Adopting stray cat has changed my understanding about cats and made me more compassionate.

Three years ago, I found a stray orange cat crying under a mango tree during my walk. It was quite a young cat, perhaps less than a year old. She was rather uncertain whether I would be threatening to her, she was very careful to keep a distance from my approaching. Sensing her fear, I imitated cat’s sounds and went towards her very slowly. I was so glad this cat allowed me to touch her. So, I had a chat with her; asking her why she was very far away from people’s houses sitting under the tree in this field. I had a quick thinking and decided to take her home with me. If she allowed me to carry her all the way, it meant that she’s going to be my cat. She purred all the way to my home.

The first stray orange cat: now a grandmother cat!

I did not know that the orange cat was pregnant so after three months she delivered three kittens somewhere in her hiding place among the trees and bushes. She only brought her kittens closer to the house when they were about two months old. These were wild kittens who refused to get near people. It took me several months trying to tame them. Unfortunately, we lost one kitten after the neighbour’s dogs came into the garden while we were not home. All the cat and kittens disappeared for one week. I kept calling out for them everyday; I was so glad the mother cat came back unscathed. She looked very poorly and skinny as she must have ran away and was in hiding for several days. She came back with only one kitten. I was so afraid that the other two kittens would be killed by the dog.

The three kittens by Jilly. Snow, Joan and Kwan.

I continued to call out for the kittens everyday. By the end of the week, the smallest kitten cane through the hedge looking very skinny with a big hole on her right side. That wound was still opened and I knew straight away that she was bitten by a dog. So, she was badly injured and could not walk for days while hiding. Those three to four dogs must have been chasing the kittens through the bamboo woods nearby. This kitten was limping in pain but she was very hungry, she finished up all food in the tray. So, we lost one kitten through this ordeal. I was more determined to tame these kittens which was not very easy.

The grandmother cat before she moved to my next door neighbours’ house.

The two kittens, Rosy and Jilly, grew up into gentle cats and Jilly got pregnant. Jilly delivered three cute kittens called Snow, Joan and Kwan. I had to leave the mother cat at the vet’s hospital for her operation after her kittens were three months old. But when she cane back home, she rejected her kittens and ran away. We never see Jilly again which was very sad for the kittens. So, Rosy was the aunty cat who had been looking after the three orphans. This time I did manage to tame all three kittens including their aunty Rosie. But, the first stray cat, the grand mother cat decided to move to my next door neighbours’ house as she could not recognise her own grand children after I took them to the hospital to be neutered.

Three kittens about one year’ s old. They liked to cuddle a lot.

So, from six cats we were down to four cats. The growing up kittens were feeling quite confused and lost. They could not understand why the adult kept threatening them and telling them to keep their distance. I have been observing all the cats’ moods and behaviours. I even forced them into the same space but it did not work. So, I tried to pay more attention to the three kittens making sure that they would be loving towards each other. I was very impressed by the oldest brother, Snow, who was always cleaning and hugging his two siblings. This loving cat has made the whole family very cozy and warm. They like to cuddle together very much. I have learned a lot through watching my cats. They are very smart creatures who could feel and think according to their capability. I know they are psychic as I could called them back from their expedition on the nearby fields with my thought. They knew how to tell me about their needs and moods. I only had to tell them once not to jump up the countertop in the kitchen. They were very nice, gentle and loving cats who turned out to be very considerate. These cats would gingerly woke up me whenever they wanted to go to the garden for relieving themselves .

Unfortunately about nine months ago, I lost my favourite cat, Snow. I went searching for him as he sent a message to me that he was hurt. In the next village, a villager told me that some stray dogs were chasing cats in the woods behind his house. He found the white dead cat and buried him several days ago. That was a big blow to me and his family. The two kittens looked very subdue and not cheerful the whole week. The experience of having these cats and observing them growing up really changed my concept about animals. I have much more respect for all animals big and small. And I have developed the ability to talk to snakes, wasps and bees. My gardener was quite shocked to see my working very near several wasps without being stung. But I still could not communicate with squirrels and birds! Perhaps we were on very different frequencies. I still miss my cats very much. They are my friends now.

Wishing you all a very nice and lucky day!

Cheers.