I love how he mentioned how the cat gave him "structure". This is such an important driver when you're experiencing any kind of depression. My cat saved me too.
When my favourite cat was killed by a snake, my heart broke like a boulder crushed by an avalanche. I have never felt such grief. 9 years on, I still grieve him, my little feral tabby. Thinking of all those who have been loved by a cat, and loved them back. 🐈⬛️
My Merlin was my spirit animal. I haven’t been able to adopt another because I still grieve him even though I had to say goodbye to him over 10 years ago. The pain of that loss is with me everyday 😢
@@jerushamaxwell281 - yes! I came out first and just moved into our new house, I had NO phone. No TV. I was sitting in the living room reading, and our three cats were positioned all over the sofa with me. One by one, they got up, started a low growl, and walked from window to window, and to the side door. I saw a large shadow in the breeezeway. I NEVER would have known anyone was there unless our cats alerted me. Nothing happened but I was very happy to have advance notice IF something went wrong. Cats ARE amazing ❣❣❣
My cat Murphy adopted me. He was a starving stray literally crying under my window. I opened the door and he walked into my life. The best friend I have even had.
@bootskanchelsis3337, for us too! Very similar story. We moved into our home in 2003. About a month later, I was vacuuming the living room. I kept turning the vacuum off, because I kept hearing an odd sound. I looked through the peephole in the entrance door, & saw a cat standing there, crying to come in. I opened the door, & she walked right in. Long story short, we had Zoey for nearly 17 years. She died due to a freak accident on April 29, 2018. We still grieve for her. She was a beautiful soul.
To remind him of some important points that he was leaving out. He wasn't doing "just fine", he was skipping over too much of the story. And the later comments added some cute cat humor and a nice human-interest feel to the story. They know what works best for most viewers, and they were helping him provide that.
I have no use for people who say, "It's just a cat." or "It's just a dog." I am extremely wary of people who cannot accept someone of another species as worthy of love and care. That raises a big red flag with me because it tells me something important about them.
And that doesn't even get into the fact that to him, it wasn't "just a cat". I was his little friend that he found just when he really needed one. It's irrelevant what someone else thinks about her, she was important to him. That's something that a lot of people dont seem to get, things (or animals, or people or ideas) may be important to someone even if they are not important so someone else. I remember one time when I was having a tough time and a friend who was super religious , in addition to being a supportive friend, told me that he was praying for me. (And unlike some people out there, it wasn't just an act so that he could be a total jerk and then tell people he was a good person because he "knew Jesus". ) Im an atheist. But i said to him, 'You know I don't believe in that, but I know that you do, so thank you. I really appreciate you doing whatever you can to help.' People need to learn to respect each other again. Respecting other people with different beliefs and opinions doesn't mean agreeing with them, or letting people force their views or way of life on you. It means understanding that there are things that are important to other people that may not be important to you and acting accordingly. It may be the case that we sometimes come into conflict when the wants and needs of one person directly and irreconcilably conflict with those of another, but usually it's not so extreme and it's just a matter of being polite, being a good neighbor and giving people the same respect you expect for yourself. As such, someone could reasonable say "I don't understand why people attach so much importance to a cat" or "I think people get way too attached to a dog". These are statements of facts of which they have direct knowledge. They don't get it. And they don't agree. They are entitled to not understand and they are entitled to have a different opinion. But it absolutely IS more than "just a cat" or "just a dog" if only because it's important to someone else. It's just a matter of fundamental respect for that other person.
My former partner (before the dear gent I married in 2008)..? My cats would snarl, arch their backs and run from him. Turned out James was a card carrying nasty-boy. That said, children and animals climb all over my kind, warm, second hubby.
I totally relate to this. My precious cat died exactly 1 years ago today. For the first time in 36 years my house was empty. No one to wait on and spoil. No structure. 3 months later I adopted my new boss from the rescue shelter. I like to believe my previous cat chose us for each other because we needed each other.
I lost my cat Elmer after almost 21 years last October. I couldn't finish watching the first time I came across this story and had to book mark it and come back and later. 😿
People like Joe just don't get it. A love for a cat/dog, etc, is something so special. Their loss has a huge impact. I love my fur-babies more than I love people.
People who say they don't like cats have never really spent time with cats. They will win you over. They all have interesting personalities and intricacies that will draw you in.
They're usually people who are allergic but I'm always like, how is your weak, compromised immune system the fault of a cat? That's on you. Cats just catting and you just hating for no rational reason.
