what if he’s not there?

A voracious appetite, a love of ALL the toys, a desire to be nearby at all times… These are Pamina’s sweet quirks that Tyler knows so well.

But what if Tyler wasn’t there?

If someone else had to care for her, either for a week or more long term, would she get the love and attention she’s so used to with her favorite human?