After years this senior and deaf cat managed to find the home of her dreams

Bridgid Staub's request when she entered the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services was an uncommon one: "I asked which cat had been there the longest, and came home with a deaf, toothless, senior lovebug," she said. Although most people who adopt from shelters are looking for younger, more energetic pets, Staub had a different plan in mind when she found her senior cat, Cali.

Having just recovered from medical treatment, Staub had gained a different outlook on life but still felt something was missing. "I felt incomplete. After a lot of thought, I decided to go down to my city's animal services shelter to see if I connected with any of the cats," Staub explained. It was there that she met the cat she would fall in love with.

Cali was brought to the shelter after having lived as a stray on the streets. The senior cat was deaf and only had a few remaining teeth. Staub didn't let Cali's past stop her from meeting this exceptional feline.

"She was a beautiful calico cat with huge green eyes. When she was let out of her cage, she immediately let out a very loud and different-sounding 'meow.' This made me smile for the first time in a while," Staub said.

After some time in their meet-and-greet at the shelter, Cali decided Staub had passed the test. "She headbutted my hand until I pet her and then she laid down and curled up, enjoying my scritches," Staub recalled. From that point forward, cat and owner would never be separated.

It took Cali a short while to adjust to her new home, but she warmed up to it quickly. "She didn't sleep at all the first night. She was so hyper-vigilant and anxious about her new surroundings," Staub said. "The next morning it was as if a light had been switched on. She curled up on my lap while I was on the couch and fell asleep.

"Ever since then, she has slept through the night (right next to me and sometimes sharing my pillow) and has been the biggest cuddlebug," Staub said.

Who saved whom? Ask Staub, and she will say that Cali was the one who saved her. "She brings so much joy into my life and I am so thankful that I decided to adopt. This is so cliche, but so very true for me... I may have saved her life by adopting her, but she has very much saved my life as well!" Staub said.

Thankfully, Staub and Cali found each other when they needed that special something that was missing from both their lives: unconditional love. Now they will have each other to lean on no matter what comes their way.