Animals come into our lives and make things so much better. Life is more complete with a cat in it. Just ask the guy in this story! Brandon Ringler, a young artist and skateboarding enthusiast, spends his days traveling across the United States in his van. His life is full of exciting adventures, but one unexpected encounter stands out as a moment that changed everything. This is the heartwarming story of how Brandon’s life took an amazing turn when he crossed paths with a special black cat.
One day, while running errands, Brandon parked his van and, upon returning to the parking lot, noticed something unusual. A small black furball was wandering aimlessly in the middle of the lot. Concerned, Brandon approached the fluffy cat and offered him some water. Despite being dehydrated, the cat ignored the water bowl and instead went straight into Brandon’s arms, craving affection more than anything else.
In the video below, Brandon reflected on that moment, saying, “I felt like I kind of saw myself in him, and I instantly just wanted to help him.” However, the cat seemed to have a plan of his own. After receiving some much-needed attention, the black kitty made a bold move—he jumped right into Brandon’s van as if declaring it his new home.
At first, Brandon’s intention was simply to help the abandoned cat, not to adopt him. But the cat, who would soon be named Buddha, had other ideas. As Brandon explained, “He just instantly decided, ‘This is where I wanna be at.’ Buddha basically did choose me.” And just like that, Buddha became Brandon’s new travel companion, ready to embark on countless adventures together.
After a visit to the vet and some nutritious meals, Buddha began to thrive. What truly amazed Brandon, however, was how quickly Buddha adapted to his new life on the road. Since Brandon spends most of his time exploring the great outdoors, Buddha naturally joined in on the fun. Brandon shared his excitement, saying, “It’s super cool just being on a hike and then looking back and you just see Buddha walking behind you.” At that moment, Brandon knew for sure that Buddha was there to stay. The cat had seamlessly integrated into Brandon’s outdoor-indoor lifestyle, and the two formed an inseparable bond.
To make Buddha feel even more at home, Brandon built a special bed in his van, giving the cat a cozy spot to rest after their hikes. Despite enjoying the comforts of indoor life, Buddha clearly loves being out in nature with his new dad. Reflecting on how much his life has changed since meeting Buddha, Brandon said, “It’s very interesting seeing the world through a little cat’s eyes. My entire life changed the second I met Buddha! I’m a crazy cat person now and I’m totally OK with it!”
The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
What began as a chance encounter in a parking lot turned into a life-changing adventure for both Brandon and Buddha. Now, the two travel companions share an incredible bond, exploring the world together and proving that sometimes, the best relationships are the ones we never see coming.