@@SueSnellLivesI never believe it when someone says they’re allergic. My now fiancé was never a cat person and said he has allergies. I told him his allergies don’t exist and he’s not used to cats. 8 years later he loves our cat just like a son. He will burry his face in his fur. Somehow his allergies randomly vanished ! 😉
My cat alerted and woke my conked-out roommate when I needed an ambulance (seizure from UTI). The medics got called and I live to talk about it. And I do pay attention to what she's staring at, because she's alerted me to other creatures in distress, like a baby rabbit drowning in the pool, a frog trapped in a pipe, a sick squirrel, a random orphan duckling, etc. Respect!
Tom, you will never be able to replace her…there are so many cats that need a loving home which you and your wife will provide. She would be proud that you would continue her loving legacy by adopting one of her peeps. I am 74 year old widow. My son brought Harry to me when he rescued him from a dumpster. My life has changed for the better. He and his sister-dog, Sienna, are the best of friends too. Loved your story
That was our thoughts exactly. Once our cat Zoey died, we thought she'd want us to continue on this path. Saving one cat at a time. We presently have Zayna, & her son Ziggy.
What a delightful man. He deserved her, & she deserved him. & she saved him & his missus from the fire. No wonder they miss her so much. I hope they open their lives & home to another cat!🐱💕
My mom's cat Putty woke her up one night when I was about four years old. My mom smelled the smoke and my parents carried us out of the house. We stood outside and watched our house burn. The fire department came, Putty was fine, and our house was gone. All of the important things survived.
Tom, watch for the next cat Carla sends. I am serious. It happens to us. Our cats live a long time, and when they die a wonderful cat shows up within a year or two demanding to live with us. Our current cat has paw scars from an apparently long journey and starved. She parked herself at our front door and that was that. She is now a very talkative indoor boss that knows a lot of words. We can tell her previous human was a wonderful human being, because of the way she responds to certain words and singing. We are so happy she found us.
We had a rescue cat when we lived on 10 acres in San Diego County. She came with the house. The previous owners gave her to a neighbor but she kept coming back to the house. We put a mobile home on the property for our friends to live in. They painted it and so slept outside on a flat rock due to the fumes. Our cat, who normally stayed on the flat part of our house roof, went 300 yards down to the mobile home. She kept rubbing our friend, Bruce's head. He hated cats. He told her to go away. Then he realized she was between his head and a rattlesnake in the bushes. They got up and spent the rest of the night in the mobile home. Bruce then liked our cat, but she was the only one. Also, in 1993, one night she yowled outside our bedroom window (she preferred to be outside). I saw extreme wind outside so I went to the window to let her inside. Then I saw the glow of a wildfire over the hill. She woke us up in time to evacuate. The fire went through our entire 10 acres.
I lost my Diablo this past Wednesday. He was 15 years old and my best friend. My condolences on your loss and thank you for sharing what she meant to you.
I’m sorry for your loss. I know how difficult that is and how heartbreaking it is every time you THINK you see your baby out of the corner of your eye only to remember that they’re not there anymore. Your heart will tell you when it’s time to adopt another cat in need, but Carla will never be replaced.
I have always loved cats ! Animals are pure friends . They are never two-faced , they never conspire against you , they appreciate the food and water you give them , and they have NO sin .
It’s so beautiful how he speaks about her. I can totally relate. When I lost my cat Lily, I’d sometimes think I’d see her out of the corner of my eye. She was a little character for sure. The best cat ever. I wish she was still here. ❤️🐱
i have a similar story except my cat is still kicking. He definitley saved me by just listening to me rant over the years. the best company a guy could ask for.
I lost my cat last year and in her short 5 years of life , she gave me immense love and joy and added so much meaning and purpose to my life. Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. Cats are amazing ❤
Beautiful story! I lost my cat Peaches in July 2023. I had him for 16 years but he may have been older than that even. He was battling intestinal cancer for over 5 years and finally it was time. I miss him every day. ❤❤❤❤❤
I hope they get another cat soon. It's the best thing to do. They will fall in love with their new kitty. There's no betrayal to love another cat after the loss of one especially if you are good cat owners. They need you! ❤️
When I was a Platoon leader in Afghanistan, we used to have a cat that hang around the FOB, the cat will patrol around the base and get scrap from soldier who throw anything at it. One of those day we are doing some patrol outside the wire, about an hour into the patrol the cat shows up, which is strange as it doesn't usually leave the base during daytime, so we take 5 and stop and play with the cat. after a while, maybe 2 or 3 minutes, the cat leaves and we are readying to go, just as we are about to set off again an IED exploded about a click down our track, we would have been around there if we had not stopped for those 5 minutes. And the cat was never seen again around our FOB. I still believe the cat save our life by triggering that IED, some say they saw the cat still around, but I never saw it again.
cosplay... I'm not going to 'thank you for your service'---I'm saying, it's so good you're here and shared this cat with us. I'm beyond appreciative that the cat found all of you, and yáll took the time to respect the cat. Not bad for a platoon leader. Two of my brothers went & returned from Vietnam---a couple tours, both very changed, but alive. I'm really glad you made it back. NOW, I can say 'thank you'. I hope you're okay.
