Caturday Tales: Baby, Our Favorite Night-Shift 'Coworker'

There is a certain kind of stillness that only exists in the deep hours of a night shift. It’s a quiet that feels heavy and soft all at once, like a thick velvet blanket draped over the world. When you work while the rest of the town sleeps, your senses sharpen. You notice the way the Appalachian air cools, the distant hum of a refrigerator, and the occasional rustle of life in the shadows of the parking lot.

Usually, my nighttime neighbors are the shy ones: a skunk waddling through the bushes, a curious possum, or the occasional stray cat that disappears the moment you blink. They are rugged survivors, beautiful in their wildness, but rarely do they seek connection.

Then came Baby.

An Unexpected Shadow at the Glass

It started like any other evening. I was busy doing my paperwork and would occasionally glance out through the glass doors, watching the moonlight play across the pavement, when a shape emerged from the darkness. It wasn't the usual darting movement of a stray looking for a scrap; it was a steady, purposeful walk.

Suddenly, there he was: a gentle soul in a coat of soft gray and white, peering right through the glass at me.

When I stepped outside, I expected him to vanish into the night. Instead, he stayed. As I reached out, he didn't flinch: he leaned in. He was a soulful little thing, rubbing up against my legs with a desperate, tender kind of affection. My heart sank a little when I felt the telltale bumps of ticks beneath his fur, but his spirit was undeterred. He was sweet, he was loving, and he was very, very hungry. It was also clear he wasn't used to the "outside" life at all. He didn't carry himself like a cat who had learned to survive out there; he felt like a cat who had once known the comfort of doors, routines, and people nearby. Even in that rough moment, you could tell someone had taken care of him and loved him before he found his way to the hotel.

Thankfully, I’ve always been one to believe in being prepared for a wandering heart. I always keep an extra can of cat food in my bag, just in case a visitor like this finds their way to me. That first night, I also gave him a good bowl of water, and it was impossible not to notice just how incredibly thirsty he was. Seeing him eat and drink that night felt like more than just meeting a stray; it felt like the beginning of a journey.

The Lobby’s Little Resident

I wasn't alone in falling for our new friend. My boss, a woman with a heart as big as the country sky and a deep love for animals, was just as smitten. Caring for Baby quickly became a team effort. Coworkers from the day shift, the 3-11 shift, and really all of the hotel staff looked out for him. We made sure he had food, fresh water, and gentle attention every single day, and soon, "Kitty": who we eventually called Baby: became a part of our shared rhythm.

There’s something so grounding about having a pet nearby. In my work at Abood Elegant Journeys, I spend my days (and nights!) thinking about how to preserve life’s most precious moments in resin. Whether it’s a custom pet memorial figurine or a pair of nature-inspired earrings, the goal is always to hold onto a story. Baby became a story we were living in real-time.

My boss eventually gave me the "okay" to let him into the lobby at night. It gave me such a sense of comfort to have him there. He would lay in the lobby, a vibrant presence against the quiet backdrop of the hotel, keeping me company through the long hours. During the quiet moments of my shift, he would just hang out with me like we were old friends, turning those slow overnight hours into something softer and less lonely.

He was incredibly smart. He knew exactly when shift change was. Like clockwork, he would wait for us to come out, change his water, and provide his morning meal.

Healing and Heartfelt Connections

While he stayed with us, we did our best to care for him. I bought him flea and tick treatments, determined to let those pesky intruders know they weren't welcome on our friend. He was already neutered, which made us wonder about his past: who had he belonged to? Where did he come from?

The guests loved him just as much as we did. He was a spoiled little king, receiving head scratches from weary travelers and even toys from kind-hearted strangers. But my favorite moments were the ones that were just us. When the lobby was empty and the world was silent, it was just me and Baby, hanging out, sharing the space. It was a "warm hug" of a connection during those lonely night hours.

A Journey Home (And a Mystery Solved)

We knew that as much as we loved his company, a hotel lobby wasn't a forever home. One of the girls I work with worked tirelessly to find him the perfect place, and eventually, she found someone who wanted to give him the life he deserved.

Before he went to his new home, she took him to the vet. That’s when the story took a rugged turn. They found a microchip.

The chip traced him all the way back to South Carolina. We were stunned! How did this little gray and white traveler end up so far from home? The vet reached out to the registered owners multiple times, but the calls went unanswered. It was a bittersweet realization: his past life had closed its doors, but it cleared the way for a brand-new chapter.

Now, Baby has his very own person. He is in a happy, safe, forever home where he doesn't have to worry about ticks, hunger, or scary closing doors.

Preserving the Memory

Even though we know he’s happy, we all miss him terribly. The night shift feels a little quieter, a little less vibrant without his soft purr in the lobby.

This experience reminded me why I do what I do at Abood Elegant Journeys. Our pets aren't just animals; they are coworkers, companions, and keepers of our hearts. When they move on: whether it's to a new home or across the rainbow bridge: we feel that space they leave behind.

I’ve always found peace in creating pieces that honor these bonds. Baby even inspired some of the heartfelt spirit behind our Caturday collection, especially these crescent moon cat earrings. There is something about the pair together that feels so close to those quiet Radford night shifts: a little mysterious, a little magical, and full of tender companionship.

They capture that same soulful glow Baby brought to the lobby each night, turning ordinary overnight hours into a story worth preserving.

Some pieces feel even more like a direct tribute to the cats who leave paw prints on our hearts, just like Baby did for me during those long shifts. This black cat heart pendant was created in honor of BK, the cat who chose me as his person, and it carries that feeling so beautifully, turning affection, memory, and companionship into something you can hold close.

Pieces like these are a gentle way to celebrate the cats who wander into our lives and leave their pawprints on our hearts.

If you’ve ever had a "Baby" in your life: a stray that found you just when you needed some company: I invite you to reflect on that journey. These animals are gifts, appearing in our lives like mountain blooms after a rain, brief but breathtakingly beautiful.

A Gracious Farewell

Thank you for letting me share Baby’s story with you this Caturday. It’s a reminder that even in the middle of a parking lot, or in the quietest hours of the night, connection is waiting to be found.

Whether you are celebrating a current furry friend or holding onto the memory of one who has moved on, I hope you find joy in the small, "glossy" moments of life today. If you ever want to chat about creating a custom keepsake to honor your own "hotel cat" or beloved pet, I’m always here to help you tell that story.

Stay sweet, stay loving, and happy Caturday!

With a heartfelt purr, Katie 🐾

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