24-Hour Rescue

During my morning walk before sunrise, a light rain was falling.  Occasionally there was lightning punctuated by thunder, and I wondered if I was crazy to be walking in this weather.  I didn’t see the little black kitty at first.  She came up so quietly, but suddenly I was aware that she was there.  I talked to her a little, asking her why she was out in the rain.

I leaned down to pet her, and her head was wet, but she was purring.  I thought she would just follow me a short while, but she seemed determined to see where I was going.  I was only about halfway through my walk and thought about cutting it short, so I could help the cat get out of the rain, but I decided to go ahead and get the whole thing in.  (I’m kind of strict with myself about my exercise routine.)

As I walked along, trying to avoid the puddles, she darted in and out between my legs, almost tripping me.  This happened several times, and I had to be really careful not to step on her.  When the thunder boomed, she disappeared for a little while, presumably to hide under a car.  But she always caught back up with me.  I think she knew that I was her guide to a safe haven.  She followed me all the way home, and I invited her inside by leaving the front door open.

She hesitated at first but then cautiously entered.  Since my cat died about a year before, I have been without a pet in the house and have been considering adopting one from the shelter.  But I didn’t want to get an animal a few months before going out of town to my daughter’s wedding.  Plus, it has been my experience with cats that they have to adopt you before the relationship can work.

I got her a little roast we had left over from dinner, breaking it into bite-sized pieces for her, and she ate hungrily. I also got her some water, which she ignored—probably because she’d had enough of water with all that rain.  Based on her size and energy level, I could tell she was young.  I let her explore while I got the litter box out of the attic and then ran to the store to get some litter and cat food.

Upon my return, she accompanied me while I worked out, playfully attacking me when I was in downward facing dog.  Once my exercise was done for the day, I settled into my bed, where I often work.  She was right there by my side, grooming herself, and every time I would pet her, she would purr contentedly.  I realized how much I had missed that sound.

When she stretched out, I noticed a patch of white on her underbelly, but other than that, she was pretty much camouflaged on our black sheets.  I had to remind myself all day to check to see where she was before sitting on the bed.

As I worked, she would sometimes get up and walk across the keyboard when I wasn’t paying enough attention to her.  I laughed and redirected her, just as I had done with her predecessor, Kiki. 

I was smitten with this friendly, sweet, loving cat, and I started thinking about names for her: “Stormy,” “Rain,” and “Midnight” were the first that came to mind.  Then I imagined taking her to the vet to get her checked out.  But first I knew I would have to call the two closest animal shelters to make sure nobody had reported losing such an adorable creature.  I dreaded it but knew that it was the right thing to do.

The first shelter was closed on Mondays, and the second one had an automated message that they were too busy to take my call and to call back later.  A temporary reprieve, I imagined keeping her and what I would need to do to get a cat sitter to take care of her during my upcoming trip.

It wasn’t long before she settled in for a long daytime nap.  She seemed really tired, and I was jealous, wishing I could nap with her.  I wondered how she would react to my husband and grown son, both very large guys.  But she took them both in stride once one got home from work and the other got home from the local college he attends.  She was just as friendly with them as she was with me.  This cat was definitely a keeper.

That night her energy was completely restored, and she wanted to play instead of letting us sleep.  I realized that this was probably the reason she was out at 6 am while I was walking.  Her owners had wanted to get a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, I wondered if she would follow me on my morning walk.  Of course I thought about leaving her in the house where I could keep her safe, but I could tell she really wanted to be outside.  When my husband left for work, she tried to get into the garage.  After he left, I needed to roll the trash cans down to the alley because Tuesday is our pick up day.

So when I went through the garage to take care of that chore, I left the back door ajar.  She explored the garage for a little while, and then when it was time for me to shut the door, the noise startled her, and she darted out onto the driveway instead of into the garage.  I raised the door back up, and there she was.  She let me pick her up, but as I walked with her back to the house, she was squirming to be put down.  After I did, she hesitated a moment before darting away and into the alley.

I followed, calling, “Kitty, kitty, come, come” in a high-pitched tone, something that had worked with my previous cat.  But I didn’t see her, and I knew that she was gone.  Like my two grown daughters, I knew I couldn’t keep her if she didn’t want to stay.  She had to be free and go home…wherever that was.

I felt a slight tinge of sadness but also great gratitude.  This cat had come into my life for such a brief time—only 24 hours—but had reminded of the importance of loving and letting go.  I have walked many times the same way I did on that rainy morning, hoping to see the cat again, but I never have.  That day, I thought I was helping a cat that needed me, but I realize now that I needed her, and she was the one helping me.

Joke: Cats are really clean.  What other animal keeps its litter in boxes?

Quote:  “Nobody owns a cat.” –Ellen Perry Berkeley

Advice:  No matter what happens to you in life, see what you can learn from it.