Thank you for this story! People need to understand how special cats can be. My cat was virtually identical to Carla is every way. Black Norwegian Forest Cat. Huge. So much presence, he was my keeper, loved hotel visits and road trips. Bossy. RocStar loved me like we were life partners. 17 years. 🐾❤️
The cats who ‘choose’ us have been placed on our paths when we need them. My cat-friend Jade walked into my life when I too felt I had no business taking care of a cat. Jade followed me home 5+ years ago. That was one month before I went through [another] major life shift
I love the way Mika said they should do more cat stories. Usually I don't like it when people describe the things they like best about their cats as "more like a dog," but in this case I think I can overlook it.
I read this article and cried. So true about how our animals make us better, kinder, and happier. And sometimes they save not only our souls, they save our lives.
Thank you Tom for sharing your beautiful and emotional story about the amazing Carla T. Nichols. 🩷 As I watched you tell it on Morning Joe, then went to read the story in full… tears streamed down my face. 😢 Once in a while - if we’re fortunate, we are graced by a beautiful spirit with four legs and fur. Someone who we know is extra special - and when they leave us, what’s left behind is a huge hole in our hearts and a lifetime of wonderful memories. You said you thought you saw Carla when you stepped into the room for the interview. She was there. She’s always there with you. RIP good girl 🌈🩷 Watch over dad and mom until you meet again.
I just lost my cat March 4th from a three-story apartment complex that caught fire. The fire started right across from my apartment and I barely made it out alive. My cat was hiding and I was begging them to find her but they threw me down the stairs practically to get me safe and my cat never came out. She was always hiding with every little noise there was even though she was 6 years old and it was the same old people that came in my house which was hardly ever . She would hide during the 4th of July because the fireworks. Imagine what she was going through when it was an actual fire. I never got to see or go up to the third floor as it was pretty much gone . It's been a really hard road but the Lord has really helped me a lot. He got me into another apartment complex which is nicer so I am so grateful for that. And many more things he has done but I will not carry on I just wanted to share my story with someone. My cat's name was Missy and she was black with some brown patches that Blended in . There's so many things I'd like to say about her but it'll be too long❤
Can folks pls stop saying that cats are being "doglike" when they do altruistic things? All my family's cats have had amazingly loving personalities and saved each of us in dozens of ways every day.
Thank you for taking the time to share this article and experience. It’s too bad when people dismiss our grief over the loss of our animal companions with words like “It’s just a cat” (or dog, etc.). They’re our family and there are no rituals to mourn them: no wake, memorial service, mass or any other form of farewell. I recently found out that there are therapy groups for mourning a pet in some countries, and that there are grief counselors, too. Sadly that’s not the case in my country, and I’m burdened by so much loss in recent years. Sometimes, I don’t know how to cope with my grief.
I had a kitten save my life, I knew if I left this world that no one would love and care for that kitten as much as I did..so I decided to stay here on earth to care for that kitten. Had him for 20 years. RIP Cheech E Boom.
Mica, I am right there with you. I miss my cat and this lovely story about Carla brings tears to my eyes! The look Joe gave Mica when she wiped her tear was the look of someone who likes dogs more than cats!
@TomNichols - I get it - especially the comfort and then grief that comes from _seeing_ her out of the corner of your eye when you enter a room. The loss of such a friend, spiritual guru, and _raison d’êtra_ ....
So very sorry for your loss, Tom. For quite a while my day wasn't right until I checked Twitter for Carla's latest hair band escapade and video. I have only logged in X a few times lately and it was solely to check on Carla. I have my Misty and Gidget but I will miss your accounts of your interactions with Carla. RIP
Cats are so intuitive & beautiful. My cat MooMoo saved me. She cried at the bathroom door, so i got out of the bath & she then walked to he laundry & hissed. I knew something was off. I walked to the laundry door & and there was a man standing a few feet away. Luckily, he jumped the fence & i called the police. That's my girl❤
Tom says he “sees her out of the corner of his eye!” I say the same thing about my cats who have passed. One of them, named Minnie, left us tragically. She wasn’t ready to go and we weren’t ready for her to leave. She was besties with our rescue dog Annie who was in such a state of grief when she died. To this day, (we lost Minnie a few years ago) our dog stares outside to their favorite spot and appears to see something. I know that her spirit lives on in our lives and home. We still have on cat and he’s a lover boy tiger that we adore. I do hope that Tom and his wife welcome a new feline to their home, they are great pets. I loved this store, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this story. My own dear cat is fading quickly…just a matter of days now. I don’t want her to suffer, but sweet Jesus, I’m going to be completely shattered when she’s no longer here 💔
I have experienced this tragic loss, it is so hard. But, I tell myself that they never really leave us, and one beautiful day, we will all be reunited. ❤
Beautiful cat, Carla! Thank you for sharing this Mr. Nichols. People need the love and care of our animals in their lives and they need our love just as much! Loneliness can be resolved by the solid and consistent love from our animals. They give us hope & motivation to carry on no matter what the difficulties in life are for us! A tribute to our wonderful animal kingdom!
