Little Creature Lost: An Open Letter To Pet Owners

Hi everyone.  I'm going to write something here today, and I... well, I hope I'm wrong.

I really, really hope I'm wrong. 

Look at this little creature.

That is a kitten, maybe...two months old?  Old enough to eat kibble and food and old enough to know how to use a litter box. NJ and I found her last night.

We were sitting on the front porch (like you do), as it was nice, cool early fall night.  We'd done a lot of DIY work that day, staining wood, cutting down elephant ears for the winter, you know.  Then, NJ started to hear something. After he pointed it out, I heard it.

Meowing.

Guys, I'm a cat person.  I know just a couple things about these creatures.  And I know the difference between a cat who has been raised by humans, and a cat who is feral.  A feral cat will never, ever, walk around your neighborhood drawing attention to itself unless it's in heat.  Feral cats like to hide, hunt quietly, that type of thing.  They don't love people, and they don't stand in the middle of the alley at 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, literally caterwauling.  And furthermore, they don't follow you to your house when you get their attention.

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NJ and I didn't know what to do! It was a coldish night, and we didn't know if she belonged to somebody....so we just set out some food and waited.  We figured, after all, sometimes cats do just get out, and sometimes they do go home.  And if someone didn't know she was out, they might be looking for her.

Then, this morning, my cat woke me up.  She made me come to the kitchen, and I fed her.  Then...I heard it.  Through my open kitchen window.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Help.

Please.

I'm cold.

I'm hungry.

SO...... I caved.  Of course I did.  I went out there, and I got her.

Guys.  This is a cat that was in someone's house until very, very recently.  It's very loving, a little scared, but she's clean and has been well taken care of.  What do I mean by that?  She's a good weight, her teeth and eyes look clear, she hasn't been in any fights, and no ear mites or obvious signs of fleas. Her paws aren't scratched up, her nails are intact, and in general she ticks all the "healthy" boxes. She wasn't dirty at all, like she hadn't even gotten a chance to get in trouble yet. She purrs VERY Loudly.

So I'm really, really, really hoping this is someone's lost pet.  I really, really, really hope someone sees this and recognizes their cat.  If you can tell me what neighborhood we found her in, we can talk about you coming to get her. I'll happily reunite her with a loving family, if she's got one.  I'll bring her by a vet after work and make sure she's not chipped.

But if this is what I think it is.... I'm really hoping it's not.  I'm really hoping that someone didn't have a cat and decide to "let it go" thinking it could just fend for itself.  Or that someone wasn't thinking about black cats being bad luck at Halloween.  I'm really hoping you didn't let this sweet little creature out to fend for itself just because you didn't want the responsibility any more.

And if someone really did let her out on her own just because she's a black cat.... shame on you. You could have at least taken her to a shelter. Who knows what the crazies of the world will do to an unattended black  cat they meet in the street?? Especially at this time of year!

I'll take care of this sweet baby if you won't.  Maybe I'll name her Yoongi. Maybe this is the cat distribution system hard at work.

Kittily yours,
Behka