A Kitty Story

Christmas Day, 2003. It was pouring rain. As I was leaving my apartment to spend the day with my family and friends, there they were . . . three little kittens. One was gray, one was orange, and one was a beautiful champagne color. Being a pet lover, I couldn't just leave without at least feeding them.  So, I put food out in a place where it wouldn't get wet from the rain, and I left.  And everyday after that, I placed food out for them twice a day.  They seemed to know when I was home and I would always see them, waiting for me, outside my front door. At first, they would scatter until finally after a few days, they didn't run away. But I couldn't figure out where they were living, or sleeping.

They were there every morning, just waiting for me to feed them. At one point, I was able to sit on the front step and actually play with them. I would wiggle a toy in front of them, and they would bat at it and try to pull it away from me.  Especially the gray kitty, he loved to play! And from my bedroom window, I would watch them play with each other. They would chase each other and bat at each other's tails. So adorable! I fell in love with them.

A few months went by, and this was our routine . . . Until my landlord found out! He was furious, and wanted me to stop feeding the kittens.  He didn't want them around the complex (as if they would just disappear if I stopped feeding them).

A few more weeks went by and I would sneak food to them once a day.  Then my landlord came to me and told me the building inspector discovered a screen had been knocked down and the kittens were living under my apartment.  That explained how they knew when I was home!

A couple of days later, without my knowledge, my landlord came to me one morning and said that he had trapped one of the kittens. He told me he was either going to take them to Palos Verdes and let them go, or, if I knew of something to do with the kittens, then I could deal with it.   I was SO angry and panicked I couldn't see straight.  Luckily, I was on vacation that day. What would have happened if I was at work?

I was crying hysterically and walking around in circles in my apartment trying to figure out what to do!!  Who to call??  I HAD NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE! All I knew is I didn't want my landlord to deal with this in any way, shape or form.  I knew I had to take care of it, otherwise, who knows what he would have done! Then, the first person that came to mind was my co-worker, Karen, who works with an organization called Bill Foundation.  They rescue dogs and knowing this, I called her immediately.  I was so distraught, I couldn't get my words out correctly, but amazingly, she understood me and helped me calm down.   She gave me instructions on what to do and where to take the kittens to be spayed/neutered and given shots.  Coincidentally, I ended up taking them to Petville Animal Hospital where I adopted my own kitten five years ago! 

So, one by one, I trapped each kitten by putting tuna into a trap I had rented.  Karen, my co-worker, and everybody at the animal hospital kept praising me and telling me that what I was doing was a good thing. By rescuing these kittens, I was saving them from diseases and the possibility of reproducing.

But I didn't feel that way.  I felt so awful doing this for many reasons. I felt like I was tearing up a family….like I was taking away their freedom and traumatizing them.  Here were three kittens that were always together; three kittens I had become attached; three kittens I watched play with each other and sometimes play with me; three kittens I loved. I knew I would probably never see them again because once they were fixed, I would have to find them a home.  And I did.

It's been about 5 weeks and I still find myself looking outside my front door as I come and go, remembering those three little faces looking back at me.  But I know they are healthy and cared for and even though I miss them so much, I know in my heart it was the best thing to do.