I love how he mentioned how the cat gave him "structure". This is such an important driver when you're experiencing any kind of depression. My cat saved me too.
Reminds me of the real life story made into a book and a movie: A Street Cat Named Bob.
@@prime2955I turned a LOT of people on to that book! It was such a a treasure!
People who love animals are my favourite people.
Yes mine too.
I love animals. But I know for a fact, that not all animal-lovers are good people.
@spleen7266 probably still way better than people who doesn't love animals.
My landlord thinks cat or dog will eat his house . Imagine how much they hate animals.
Cats rule. Period. They changed my life. Yes, loosing one is a grief that is like no other. Thanks for sharing.
When my favourite cat was killed by a snake, my heart broke like a boulder crushed by an avalanche. I have never felt such grief. 9 years on, I still grieve him, my little feral tabby. Thinking of all those who have been loved by a cat, and loved them back. 🐈⬛️
Mine? I’m please sleep. My black cat thinks we are married. I’m I can’t marry a cat. Nor do I want to.
I can't describe how much I grieve my catten, most adorable, most beautiful face one could behold.
I love my cats more then anything in the world
My Merlin was my spirit animal. I haven’t been able to adopt another because I still grieve him even though I had to say goodbye to him over 10 years ago. The pain of that loss is with me everyday 😢
The world needs more cat stories
yes!!!! :)
Check out the book "NPR Driveway Moments Cat Tales"
It happens more than we're told, that cats have alerted their hoomins to brewing house fires!
@@jerushamaxwell281 - yes! I came out first and just moved into our new house, I had NO phone. No TV.
I was sitting in the living room reading, and our three cats were positioned all over the sofa with me.
One by one, they got up, started a low growl, and walked from window to window, and to the side door.
I saw a large shadow in the breeezeway. I NEVER would have known anyone was there unless our cats alerted me.
Nothing happened but I was very happy to have advance notice IF something went wrong. Cats ARE amazing ❣❣❣
@@triciaaw4539 Cats' sharp senses are second to none, bless them. Glad you were okay!
My cat Murphy adopted me.
He was a starving stray literally crying under my window.
I opened the door and he walked into my life.
The best friend I have even had.
@bootskanchelsis3337, for us too!
Very similar story.
We moved into our home in 2003.
About a month later, I was vacuuming the living room.
I kept turning the vacuum off,
because I kept hearing an odd sound.
I looked through the peephole in the entrance door,
& saw a cat standing there, crying to come in.
I opened the door, & she walked right in.
Long story short, we had Zoey for nearly 17 years.
She died due to a freak accident on April 29, 2018.
We still grieve for her. She was a beautiful soul.
He was telling his story just fine and the anchors had to interrupt.
Annoying
Joe is a narcissist.
Rude at best - totally unacceptable!
To remind him of some important points that he was leaving out. He wasn't doing "just fine", he was skipping over too much of the story. And the later comments added some cute cat humor and a nice human-interest feel to the story. They know what works best for most viewers, and they were helping him provide that.
I have no use for people who say, "It's just a cat." or "It's just a dog." I am extremely wary of people who cannot accept someone of another species as worthy of love and care. That raises a big red flag with me because it tells me something important about them.
💯
And that doesn't even get into the fact that to him, it wasn't "just a cat". I was his little friend that he found just when he really needed one. It's irrelevant what someone else thinks about her, she was important to him. That's something that a lot of people dont seem to get, things (or animals, or people or ideas) may be important to someone even if they are not important so someone else.
I remember one time when I was having a tough time and a friend who was super religious , in addition to being a supportive friend, told me that he was praying for me. (And unlike some people out there, it wasn't just an act so that he could be a total jerk and then tell people he was a good person because he "knew Jesus". )
Im an atheist. But i said to him, 'You know I don't believe in that, but I know that you do, so thank you. I really appreciate you doing whatever you can to help.'
