Prom is supposed to be a fun experience, but it can often take a stressful turn as teenagers find themselves scrambling to find a date. When Sam Steingard found himself struggling to find a date to go with him, he decided to avoid going to prom alone by taking his cat instead!

“My brother took our cat to prom…”  Sam’s sister Caroline explained. “My mom (Joanne) decided to buy our cat a dress and sparkly collar so my brother would have someone to take pictures with.”

Sam’s family found their cat behind a Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant ten years ago, and they decided right away to adopt her. Fittingly, they named her Ruby, and she and Sam have grown up together. That’s why it could not be more perfect that he decided to make her his prom date.

“When I was younger, she would walk with me to school and then when we arrived she would walk herself home and meet me there after school,” Caroline said. “She’s a great cat.”

“She loves Sam because he likes to talk to her in a baby voice and he will give her treats once in a while,” Caroline added. “Since being home on summer break Sam did build her a little cat fort out of a cardboard box and an old tee shirt. Even though she has a $40 heated cat bed, she prefers the homemade fort.”

The prom dates actually took the photo last year, and since then, Sam and Caroline have both moved away from home to attend college.

“Both me and my brother miss her so much when we’re away at college,” Caroline said.

Find out more about this adorable story in the video below!