During past two or three days, an orphaned black and white kitten jumped onto the scene and into our hearts. The spunky little cat would be waiting near the gate every time it opened to get a free meal and attention.
This morning he didn't arrive. We sort of wondered where he might have gone. A few hours later, Jay went outside to walk around, but I am sure it was expressly to see where the young cat was. Sure enough, Jay returned with the half dead creature in his arms. He'd found it beside the road and it obviously had been hit by a motorcycle or vehicle. It must have been hours since it had anything to drink and had been was lying out in the hot sun. We spoon-fed it some milk with ground aspirin. Obviously, one of its front legs seemed paralyzed. It couldn't get up. It looked like it had a small neck wound but we didn't and still don't know about internal injuries. We put it on a rag in the corner and hoped it would sleep. Flies started to come, so we placed him inside the cool laundry room. It seems strong but angry as it doesn't know what is wrong and why it can't get up. I only half expect it to live. As we're leaving in a few weeks, I cannot imagine it having a happy life even if it pulls though.
I feel sad because more than once I thought it was a shame that Jay found it at all. In a few more hours it surely would have been dead. Now, it meows, still cannot sit upright, and might be in pain. As well, I also feel sad because on the news daily there are reports of dozens of dead people in many parts of the world. This, after all, is only a cat. Then, I feel a little sad for forgetting that life in all its forms is precious.
I will post a picture of our first encounter with it, when it was still afraid of people, but had such a potentially different future. This was just 10 days ago.
