The Universal Cat Distribution System

By Terri Estes

The Universal Cat Distribution System (UCDS) is a fairly new concept that explains how cats and kittens end up in people’s lives. Even if you have never heard this phrase, I’ll bet you still know what it is. How many times have you heard someone say, “This cat just showed up at my door,” or “He followed me home.” Somehow people wind up with cats, even though they never intended on getting one. Basically, we don’t pick the cat, the cat picks us.

I can tell you that within my own family, the UCDS has spread its magic over the years. My sister Pat and brother-in-law Tom have been blessed with Tony, the tabby who moved in when his owner, who lived next door, died. At first, he hung out in the backyard, or front porch. Then, they made him a nice, cozy bed in the outdoor shower. Now, he is in the house. Yes, he is only allowed in the basement, but the basement is a very nice basement, and part of their living space. They didn’t want a cat. As a matter of fact, Tom is deathly allergic to cats. But now, they adore their cat.

My mom was a self-proclaimed cat hater. That is until a little tortoise shell cat followed my sister home one night. At first, my mom kept chasing that cat away every time she saw it. But that cat was persistent and kept coming back. Then one day we noticed that the little cat was pregnant. Well, that changed everything. My mom was not about to turn a soon-to-be mother away. She brought that cat in, and we named her Lil Orphan Annie. Not long after that, Annie gave birth to four kittens under my mom’s bed. We found homes for all of those kittens with friends and neighbors who also weren’t looking for a cat! The good old UCDS at work once again!

The UCDS is nice in theory. However, not every cat or kitten that is outside should be taken in as your new pet. It could be a neighbor’s cat, or they could be lost. It’s always a good idea to ask around or look for posters or ads searching for a lost cat. But the fact remains that there are plenty of cats that need homes. Each year, over three million cats enter U.S. shelter systems, and over 500,000 are euthanized.

With those numbers in mind, if a cat chooses you through the Universal Cat Distribution System, keep an open mind. Maybe you think that you don’t want a cat, or you are not ready for a cat in your life. Humans tend to be wrapped up in thoughts and ideas that cloud their instincts. Cats are more in touch, and they chose you for a reason, and usually the cat knows best, so don’t fight it, just go with it!