Senior Kitty Loves His Sweater So Much That He Will Cry Non-Stop If Anyone Takes It Off
Cats are famous for being picky, but Steve, an 18-year-old kitty in New Jersey, has taken that reputation in a very different direction. Instead of rejecting clothes, he has become completely attached to one sweater and apparently has no interest in giving it up.
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His owner says the cozy habit started by accident, then turned into a full-on routine that helps Steve stay comfortable as he gets older.
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It is a small quirk, but it has made Steve a favorite online. Read on.
Steve lives in New Jersey, and his mom has plenty to say about her beloved senior kitty:
“I’ve had Steve since he was about 8 weeks old. I was 12 at the time, and my family was living in Phoenix, AZ.”
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She continued: “A family friend’s cat had kittens, and my parents took my little sister to pick one out since he was supposed to be hers.”
“The last part didn’t work out so well—he was kept in a separate room for the first bit so he and our older cat could get acclimated to each other. He cried constantly, and I would sneak in to comfort him because I felt bad.”
She told Bored Panda:
“Long story short, he got attached to me—much to my sister’s initial dismay (though we later got a dog, and she was thrilled since she likes dogs much more than cats). I actually have an old ‘contract’ drawn with markers that she gave me for my birthday a few years later, saying that he was ‘officially’ mine. Steve and I have had 18 wonderful years together since.”
Steve absolutely loves wearing sweaters.
“He’s got personality in spades.”
“He’s hugely affectionate. He loves to come up when I’m lying down and cuddle into my chest and arms so I can hold him while we nap or while I read.
He constantly tries to groom me too, particularly around my forehead and the sides/back of my neck.”
For all of his sweetness, however, Steve suffers from anxiety.
“He has been on Prozac before to help manage it while I’ve been away on internships since otherwise, he stops eating. At the same time, he’s a demanding prima donna who isn’t afraid to scream at me if he’s the least bit displeased.”
Discovering his affection for sweaters, however, was purely coincidental. As she prepared to move cities, she put Steve in a sweater in case he got cold during their flight!
“I found out he liked wearing sweaters during the move from Phoenix to New Jersey.
I went out about a month ahead of him with the furniture (in January 2019) while he continued to live with my parents so I could get things settled/unpacked and so he wouldn’t go through the stress of a cross-country drive. Since he was going to be flying out in early February with my best friend, I picked up the sweater before I left to make sure he’d be warm during the flight and in his carrier until he got to my apartment.”
“He didn’t like it at first, but by the time he landed, he was happy to wear it.”
“He’s an arthritic old desert cat, so I’m sure it feels good on his creaky bones. I don’t keep him in it during the warmer months, but it’s his third favorite thing (behind his heated bed and my heated blanket) as soon as temperatures drop.”
That accidental sweater test turned into a permanent habit.
That affection turned to obsession! Now, if you take Steve's sweater off... he cries until you put it back on.
“He’s fine with someone taking it off initially (as in he won’t claw or bite), but if it doesn’t go right back on, he’ll cry and complain incessantly for hours. The moment it goes back on, he’ll quiet down immediately and snuggle up to sleep.”
Steve lives his best life in New Jersey now, at 18 years old.
“He’s pretty chatty overall—he likes to talk back to me when he wants something if I say anything to him.”
She also said:
“He’s also the biggest weirdo—he’s graceless and rolls off the bed when stretching, will eat any plant he can get access to, tries to roll in bleach, likes to try to lick deodorant and paint, and drools from happiness when you scratch just the right spot behind his ears.”
Steve has been shared on Imgur a few times now, and people LOVE him.
The internet was quick to weigh in.
And if you think the sweater stakes are intense, a woman “killed” her boyfriend’s cat after he refused, and their friends took sides.
They always have plenty to say about this peculiar puss.
Plus, it's easy to see that Steve is a cute and well-loved kitty.
He's also now rockin' his Instagram account.
Which, let's face it... cats being on Instagram is one of the best parts of the Internet.
18 Years IS Impressive
People kept coming back to Steve's age and charm.
Steve's owner said: “I’m thrilled that people have liked seeing him! He’s my best boy, so reading all the comments from people who love him has been amazing.”
She added:
“The internet has been so sweet, too. Several people offered to knit him new sweaters, and Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert, notes that pets can significantly enhance our emotional well-being. She states, 'Pets provide unconditional love and companionship, which can be incredibly comforting.' The attention is kind of funny since I don’t really have any social media presence myself, but if he makes people happy, then I’m happy to provide as many pictures as the internet wants,” she shares on her website susandavid.com.
Best of luck in life, Steve. Especially as far as sweaters are concerned, and your new-ish Instagram account!
For more “too much love” drama, see the Redditor weighing whether to rehome their clingy cat.
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