Stretch, yawn and chill out | Kitten
Clicked in May 2005
On a hot and calm afternoon I hear whining up on the terrace… so I force myself to leave the bed to check on the noise, and what do I find?! The kitten that was moved from the balcony a few days ago by her mom had made it all the way to the terrace. She was sitting there whining, encouraging her mother to meaaaow in sync, just so that I would let them in to cool off from the sweltering heat outdoors. These cats can be really persistent when they want something from you.
I am already feeling guilty that I have gotten this kitten used to human touch and pampered her mom with daily feeds. Domestication itself could be the undoing for this kitten’s survival in the city. I hope I can find someone to adopt her.
Here is the story of her birth:Cat on terrace.. a stray that gets fed twice everyday.. large belly and full nipples indicating pregnancy.. births a litter 2 days ago.. in the back of the roofed and caged balcony.. I trace the whines to a cardboard box.
Attacked by a male at night.. timely intervention prevents damage.. cannot take it in and adopt.. bound and chained by the rules at home.. after more than 30 cats over 13 yrs.. it is hard and so it has been for five.
Left to nature.. I get back.. early morning another male, another fight.. three dead of the four.. one whining.. the cat won’t let me in.. the box now is highly protected.. it is not so familiar with me to allow access and assess damage.. I silently scream.. allows me to take a peek and that is it.. I wait.. I wait.. with patience to attend to wounds and the dead.
Such is the way of nature.. the very cats that came together.. bringing new life.. one protects it.. the other views it as emerging competition.. one feeds it.. the other kills.
[warning: sad ending]
The kitten was killed by a male cat while she was playing in the garden… she was 2 months old. Though I reacted as soon as I heard the scuffle, I was too late. The mom cat was present when it happened and she tried her best defending her baby… … I can’t write any more.
