Millennium Park Stray Cat Gets Adopted by Indiana Resident Who Met Him While Ice Skating

Eunice Alpasan | December 30, 2024, 5:54 pm

Left: Buddy as a stray cat at Millennium Park. Right: Buddy with new owner Melissa Miller after being adopted. (Courtesy of PAWS Chicago)

A 2-year-old stray cat seen at Millennium Park since spring of this year now has a home after being adopted by an Indiana resident on Saturday, according to PAWS Chicago.

Melissa Miller of Michigan City, Indiana, first met the stray tabby cat, Buddy, weeks prior when she was ice skating in Millennium Park, according to a Monday news release from PAWS Chicago.

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“I had never seen a stray cat who was so open to meeting people,” Miller said in a statement.

Miller gave Buddy some water and asked local cat advocates to let her know if they ever caught him, and then provided them with her contact information. Buddy had previously avoided capture from concerned residents for months.

Buddy the cat was eventually captured and taken in by PAWS Chicago on Dec. 23. Buddy received a veterinary exam, neuter surgery and vaccines, according to the no-kill animal welfare organization.

Buddy at the PAWS Chicago Adoption Center. (Courtesy of PAWS Chicago)

The PAWS team then reached out to Miller after the person who captured Buddy provided PAWS with Miller’s contact information.

Now, Buddy will be ringing in the new year in his new home.

“I feel like it was meant to be,” Miller said in a statement. “I had been meaning to get my cat a companion for a while now, and I felt such a connection to Buddy when I met him. … He’s been so happy being home.”

Buddy loves to explore, drink water and mostly eat, Miller said.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]