A new addition to the family.

Three weeks ago, Gary and I were relaxing, getting ready for bed. We had worked the night before, so, both of us were tired, ready to call it an early night. THe phone rang, and Gary answered. It was a co-worker, calling at 9 pm, to tell us that one of our residents had heard a kitten crying under her window, for about an hour. They had brought the scared baby into the house. And called us, not knowing what else to do. Gary handed me the phone.

I could hear the unseen baby crying, almost screaming in her tiny kitten voice. While I was trying to figure out what to do about the situation, I told Cathy (co-worker). to heat some milk, and mix it with some cat food I keep there for our resident felines. Then, I looked at Gary, and inwardly I sighed. We already have four felines in residence here at home, can we handle taking care of this baby? To my mind, there was no question. I knew from the first moment I heard there was a needy kitten, that I would drive 30 miles in the middle of the night, to go and bring her home. And that is what I did.

When I first saw the tiny fluffy grey kitten, she was so scared, and so hungry. Her cries were heart wrenching for me. I felt a wave of sadness for her loss of her momma at such a young age. I drove home, holding her against my chest, trying to share my body heat with this shivering mass of grey fluff. Thankfully, Morgan had found a recipe for emergency kitten formula for me, which I had mixed up before going to retrieve my new charge.

Upon our arrival at home, Gary took one look at her, and took her in his hands. Her entire body fit into one of his hands. We gave her some canned Iams kitten food. Which she buried her face in, she was starving. And when she started to slow down, taught her to drink from a bowl. It didn`t take long for her to learn. We stayed up long into the night, comforting this tiny baby. We figured she was about three weeks old. It was hard to be sure. She had been hungry for awhile. You could feel, and see every bone in the tiny little body.

This was three weeks ago. The starved tiny kitten I brought home, is now a healthy, spastic, fluffy ball of demon terror! She attacks everything! Things that move, things that dont. She spends time digging at the different colored squares in our kitchen tile. I laughed so hard I cried the first time her little paws hit linoleum, sending her headfirst into the kitchen stove. I just couldnt help it! It was hilarious. And at this moment? She is sitting on the back of my recliner, swatting her little paws at me, and spitting :)

The rest of the household is adjusting to having her here. They will soon have to begin to help teach her some manners. As only another kitty can do. We try to spend extra time with each and every one. I think it makes a difference on wether or not they try to turn her into a cat toy.

I was thinking, watching her play with a strip of paper towel that is her friend, how incredibly lucky we are. We brought this kitten into our home, and into our hearts. She brings joy, and smiles into our lives. I am thankful every moment for the kitty`s in our life.