Yardstick first arrived at PAWS Atlanta in a cardboard box late one evening. By the time our team arrived to bring him to safety, he had escaped the flimsy box. However, it didn't take much time to find him because he had a severe leg injury. Despite all he'd been through, he was a huge sweetheart right away, and we do mean huge. He weighed in at about 17 pounds!

It was quickly determined that Yardstick would need to have his front leg removed because of his injury. (Hence why we named him Yardstick - because he has three feet!) While healing from his surgery, Yardstick relaxed in a foster home. He learned how to get around and started adjusting to life on three legs. Once he had gained some strength, he went into foster with our partners at Second Life. A few weeks later, a family came into the store and immediately fell in love with him! They recently sent us a glowing update of their big love bug, and we couldn't resist sharing it.

Why did you decide to adopt Yardstick?

We had been thinking about adopting a cat for a while but the timing hadn't seemed right. One day, my husband and daughter came home from thrifting at Second Life and said “Mama, there’s a BIG three-legged cat!” I knew I had to go meet him. As soon as I did, it was love. I knew he’d be a good fit for our family based on his personality and his glowing bio on PAWS Atlanta's website. 

How is Yardstick doing now?

Yardstick is doing great at our house. He loves to meet and be pet by anyone who comes over to visit, including our daughter's friends who stop by and see him after school. He’s getting stronger every day and can zoom up and down the stairs so fast! His playful side has come out more over the last couple of weeks, and he entertains us nightly with his zoomies and obsession with attacking pipe cleaners.

What kind of activities does Yardstick enjoy?

Yardstick loves to play with his wand toy and have it “disappear” under a blanket. He also enjoys napping in the sunny spot in our living room, bird watching, and getting all the pets and snuggles he can.

How does Yardstick show his love?

He shows his love with big purrs and good morning meows. He always wants to be in the same room as us. He’s started giving little love bites when he feels we’re not paying enough attention to him, and he licks our five-year-old's face in the morning for snuggles when she wakes up.

What do you love most about Yardstick?

We love Yardstick's calm, patient, and confident energy. He’s the perfect addition to our little family!