A Furrytail Story

by Jean Cristian Salas

Once upon a Wednesday afternoon, I was walking straight from my workplace, heading to my boarding house. The street wasn’t rushing as the rocky and bumpy road barely took. My mind was busy thinking about what to eat for dinner until I heard a meowing sound for help. Maybe they were just cats from the neighborhood, but no. The more I stepped forward, the sound came closer to me, and I knew it was somewhere near the road. When my eyes caught the moving garbage bag, I immediately came closer and saw that it was tied up. My heart felt heavy when I heard not just one meow but lots of them.

I loosened the tie and found a mommy calico cat with her three newborn kittens. They were all fitted in a green ecobag and doubled by a black garbage bag. I was crying inside, wondering how long they had been inside and if they could breathe at all. How could some people be this inhumane? Instead of running away from me, they glued their teary eyes on me as if they were thanking me for saving them. But no, I don’t deserve to be thanked, as my kind did this cruelty to these angels. My broken heart felt sorry for what they had gone through.

We all know that not everyone loves keeping animals. One cannot force the other to accept them in spite of not wanting them. However, it's an inhumane act to put helpless animals inside a bag not just to abandon but with intention to weed them out of life.

Without hesitation, I gently put the kittens back in the ecobag and carried their mother like a baby. I took them all and brought them to my boarding house in spite of the no pets house rule. I was so happy walking even though there was stray fur on my face. My office bag was almost covered with cat hair. I didn’t mind the neighbors seeing me. Bagging lots of cats.

Luckily, I’m staying alone in the room; that’s why I could hide them in the meantime. The mother cat roamed her eyes around every corner, and when she was assured that they were finally safe, she sat down and let her babies have some milk. I was relieved and I felt settled enough to walk out to have a shower.

When I re-entered my room, I walked carelessly and suddenly the mother cat bit my left lower thigh. I was shocked but stayed calm and petted the cat. I was not scared of her bite but was worried about how traumatized she was. She never attacked me again and slept with her babies.

I cleaned the wound and prayed for healing. This wasn’t my first time; I have been scratched and bitten by cats before. I know it’s a risk, but I’m getting a vaccine for anti-rabies.

Lots of people don’t care about loving and caring for animals. Some think it’s crazy to be obsessed with them. And only few understand the happiness that is felt by rescuing abandoned furry, scaly, and feathered beings.

An animal’s life also matters in this crucial world, as they, too, contribute an importance to the Earth. Especially cats: they are not just pets but also soulmates in life.