People need to learn to respect each other again. Respecting other people with different beliefs and opinions doesn't mean agreeing with them, or letting people force their views or way of life on you. It means understanding that there are things that are important to other people that may not be important to you and acting accordingly. It may be the case that we sometimes come into conflict when the wants and needs of one person directly and irreconcilably conflict with those of another, but usually it's not so extreme and it's just a matter of being polite, being a good neighbor and giving people the same respect you expect for yourself.
As such, someone could reasonable say "I don't understand why people attach so much importance to a cat" or "I think people get way too attached to a dog". These are statements of facts of which they have direct knowledge. They don't get it. And they don't agree. They are entitled to not understand and they are entitled to have a different opinion.
But it absolutely IS more than "just a cat" or "just a dog" if only because it's important to someone else. It's just a matter of fundamental respect for that other person.
My former partner (before the dear gent I married in 2008)..? My cats would snarl, arch their backs and run from him. Turned out James was a card carrying nasty-boy. That said, children and animals climb all over my kind, warm, second hubby.
@@cynthiahawkins2389 Animals have a good sense of those things
Absolutely!
I totally relate to this. My precious cat died exactly 1 years ago today. For the first time in 36 years my house was empty. No one to wait on and spoil. No structure. 3 months later I adopted my new boss from the rescue shelter. I like to believe my previous cat chose us for each other because we needed each other.
Aww, so sorry you lost your cat but glad you have a new buddy. Nothing worse than an empty house after losing a pet.
Given the signs, I have absolutely no doubt that my current cat was chosen for me by my previous one.
Blessings to you and your new family member. We give so much to our pets that when they leave, it opens room to love another homeless pet in need.
My new boss lol
💖💖💖💖💖
Cats will save us. We love cats.
Still can't find a man?
Single women cats and box wine
@@markcosenza3274Incel alert!
@@kimberleeulrich2905 Maybe better: "Incel, not so alert." 😀
@@oceanfrog😂
First of all, SHUT UP JOE and stop interrupting. Second and most important, Carla!!! What a gorgeous baby and amazing story. I miss her for him too.
I agree SHUT UP JOE
Who are they? What fake people
So it's not just me!?
I can't stand his constant interruptions either!
I lost my cat Elmer after almost 21 years last October. I couldn't finish watching the first time I came across this story and had to book mark it and come back and later. 😿
People like Joe just don't get it. A love for a cat/dog, etc, is something so special. Their loss has a huge impact. I love my fur-babies more than I love people.
People who say they don't like cats have never really spent time with cats. They will win you over. They all have interesting personalities and intricacies that will draw you in.
They're usually people who are allergic but I'm always like, how is your weak, compromised immune system the fault of a cat? That's on you. Cats just catting and you just hating for no rational reason.
@@SueSnellLivesI never believe it when someone says they’re allergic. My now fiancé was never a cat person and said he has allergies. I told him his allergies don’t exist and he’s not used to cats. 8 years later he loves our cat just like a son. He will burry his face in his fur. Somehow his allergies randomly vanished ! 😉
I miss Carla, too. My cat saved me, as well. I wish our pets lived longer
My cat alerted and woke my conked-out roommate when I needed an ambulance (seizure from UTI). The medics got called and I live to talk about it. And I do pay attention to what she's staring at, because she's alerted me to other creatures in distress, like a baby rabbit drowning in the pool, a frog trapped in a pipe, a sick squirrel, a random orphan duckling, etc. Respect!
My cat Nadeem saw me through so many ups and downs for 19 years. He loved me and wanted to be with me. He gave me everything he had. 🐈 ❤
Same with my little tortoise cat Hazel; unconditional love and companionship for 20 years! 😢😢 RIP Hazel.
Tom, you will never be able to replace her…there are so many cats that need a loving home which you and your wife will provide. She would be proud that you would continue her loving legacy by adopting one of her peeps. I am 74 year old widow. My son brought Harry to me when he rescued him from a dumpster. My life has changed for the better. He and his sister-dog, Sienna, are the best of friends too. Loved your story
That was our thoughts exactly.
Once our cat Zoey died,
we thought she'd want us to continue on this path.
Saving one cat at a time.
We presently have Zayna,
& her son Ziggy.
So many people have had this experience: my rescue cat rescued me ❤️.
Cats are just so enchanting. They really add so much to your life.
I had a cat for just over 20 years and she saved me from trying to take my own life. They are such wonderful companions!
What a delightful man. He deserved her, & she deserved him. & she saved him & his missus from the fire. No wonder they miss her so much. I hope they open their lives & home to another cat!🐱💕
Our “Carla” just passed at age 14. Best dog we ever had. She saved my teenager during covid lockdown.
