Chuck Hawley first met Sticky in 2018, when he found the tiny kitten glued to the pavement.
The two quickly became firm friends, with the besotted cat dad even writing a children's book to share Sticky's story.
"Sticky was no normal cat. He was pure magic", Chuck told The Dodo.
Grieving for his friend
In late 2024, Sticky's health deteriorated and Chuck had to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep. With Sticky's paw resting gently in his hand, he and his wife said a heartbreaking goodbye.
Shortly after losing Sticky, Chuck was passing the Oregon Humane Society, when he felt compelled to go inside.
Deep in grief, he wasn't necessarily looking for a new companion. So when staff told him all the kittens had gone to new homes, he took it as a sign that the time wasn't right.
But it seems life had other plans for the cat lover, who was walking back down the corridor when a fluffy tabby paw reached out towards him.
"I turned to leave and this paw reached out and tapped my arm", he recalled. "He just left it there. Like he knew what I needed and his whole mission was to make me feel better".
Meant to be
Chuck pulled back the tarpaulin that was covering the cage, and discovered a sweet male cat staring back at him.
Instantly, he knew he couldn't leave him behind.
"He was obviously the one I was sent there to meet", wrote Chuck, sharing his remarkable story to Facebook.
Allen has settled in with Chuck so well, it's as if he's always lived there.
"I can't imagine where I'd be at this point if Sticky hadn't sent Allen to find me", the cat lover explained.
