Jessica Leatherman’s 7-year-old daughter started taking the school bus this year when she entered first grade. She does not, however, stand-alone at the bus stop.

Craig, the family’s rеscuе cat, is in charge of making sure she goes to school safely.

Leatherman adơрted the black and white cat in 2019 after seeing him at an adơрtion event. Craig had spent eight and a half months in the shelter, and as soon as he joined the family, he fit right in.

“He is very, very laid back. I don’t think there’s a single thing that can rattle him — there could be thunder and lightning, and he doesn’t even wake up,” Leatherman told The Dodo. “When he is awake, he’s likе a clown. He loves to knock things off of countertops to make you pay attention to him.”

Craig has a unique bond with Leatherman’s daughter and was intrigued by her new daily ritual. Leatherman decided to unlock the door to allow the cat to see her daughter off for the bus after he began running to the door and meowing every time she was leaving for the bus.

“I assumed I’d let him come outside [to] hang out with me because the bus stops right in front of our house,” Leatherman explained. “But instead of hanging out with me, he opted to hang out with her, and he followed her down the sidewalk and into the driveway, where he sat the entire while she waited for the bus.”

“I was thinking, ‘Is he really doing this?’ when it happened.” “I expected him to return to me as soon as she boarded, but he waited there and made sure she got on the bus before watching it drive away,” she claimed. “He won’t leave the bus stop’s corner until it’s out of sight.”

Craig putting off his sister at the bus stop was supposed to be a one-time gesture, but it’s now part of their morning routine, which Leatherman takes extremely seriously.

Leatherman stated, “He’s been doing it every day.” “He’s appointed himself to the position.” I’m not sure why, but it’s really nice.”

Craig has become something of a local celebrity since taking over drop-off duties.

“Now all the neighborhood kids know him,” Leatherman recalled, “and the whole bus is likе, ‘Craig!’ whenever they pull up.” “In a way, he’s just become this adorable little neighborhood mascot.”

And the rеscuе cat is always waiting for Leatherman’s daughter when she gets home from school. Leatherman described them as “two peas in a pod.” “She’ll be sitting next to him, and he’ll purr and rub all over her.” It’s the prettiest thing in the world.”

“If he’s awake, he’ll follow her around the house and simply lie down next to her, almost as if he’s guarding her,” she continued.