Now please watch a music video called "Leo" by Yuuri to respect Carla.
Yes Mika we need more cat stories in these times. So sorry for your loss Tom.
My mom's cat Putty woke her up one night when I was about four years old. My mom smelled the smoke and my parents carried us out of the house.
We stood outside and watched our house burn. The fire department came, Putty was fine, and our house was gone. All of the important things survived.
Tom, watch for the next cat Carla sends. I am serious. It happens to us. Our cats live a long time, and when they die a wonderful cat shows up within a year or two demanding to live with us. Our current cat has paw scars from an apparently long journey and starved. She parked herself at our front door and that was that. She is now a very talkative indoor boss that knows a lot of words. We can tell her previous human was a wonderful human being, because of the way she responds to certain words and singing. We are so happy she found us.
The Universal Cat Distribution System, at work 24/7.
RIP Carla Tortelli Nichols.
She was beautiful. Cats really are amazing pets, affectionate, smart, and wonderful companions.
Beautiful cat and beautiful story.
Carla the Cat Saves Couple Sleeping from Fire: Absolutely Amazing what a Beautiful Legacy.
We had a rescue cat when we lived on 10 acres in San Diego County. She came with the house. The previous owners gave her to a neighbor but she kept coming back to the house. We put a mobile home on the property for our friends to live in. They painted it and so slept outside on a flat rock due to the fumes. Our cat, who normally stayed on the flat part of our house roof, went 300 yards down to the mobile home. She kept rubbing our friend, Bruce's head. He hated cats. He told her to go away. Then he realized she was between his head and a rattlesnake in the bushes. They got up and spent the rest of the night in the mobile home. Bruce then liked our cat, but she was the only one. Also, in 1993, one night she yowled outside our bedroom window (she preferred to be outside). I saw extreme wind outside so I went to the window to let her inside. Then I saw the glow of a wildfire over the hill. She woke us up in time to evacuate. The fire went through our entire 10 acres.
Wow!!
Amazing story! I am so glad you kept her, took care of her, and loved her.
She is definitely a RESCUE cat because she saved lives.
She's an absolute beauty..
Cats rule...
I lost my Diablo this past Wednesday. He was 15 years old and my best friend. My condolences on your loss and thank you for sharing what she meant to you.
❤️❤️❤️❤️🥹
I’m cat sitting for my granddaughter, first cat ever- 4 weeks old- now 8 and she’s stolen my heart.
They do that. Regularly and totally. Congrats on the extra love in your life now.
Cats are the best!!!!! The relationship between a cat and his/her guardian is like no other. And the loss runs so deep.
Once you are adopted by a cat, they will always find you💕💕💕
Cat friendship is amazing. They are gentle and supportive. Thank you for taking care of Carla. Meow to Meatball!
I’m sorry for your loss. I know how difficult that is and how heartbreaking it is every time you THINK you see your baby out of the corner of your eye only to remember that they’re not there anymore.
Your heart will tell you when it’s time to adopt another cat in need, but Carla will never be replaced.
Love the Carla story. Cats rock, love that Mika has cats. One of mine is on my lap right now
I have always loved cats ! Animals are pure friends . They are never two-faced , they never conspire against you , they appreciate the food and water you give them , and they have NO sin .
Oh no, I didn't know he lost Carla. I quit Twitter so I missed that bit of news. He adored that cat. RIP Carla.
My heart aches for you. But, how wonderful that she was in your life when she was.
I love cats 🐈 🐈⬛😍
yes. Cats Rule!
It’s so beautiful how he speaks about her. I can totally relate. When I lost my cat Lily, I’d sometimes think I’d see her out of the corner of my eye. She was a little character for sure. The best cat ever. I wish she was still here. ❤️🐱
Coincidentally, I just read that Tom Nichols has finally adopted a new cat recently. And they named her lily. Isn't that something
❤️🕊Karla! An angel from heaven. Cats are the best!
Thats the same thing thats happened in my life, this little lady saved me !!! This awesome girl cat
I love that Mika felt this story too. I hope Tom gets comfort from knowing he gave Carla a wonderful life.
I know how you feel. Losing a cat or a dog is hard to get over. I hope you find another cat for your family.
Such tiny paws to take such huge pieces of our hearts when they go. Don't worry, they're keeping it safe till you meet again.
What a wonderful piece. Thank you all, and thank you, Carla! May you rest in peace, marvelous kitty.
That was a great story. My cat and I are growing old together. Best roommate ever!
