Pet profile: Houdini

All photos by Juliet Hays

While she is no man of mystery, Houdini is quite the intriguing young lady. Born on the streets, Houdini had a rough upbringing; she entered foster care at a young age with her only family being her brother Saturn. Lucky for her, the North Central Humane Society had her back. Both she and Saturn were on the path to adoption— ready to meet new friends and get into plenty of trouble along the way. 

When she was first taken into her foster home, her guardians had no expectation of keeping her, but Houdini was hard at work with her trickery. She was prepared to enchant her prospective owners— her first move was to distinguish herself from her siblings. Determined to make contact with the outside world, she gnawed a hole in her pen— demonstrating competency in the art of escapism, winning her a magician’s title. Do not be fooled, however, as Houdini’s wit is not exactly on par with her namesake, as many deem her to “have jelly beans for brains.” 

The allegations regarding Houdini’s mental competency have not been refuted, and in fact, the cat seems to work hard to remain in line with these standards of silliness. Compared to her brother Saturn, Houdini’s playful nature has allowed her to get into all sorts of trouble. As a kitten, and even now, her hobbies included rummaging through garbage, scratching furniture, and messing up carpets. 

In all honesty, Houdini’s behavior is quite dog-like. She’s social, frequently plays with toys, and weirdly enjoys belly rubs— something that the average cat despises. Though she lives primarily indoors, she is not skittish whatsoever. In fact, it would be no surprise if she were found snuggling-it-up with a Michael Myers type. Her trusting nature has the potential to cause her bouts of trouble later in life, but hey— she’s a cat! Let her have her fun. 

The source of Houdini’s eccentricity is a complete mystery. Maybe she was born that way, or maybe it's because of her odd obsession with consuming yogurt.

Either way, her nature is more charming than words can express, and it is no surprise that her owners felt obliged to keep her. Who could reject such an innocent, playful soul? Who could turn away a pair of eyes with absolutely no thoughts behind them? Houdini is well loved by her family, and is ready to be loved by the world.