I'm a writing coach and editor. I'm also a writer whose work has been included in 17 Chicken Soup for the Soul collections. The Chicken Soup editors are currently looking for cat-related essays for an upcoming collection. I think you'd need to rework this, but it's just the kind of quirky charming unique cat story they go for. Think about it.

https://writingcooperative.com/ive-been-in-10-chicken-soup-collections-if-you-want-to-break-in-here-s-my-advice-9ef3612aacd9?sk=6c27d62414166cd590200f19316115bb