How I became a cat person--a picture story

An unexpected conversion of a dog lover into a cat mom.

For as far back as I can remember, I considered myself a ‘dog’ person. Since childhood, I’d had several dogs, all of who I dearly loved. As a teen, I lived close to a Blue cross hospital and animal shelter, and I was always taking injured animals to the shelter. The assortment of creatures I rescued included a squirrel (which bit me because it was so badly wounded), a bird (who I named Captain Baldy. Yes, it was bald), a kitten and several puppies. I would spend my time hanging around the shelter, playing with the rescues, helping them in little ways that I could. I loved being around animals, as I found comfort and joy in their company.

Animals did not judge me, were sincere in their affection and it was hard, therefore rewarding, to win their trust and love. I never understood other kids who did not care for animals. (As an adult, I still don’t get people who are indifferent to animals.)

The last dog I had broke my heart. The hardest decision I’ve taken was to let her go. It’s been three years but I am still unable to think about it without breaking down. She was a doberman named Lostris (named after a queen in Wilbur Smith’s books) , who was my companion for ten of the books I wrote. She would always be by my side, as my arm rest. Lossie was a Velcro dog, always stuck to me. Shadow would have been an apt name for her, as she followed me everywhere, even to the bathroom. She couldn’t bear to be parted from me.

Most people were terrified of her, and moved away when I walked her. She was fiercely protective of me, and one of my nicknames for her was Bossy-Lossie. When she wanted to go for a walk, she would shut my laptop down with her snout and tell me in no uncertain terms that it was time to stop working and head outdoors. Lostris was my third child, and she meant the world to me and my family.

I’d decided that I would have no more pets after her. The pain of losing her was searing. But the day she passed, a feral cat came home. I couldn’t believe it. It was almost as if Lossie could see my pain and had sent the cat to console me. I wasn’t familiar with cats at all, and it was a learning curve for me, to understand cats. They are so different from dogs. We called her Kitty, and Kitty would always stick to me, just like Lossie did.

Little did I know that Kitty was going to give me a gift. She gave birth to three kittens and they brought me great joy. I named them Leo, Kasper and Bella. I’d mistakenly presumed Leo and Kasper to be boys, but they turned out to be girls. I didn’t change their names though. I would find out later that Kasper is a mute, and cannot mew properly. Also that it didn’t deter her even a little bit and she would fiercely communicate whatever she wanted by nudging my face with her paws.

I got Kitty vaccinated, and spayed. I also got all the kittens vaccinated, and eventually spayed. Once the kittens grew up a bit, Kitty decided that it was time for more adventures at a new house, and she left for greener pastures.

A year later, someone abandoned a calico kitten at my door step. Once again I mistook her to be a boy and named her Harvey. When she came to me she was malnourished, starving and mewing piteously. I couldn’t bear to see her that way , and took her in.

The plan was to give her up for adoption. But then I fell in love with her, and decided to keep her.

And look at what a gorgeous cat she has grown into now.

One more year later, I sadly lost Bella who was attacked by stray dogs and succumbed to her injuries.

Now I have three cats—Leo, Kasper and Harvey. This is Leo. Look at how she has her paw around me.

Leo is gorgeous.

And so is Kasper.

Look at how she cuddles me.

All three are around me almost all the time. When I go for a walk, they go along with me, just like Lossie ! The security personnel in my residential complex tell me that they have never seen a cat going for a walk with its owner.

I do think that people who have not known an animal’s love are missing something in their lives.

I am blessed to receive so much love. Truly.
But there will forever be a Lossie shaped hole in my heart.