Guys need guys. My husband had a favorite cat and she was his person. They had a special bond and lived almost 20 years. Came from a shelter.
animals are so much smarter and have so much stronger senses than we do!!! rip to carla!
i have a similar story except my cat is still kicking. He definitley saved me by just listening to me rant over the years. the best company a guy could ask for.
I am sorry for your loss!
Rest in peace sweet amd beautiful Carla. Animals are the best ❤
Oh wow what a beautiful fur baby 💙💙😸
I lost my cat last year and in her short 5 years of life , she gave me immense love and joy and added so much meaning and purpose to my life. Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. Cats are amazing ❤
Sweetest story, we need more cat people in the world. Thank you for sharing. 🥰🥰
Boy, I feel for you. Please accept my sincere sympathies. Thank you for letting us meet Carla!😿💔
My cats tilly and archie have really helped get me through the last couple of years. I love them both so much.
Cats and dogs are earth angels.
Beautiful story! I lost my cat Peaches in July 2023. I had him for 16 years but he may have been older than that even. He was battling intestinal cancer for over 5 years and finally it was time. I miss him every day. ❤❤❤❤❤
Beautiful story! Thanks for sharing, Tom! I am sorry for your loss of your beautiful fur baby!
I hope they get another cat soon. It's the best thing to do. They will fall in love with their new kitty. There's no betrayal to love another cat after the loss of one especially if you are good cat owners. They need you! ❤️
The Universal Cat Distribution System will send them one, when it's time.
Yes! When they're ready, the best way to honor a kitty is to save another ❤️
When I was a Platoon leader in Afghanistan, we used to have a cat that hang around the FOB, the cat will patrol around the base and get scrap from soldier who throw anything at it.
One of those day we are doing some patrol outside the wire, about an hour into the patrol the cat shows up, which is strange as it doesn't usually leave the base during daytime, so we take 5 and stop and play with the cat. after a while, maybe 2 or 3 minutes, the cat leaves and we are readying to go, just as we are about to set off again an IED exploded about a click down our track, we would have been around there if we had not stopped for those 5 minutes. And the cat was never seen again around our FOB.
I still believe the cat save our life by triggering that IED, some say they saw the cat still around, but I never saw it again.
cosplay... I'm not going to 'thank you for your service'---I'm saying, it's so good you're here and shared this cat with us. I'm beyond appreciative that the cat found all of you, and yáll took the time to respect the cat.
Not bad for a platoon leader. Two of my brothers went & returned from Vietnam---a couple tours, both very changed, but alive. I'm really glad you made it back. NOW, I can say 'thank you'. I hope you're okay.
Thank you for this story! People need to understand how special cats can be. My cat was virtually identical to Carla is every way. Black Norwegian Forest Cat. Huge. So much presence, he was my keeper, loved hotel visits and road trips. Bossy. RocStar loved me like we were life partners. 17 years. 🐾❤️
The cats who ‘choose’ us have been placed on our paths when we need them. My cat-friend Jade walked into my life when I too felt I had no business taking care of a cat. Jade followed me home 5+ years ago. That was one month before I went through [another] major life shift
I’m so glad you included this story o the show today!!!
I'm sorry for your loss Tom
I love the way Mika said they should do more cat stories. Usually I don't like it when people describe the things they like best about their cats as "more like a dog," but in this case I think I can overlook it.
Animals are amazing. They are precious. Supporters, friends and unconditional love in humans life❤️ Animals are family.
I love Tom’s cat story❤️🐱
I love when people love cats and appreciate their magic.
I'm not a cat person, but i absolutely loved this story... I actually teared up.😢
I wasn't either until my husband brought home some kittens that were abandoned. Now I love them.
RIP for your loss. Cats are amazing.
What a beautiful story! I had the same experience with my 2 cats, Fungus and Cassie. The have both passed away and I miss them still.
I read this article and cried. So true about how our animals make us better, kinder, and happier. And sometimes they save not only our souls, they save our lives.
Thank you Tom for sharing your beautiful and emotional story about the amazing Carla T. Nichols. 🩷 As I watched you tell it on Morning Joe, then went to read the story in full… tears streamed down my face. 😢 Once in a while - if we’re fortunate, we are graced by a beautiful spirit with four legs and fur. Someone who we know is extra special - and when they leave us, what’s left behind is a huge hole in our hearts and a lifetime of wonderful memories. You said you thought you saw Carla when you stepped into the room for the interview. She was there. She’s always there with you. RIP good girl 🌈🩷 Watch over dad and mom until you meet again.
Carla is definitely a Hall of Famer!
