My neighbor Svitlana is an animal whisperer. You know them. They just have a way with animals. Animals in need seem to gravitate to her. In September I saw her while I was out walking, and she told me about a neighborhood cat that had kittens in a planter box. She was feeding the momma and watching out for the four babies.
I told my husband Jeff about it and kind of asked/ told him I wanted to take in one of the kittens. We already have two cats outdoors, Fancy and Wally. We’ve sworn off having any more indoor cats. But this litter was born outside. They would be naturally outside cats.
Last Sunday I went by to meet the kittens. They were quite skittish and following the mother cat who was slowly weaning them. Svitlana was feeding the kittens a mixture of pate and dry food. Svitlana with all her skills was not able to catch any kitten for me to take home. She and the momma cat were both having trouble letting them go.
On Tuesday evening, I was outside feeding Fancy and Wally when I heard mewing coming from our shed. It was definitely a kitten mew. I called Svitlana. She came running over.
Apparently on Monday night two of the kittens had wandered. One returned, but one was missing. She had worried all night long about this baby. She came prepared with a can of cat food, salmon flavored with a high stink value.
Sure enough, little Mishka was in our shed. She found us! I exclaimed. Svitlana brought the momma cat over to see her baby while I set up our back porch with a litter box. We placed little Mishka in a crate, and she was happily purring. Mishka is the name that Svitlana was calling her. It’s a term of endearment in Russian meaning “little bear.” Svitlana is Ukrainian.
Since last week was the celebration of St. Frances, I took her to church to be blessed by Madre Annie.
I took her to our vet on Monday. She is 3.5 lbs and healthy, approximately 10 weeks old. She will live on the “cat-io” for another month or so before I let her out into the wild. Mishka has found a soft place to land.
We keep hoping that the Cat Distribution System will send a cat our way…lucky you, and lucky Mishka.
I wish I could send you one of these!
Lucky grandsons who have some new entertainment on the cat-i-o!
Aww, this is the sweetest! And similar to how we were adopted by our cat, who, at approximately 9 mos. slipped into our garage on a cold February day. We did our due diligence in finding the owner and had a few inquiries, but no one claimed him, so he claimed us. It’s been fun & games (and tipped over plants and cleared surfaces) ever since! I’m happy for Mishka to have found such a good home!
I had to clear the porch of all the plants. She was climbing in and pooping. Also knocking them over. I have added some less treacherous entertainment elements for her.
Well, if you start by saying you got a kitten, your piece becomes a “must-read”! Lucky you and lucky kitten. I love how neither birth nor adoptive mother were ready for the kitten to leave and come to you, until it did. And I love the name ‘little bear’ for a cat.
Margaret,
You know you want to bring that soft, purring bundle into the house. She could go in and out at will via a doggy door, which is what our cats do. I love that the cat chose you instead of letting you choose. That’s top tier cat behavior!
Hi Margaret! Love the photos and the post. Welcome home, Mishka!
This is an adorable story of how your Mishka found you. A baby squirrel found me, but there was nothing I could do for it, but hopefully I found a home for it.
Happy new cat! I love that she found you!
Margaret, the little kitten found you. Might you also be kindhearted whisper? This was a beautiful story.
What a sweet post! After writing about St. Francis last week, I like that you had your kitten bleesed on his feast day!