My Cutest Cat
| "It would be hard for me to say which of the 4 is my cutest cat." |
My cutest cat all started one October day when a feral cat my husband and I befriended gave birth to a litter of kittens in our backyard. Ten days later the cat disappeared and we were left with 4 tiny crying cat babies to care for.
We had never handled such young kittens and didn't know a thing about how to keep them alive much less thriving. One trip to the local vet and we were armed with kitten formula, a small bottle and some sage advice. Not a lot to go on but we were determined to give it our best shot.
The little kittens were not, at that point in their development, what you might think of when you hear 'my cutest cat'. They were more like a bundle of nearly bare arms and legs thrashing about in a semi-furry pile. They looked like little blind aliens. But I loved them immediately.
The vet had warned us that many kittens abandoned so young don't make it. I tried to block that out and we devoted ourselves to caring for them with bottle feedings and 'potty breaks' every 4 hours. We organized our schedules so that one of us was available for every feeding. Every day that they made it my hopes for them grew.
Caring for them was especially tricky in the beginning because my husband is highly allergic to cats. I'm talking, 'Honey, take me to the hospital because my lungs have swollen to the point where I can't breathe' allergic. So, the kittens could not be allowed in the house and had to live outdoors. It helped that we live in a tropical climate so the cold was not a big issue.
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| ... and let's not forget Sati |
Being the offspring of two feral cats, one a petite Siamese and the other a big tomcat of undetermined lineage, the litter was a hodgepodge of what was obviously a very mixed genetic bag.
As time went on their strength and our love for them grew. By the time they were ready to be adopted, we were so attached to them - and they to each other - that we couldn't bear to separate them - or to part with them at all!
The Real Garfield
We never intended to end up with 4 cats. I certainly never meant to be a 'cat lady'. But what's a girl to do when there are 4 bundles of love are left on your doorstep? You invite them in to stay. And everyone who comes to our house falls in love with them as well. They have become very popular amongst friends, family and neighbors.
Since we had such a wonderful experience raising kittens by hand, we wanted to share what we learned with others and encourage them to take on the happy task if they get the opportunity. It has been a very rewarding experience! My cutest cat is also a way for us to share the love with all our friends and family.
It would be hard for me to say which of the 4 is my cutest cat. As you will see, they are each funny and beautiful in their own way.