New Kitten

by David Yehudah, Bellflower, CA, USA

We got adopted by a kitten yesterday. This little black female DSH showed up at the back door, meowing her head off, so I opened the door and gave her some food and water. I wasn't sure if she was a stray or had just wandered away from home temporarily, and I didn't want to be accused of stealing someone else's cat, so I left her outside.

All day she hung around, pacing back and forth and peering in the windows at our happy tribe. Our happy tribe peered back. Baby seemed to take a particular interest. The waif seemed eager to get inside, but I didn't want to alienate her affections if she had a home.

This morning I went outside and looked her over, carefully blocking her eager tries to get inside. She was a little thin but seemed to be healthy, bright eyed, playful, and intelligent. So when I opened the door to come back inside, I let her run past me.

She never hesitated or wandered; she ran straight to the litter box under the stairs as if she knew right where it was. From back in the darkness I heard a heartfelt sigh. Aaaaaahhhhhhh! How do you spell 'relief?'

The cats' food dish was next. It was almost empty, but she scarfed up what there was, then headed for Mac's dish across the room. Mac was horrified. He scuttled across the floor and tied her for the vittles. They stared at one another for a moment. Mac's hackles rose. The kitten stood her ground. Mac bared his teeth and growled. The kitten patted his nose, claws retracted, then ducked her head and started eating. Mac melted. He licked her ear and turned and walked away. He gave me the damndest look, like, "Aw, shucks, I couldn't hurt that pore little thang."

Everybody was happy when I refilled the cats' food dish and carried the newcomer back to the right place. Cherokee and Samantha looked and purred, Baby licked her lips and got put back in her cage. The other critters are too big for her to eat, but the kitten is just the right size for a snack.

We've decided to call her "Pussy" in honor of Mrs. Slocumb's cat on "Are You Being Served?"

Editor's note:

• If you want to comment on this article, why not write direct to David Yehudah?
• He will be pleased to hear from you!

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