For as long as she can remember, Deb Clay has opened her heart to animals in need.
Over the years, she’s worked at veterinary practices and volunteered with rescues, often finding herself drawn to the ones who seemed most overlooked.
Her home has always been a safe place for strays — and sometimes, it feels as if the animals know it, too.
How Five Rescue Cats Helped Their Mom Heal
One by one, five cats arrived on her doorstep, each in need of food, shelter, and kindness.
Though she and her husband initially considered finding homes for them, something about the way each cat settled in made it clear: they were already home.
Mojo, Faith, Ossie, Holley, and Timmy are now part of the family. Together, they fill the Clay household with a mixture of comfort, humor, and sometimes a bit of chaos.
But most of all, they give back in ways Deb could never have imagined.
A Difficult Surgery, and an Unexpected Response
Not long ago, Deb underwent knee replacement surgery. The operation went well, but recovery proved to be slow and painful. She spent most days in bed, resting, and trying to adjust to her limited mobility. It wasn’t long before her five watchful companions noticed that something wasn’t quite right.
Normally, the cats have their own routines. Some are affectionate, some more independent, and there’s a bit of “cat politics” between certain members of the group.
Rarely do all five settle together at once. But when they realized their mom was hurting, they seemed to reach an unspoken agreement.
One by one, the cats made their way onto Deb’s bed. Mojo curled at her side. Faith tucked herself close by her shoulder.
Ossie stretched across her feet. Holley nestled in against the blankets. Finally, Timmy joined the group, filling the last bit of space.
Before long, Deb found herself surrounded by a warm, purring circle of love. It wasn’t their usual behavior, and she knew it.
They were telling her in the only way they could: We know you’re hurting. We’re here.
“I was resting with all of them with me,” she recalled. “It was unusual for all of them to be with me, as there is a little cat politics between a couple. But I felt super chilled with them around me.”
Healing Through Love and Loyalty
Recovering from major surgery is never easy. The physical pain, the frustration of slowed movement, the long hours spent alone — all of it can weigh heavily on someone’s spirit. But Deb never truly felt alone. Her five cats made sure of that.
They became her guardians, keeping close as she rested, and offering the steady rhythm of their purrs as a kind of natural therapy.
For Deb, their presence wasn’t just comforting — it was healing. “They made me feel safe,” she said. “It was like they knew I needed them.”
Now, as her recovery continues, the bond between Deb and her cats feels stronger than ever.
What began as a rescue — five strays who appeared at her door looking for shelter — has become a powerful story of love returned.
“They all play a different role in my life,” she explained. “But together, they remind me that I’m never really alone.”
Deb often jokes that her home must have an invisible sign above it: Lost, starving, hurt — come here. For Mojo, Faith, Ossie, Holley, and Timmy, that sign led them to safety.
And for Deb, it meant having five little healers by her side when she needed them most.
Her story is a reminder of the unique, quiet way animals give back to the humans who save them. Sometimes, their love is the very medicine we don’t even know we need.