My Love for Cats seriously Tested

My baby Achilles sitting on me

My love for Cats is purely unconditional and unmatched. I have loved all my cats as if they were my children. But few days ago, that theory was put to some serious test. It made me question myself whether I am actually a lover of cats and animals in general, whether my love for them is real or not.

Few days ago, that is on the morning of 18th Jan at around 05:45 I heard the meows of kittens just outside my door step, near the front gate. My Mom had already woken up because of the meows (Even she loves cats as much as I do), and few minutes later I woke up as well. It was still dark and when we turned on the lights, we saw two tiny kittens of ginger color of about 5 to 6 weeks old, obviously scared and confused, calling for their mama. We figured out that someone knew that people love cats in this (our) house so they must have dropped off the kittens at our door step hoping we would definitely take care of it.

Minutes after they came to our house, feeling cold and scared. Resting for now.

So I tried to slowly invite them into our house by providing them with some milk. They were very scared but somehow made their way in the house. It was damn cold outside as well. First couple of hours I tried all the tricks to make them feel comfortable, usually it works very well but they decided to take refuge under the cot for now. The whole day they were screaming, even though we understood their situation, it became unbearable even for my mom who is such a huge lover of cats. In the meanwhile one of them decided that the area behind the Television set was the bathroom and decided to poop there. My mom silently cleaned it; I didn't hear a word of anger or disgust from her. I knew she was getting tired of it already. At the end of the day my mom was very tired and so was I, trying to control the kittens and make them go to sleep.

After a few hours both kitties felt a little comfortable and decided to take a nap.

The following day we decided that at least we should give them up for adoption, mom asked me to post an online ad about it. I wasn't willing to let either one of them go, wanted to keep them both. But already there was some tension among the only cat still with us from Alicia's descendants, named Zorro which is 10 months old now. So Zorro didn't like the fact that there were intruders in the house and started hissing at them, and the fiery kittens actually returned the favor by hissing back at him. This went on for a while; my mom has had enough at this point. So I asked my best buddy Rajiv, who is also a cat lover to adopt one of them. So he came to our house and decided he will take the female kitty (the other one is male). I felt gutted to separate the kittens but we had little choice at that point. So we got a basket ready, trying to make the kitty as comfortable as we can, placed the kitty in it. I sat pillion to my friend who was riding the bike with the kitty in the basket I was holding. It was a 25 minute journey but the kitty was so scared, it constantly kept meowing throughout the ride, even though I did my best to console her. Her screams broke my heart. But 4 days later, which is today I hear she has become pretty comfortable in their home.

The last time both kitties were together. Enyo on the left and Achilles on the right.

Meanwhile, when I came back home the other kitty was still screaming as he wanted his sister back. My mom has been consoling him for a while but to no avail. He wanted to get out of the house, constantly scratching the front door, asking us to open it. This is when I made the biggest mistake, almost sinful. I let the kitty go outside thinking I would follow him and bring him back again. Thankfully there were no dogs around. But as soon as I let him go, he ran into those drainage pavements, I tried to keep up with him from the outside, he had gone some 50 meters away from the house, nearing the end of our block. I was afraid he might stumble on to the road where the traffic is slightly heavy, even though it was not a main road. I kept calling for him from the outside; he would respond with meows but would not come out. This continued for the next 10 minutes and then he came out and hid under a stationary car. I tried to persuade him to come out, he finally came out but started running on to the road, I tried to grab him but he bit me on my index finger and scratched both my hands. I was bleeding and he again went back under the drainage pavement. I came back home dejected and furious at my self for my stupidity for letting the kitty out. My mom was nursing my wounds; I was almost shattered because I thought I would never see that kitty again. My mom was consoling me, saying he would come back on his own. Half an hour later I went in search of him again, I could see the pavement where he went under from the main gate of my house, I saw him at the same place where I had left him earlier, still screaming. I called him, and this time he came running towards me after he saw me and ran straight in to the house. I felt so happy and relieved at that moment. I would have never forgiven myself if something would have ever happened to that kitty. Finally he is home and safe and since the past few days he has become very comfortable with us. But still there is some tension with the kitty and Zorro; hopefully they would get along in the coming days.

As he was so brave and courageous I have named the kitty Achilles, in honor of the brave Greek King and the other kitty's name as Enyo - Twin sister of Achilles in the Greek mythology.

But that incident really made me question my love for cats and animals. For now, I am really happy as I was in some way responsible for those two kitties getting a home for themselves and assured that they would be taken care of really well.

All's well that ends well. :)