A Cat’s First Christmas

By Purr-Catso, as purred to Linda Spurlin

I nearly didn’t make it to my first Christmas. I was born last spring to a mom that didn’t want me or my brothers or sisters. She didn’t have enough food for all of us, and since I was the smallest, I didn’t even get my fair share of that. I became too weak to even try to struggle to survive any more. Then something happened that changed my whole little black furry life! A lady came to my home to see us, and she kept coming back. She took some of my relatives to the veterinarian, and then to new homes.

When I thought I wouldn’t make it another day, she took me, too. She didn’t think I would make it either, and took me to the vet to have me put to sleep. But fortunately for me, the vet thought I had a chance. Because I was too weak to swallow, she taught the lady how to run a tube down my throat to get food to my tummy. I did not appreciate this great kindness at all. Within a few days, I was strong enough to chew the feeding tube in half and that was the end of that, even if it did save my life. Now I was strong enough to swallow and got food from a syringe squirting milk into my mouth. I didn’t appreciate that either, but soon I was well enough able to learn to lap milk from a dish and eat canned food.

I was one lucky kitty. Now I live a life of feline luxury. I sleep on the bed of the human that saved me. I follow her to the refrigerator and meow until she gives me my favorite treat, which is cheese! Then I follow her husband to the refrigerator and meow until he gives me my favorite treat, which is cheese. I play with their dogs and chase shoelaces and take cat naps wherever I choose.

I know no fear. Where once I was at death’s door, I can now sit and stare down the vacuum cleaner that makes the dogs run and hide. I know that I am loved and that no one would ever hurt me here.

So now that it appears I will live to see my first Christmas, my Christmas wish is that other cats could be so lucky. But the sad fact is that many will not be. The alternative to finding a home for all the homeless cats is, for there not to be so many cats to need to find homes for! If more people would get their cats fixed so they wouldn’t have more kittens, there wouldn’t be so many to suffer as I did and not be so fortunate as to find someone to save them.

My human family said I needed to contribute something to help make this wish happen. And much to my surprise, I don’t miss my testicles a bit.