Scott: Cat Distribution System sent love at unexpected yet welcome time

Published 5:00 am Friday, February 13, 2026

It is well known that I love dogs. It is also well known that I often come across dogs on assignments that have nothing to do with what I’m covering. I love all animals — basically, give me something I can pet and talk to in a weird voice.

Multimedia Reporter Jennifer Scott’s cat — or mini agent of chaos — “poses” during Christmas photos. (Contributed Photo)

But I especially love cats too. I do not understand why some people “can’t stand cats.” They are loving creatures — quiet, curious, and often surprisingly good at picking exactly the right human to charm. Case in point: thanks to my husband, we now have a kitten. Why “thanks to my husband,” you might ask? Because we both thought it would be me coming home with a cat (or trash panda).

We lost our beloved tuxedo cat, Mason, over the summer. It was sudden and heartbreaking, and I didn’t think we would seriously consider getting another cat for a long while.

Well, the universe — or in this case, the Cat Distribution System — decided that would not do. A few months ago on an otherwise average Sunday, my husband dropped me off at Walmart to pick up some necessities while he went to Wingstop for a to-go order. But before he went inside, a tiny kitten along the sidewalk approached him. Mostly white with unique markings, she had a curious, expressive gaze and a friendly, need-love-to-whomever-will-provide vibe that was impossible to ignore.

He placed the order and returned to the car to wait — but he couldn’t simply bypass this kitten. He knelt to pet her, and she welcomed the touch, even more so when he gently picked her up and carried her to the car. She promptly made herself comfortable on the dashboard.

As I wandered the aisles of Walmart, I received a FaceTime call from my husband: “I found a new friend…” he said. So, in addition to the paper towels, toothpaste, and moisturizer I needed, I was now adding cat supplies. When my husband picked me up, the tiny, fearless kitten was waiting on the floorboard of our Prius, happily purring and soaking up pets.

We got home, and the dogs were curious — not just by the delicious waft of our wings, but by this tiny creature that already had us head over heels in love. While the dogs gently investigated, my husband and I pondered names and knew she needed a vet visit, which he took care of the next day.

Sure enough, she was a girl (we aren’t exactly kitten experts), and we went with Dinah, Alice’s cat from Alice in Wonderland. Our dogs have Disney-inspired names too: our shepherd mutt is Nana, after the nanny dog from Peter Pan, and our basset hound is Toby, after the basset in The Great Mouse Detective (a highly underrated Disney movie). Dinah was estimated to be about five months old and, as expected, had fleas (which were quickly taken care of). The veterinary staff raved about how sweet she was, calling her “the absolute sweetest baby.” And she is indeed.

She’s proven to be extremely playful, a proficient expert in the art of “kneading biscuits,” and adores her “big brother” Toby. If they’re not chasing each other throughout our 32-foot RV, she’ll cuddle right next to him. It’s the absolute cutest sight.

She has also proven to be a very unhelpful little co-worker/study buddy. If her tiny toebeans haven’t typed complete nonsense, they’ve certainly managed to open at least a dozen Help windows.

Dinah “assists” her mom (multimedia reporter Jennifer Scott) with work. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Now that it’s been several months, our sweet little Dinah has made herself quite comfortable as a member of our little Wonderland. So much so that she’s also quite the little menace. If she’s not leaping on the counter — nearly taking out dishes in the process — she’s finding something priceless to knock over (RIP, fragile Disney Christmas ornament). She has definitely served some kitty jail time for her shenanigans.

Still… while we didn’t plan on having another cat so soon, this adorable little agent of chaos wandered straight into the space we thought was too heartbroken to fill again so soon. But I guess that’s the thing about the Cat Distribution System: it reminds us that love often shows up when you least expect it — on the sidewalk outside of a Wingstop.

— Jennifer Scott is a multimedia reporter at the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Contact her at jennifer.scott@tylerpaper.com .