I love this story! Thank you for sharing ❤
🤡
I just lost my cat March 4th from a three-story apartment complex that caught fire. The fire started right across from my apartment and I barely made it out alive. My cat was hiding and I was begging them to find her but they threw me down the stairs practically to get me safe and my cat never came out. She was always hiding with every little noise there was even though she was 6 years old and it was the same old people that came in my house which was hardly ever . She would hide during the 4th of July because the fireworks. Imagine what she was going through when it was an actual fire. I never got to see or go up to the third floor as it was pretty much gone . It's been a really hard road but the Lord has really helped me a lot. He got me into another apartment complex which is nicer so I am so grateful for that. And many more things he has done but I will not carry on I just wanted to share my story with someone. My cat's name was Missy and she was black with some brown patches that Blended in . There's so many things I'd like to say about her but it'll be too long❤
i’m so sorry i miss mine too.... they are their own little personality.
Can folks pls stop saying that cats are being "doglike" when they do altruistic things? All my family's cats have had amazingly loving personalities and saved each of us in dozens of ways every day.
Thank you for taking the time to share this article and experience. It’s too bad when people dismiss our grief over the loss of our animal companions with words like “It’s just a cat” (or dog, etc.). They’re our family and there are no rituals to mourn them: no wake, memorial service, mass or any other form of farewell. I recently found out that there are therapy groups for mourning a pet in some countries, and that there are grief counselors, too. Sadly that’s not the case in my country, and I’m burdened by so much loss in recent years. Sometimes, I don’t know how to cope with my grief.
Beautiful story , I love my cat and dog 🐾 nice to see him happy
Thank you Tom! Best Morning Joe ever. 💗😼
I had a kitten save my life, I knew if I left this world that no one would love and care for that kitten as much as I did..so I decided to stay here on earth to care for that kitten. Had him for 20 years. RIP Cheech E Boom.
Mica, I am right there with you. I miss my cat and this lovely story about Carla brings tears to my eyes! The look Joe gave Mica when she wiped her tear was the look of someone who likes dogs more than cats!
My late cat coco was my soul cat and he was very dear to me. He came into my life at a hard time and made it so beautiful. Subhanallah!
Cats are so smart and loving❤❤❤❤❤❤
@TomNichols - I get it - especially the comfort and then grief that comes from _seeing_ her out of the corner of your eye when you enter a room. The loss of such a friend, spiritual guru, and _raison d’êtra_ ....
So very sorry for your loss, Tom. For quite a while my day wasn't right until I checked Twitter for Carla's latest hair band escapade and video. I have only logged in X a few times lately and it was solely to check on Carla. I have my Misty and Gidget but I will miss your accounts of your interactions with Carla. RIP
I love Tom. He’s been one of my favorite commentators for several years. He’s got a midwestern practicality to him that is refreshing.
Yup, cats bend us to their wills. If they had opposable thumbs, they'd be our masters.
We'd probably be better off.
Exactly
Cats are so intuitive & beautiful. My cat MooMoo saved me. She cried at the bathroom door, so i got out of the bath & she then walked to he laundry & hissed.
I knew something was off. I walked to the laundry door & and there was a man standing a few feet away. Luckily, he jumped the fence & i called the police. That's my girl❤
Tom says he “sees her out of the corner of his eye!” I say the same thing about my cats who have passed. One of them, named Minnie, left us tragically. She wasn’t ready to go and we weren’t ready for her to leave. She was besties with our rescue dog Annie who was in such a state of grief when she died. To this day, (we lost Minnie a few years ago) our dog stares outside to their favorite spot and appears to see something. I know that her spirit lives on in our lives and home. We still have on cat and he’s a lover boy tiger that we adore. I do hope that Tom and his wife welcome a new feline to their home, they are great pets. I loved this store, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this story. My own dear cat is fading quickly…just a matter of days now. I don’t want her to suffer, but sweet Jesus, I’m going to be completely shattered when she’s no longer here 💔
I have experienced this tragic loss, it is so hard. But, I tell myself that they never really leave us, and one beautiful day, we will all be reunited. ❤
Beautiful cat, Carla! Thank you for sharing this Mr. Nichols. People need the love and care of our animals in their lives and they need our love just as much! Loneliness can be resolved by the solid and consistent love from our animals. They give us hope & motivation to carry on no matter what the difficulties in life are for us! A tribute to our wonderful animal kingdom!
Pets passing just break our hearts, yet we do it over and over again.
It's because our capacity to love gets bigger with every pet. They teach us well.
I swear, I feel my Romeow Baby❤ curl up above my pillow with his paws on my head as we sleep. He left me behind last December😢❤😢❤
Cats r our angels sent by God.
Thank you Nichols❤
carla was a superhero cat. she will be missed r.i.p sweety.