When I rescued my cat, Hazel, she was 9 months old and had been at the Humane Society for six months. After being returned by a family due to biting behavior, Hazel had been left in the back room without being rotated into the adoption population for weeks. She was in a desperate situation, and at risk of euthanasia due to overcrowding. Hazel's time at the shelter was running out, and she needed to find a forever home. When I first saw her, my heart melted. She looked like a miniature tiger, and acted like one, too. I was so happy to take her home, and I knew we would have many adventures together. Hazel has taught me so much about life. Here are four of those lessons.

Hazel has undergone a remarkable transformation during our years together. She is the most feisty, loyal, and complicated cat I've ever known. The rejection she experienced was because of no fault of her own, and required lots of patience and understanding to overcome. I couldn't imagine my world without Hazel, and I'm so thankful to have had her teach me so much about love and life. I only hope I've done the same for her.

Image Source: Rachel Alger

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I Adopted a Traumatized "Street Cat," and She's Made My Life Infinitely Better - POPSUGAR