Did you know that there are 91 lakh street cats in India? (Src: India Today) “The population of pet cats in India amounted to nearly two million in the year 2018 and the population was forecast to reach approximately two and a half million by the end of year 2023.”, as per Statista.com. Domesticating an abandoned cat is an eventful and joyous journey. Do you want to know my story? So you can see if it's possible to take on one too?
My stray cat is Kitty. She first came to my terrace with her mother when she was tiny. When I tried to give her milk then, she hissed at me. Her mother took her to the ground floor. My mother-in-law used to feed the mother cat and Kitty with milk, rice, and curd. One day, she came back with a bit of her ear nipped off. Maybe she had gotten in a fight. After a few months, my daughter and I tried calling her from my terrace. My daughter guided and helped her get on the parapet to my terrace. After many attempts, she started jumping onto my deck with ease. I started feeding her milk, bread and milk, rice and curd, and beef and chicken bones. She started allowing me to touch her, but for not more than a few seconds.
A Strange Incident
After about 5 months, I noticed she came to me more often than before. I converted one of the Amazon cardboard boxes into a home for her. She started sleeping there at night. One fine day, she was meowing a lot. I couldn’t understand why. So I sat next to her box, reading a book. After a while, she seemed to be hiccuping or having some difficulty. Then I saw a big black bubble coming from her back. She was giving birth! Unfortunately, the kitten didn’t survive. I felt faint watching the whole episode, and my heart went out to her, seeing the pain she went through.
Eventually, she became pregnant again, probably by one of the other stray cats in the neighborhood. This time it was evident for a longer period than before as her belly was protruding. She was still active though, catching rats and birds!
A Momentous Day
She delivered a month ahead of my calculated date. It happened all of a sudden. One night she was meowing a lot and even sat almost in my lap, which is very unlike her. I kept talking to her and petting her. I put her comfortably in her box with a sheet. She delivered three beautiful kittens within twenty minute to half-hour gaps. The first two looked just like her and the third was a mix of white, yellow, and brown. There was a fourth one too, but Kitty was too tired to lick up and break its sac. So it didn’t survive. I kept feeding her milk during this time, to give her energy. I was anxious if Kitty would be able to care for her young. But her maternal instincts kicked in. She fed and licked them clean in regular intervals, without much of a shut-eye during the first week.
They are three months old now and mostly live on my balcony. Although both Kitty and kittens go out for their local expeditions, they are always back for food and rest. It was and is a delight to see them grow. The kittens are so cute and adorable. Marshmallow, Oreo, and Butterscotch can play for a long time with any nonsensical object like a ball, piece of paper, a small stick, a piece of wire, or even with their mother’s tail!
Are you inspired to accept a street cat? By adopting one, you can make a big difference to a harmless animal and reduce the number of abandoned cats in our country. Do you have any doubts or queries regarding embracing one into your family? I will answer them from my first-hand experience with my adopted kitty. I also look forward to hearing your opinions and perceptions.
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