G*Nice: Love our four-legged friends

I am looking after a family of street cats who live in the underground car park of my apartment building and, sadly, one of the youngsters died. It was the day after the car park was re-painted so I can only assume that fumes from the fresh paint might have led to her death. Sadder still is that I found her under my car which leads me to think that she was seeking some shelter in a known, safe place in her last moments.

The reason I became involved with these cats is an interesting story. One day, late after football, I got out of my car and was accosted by this skinny brown and white feline who literally ran towards me making loud noises. She looked very bedraggled and obviously wanted food and water. So I went to the supermarket and bought canned food, biscuits and water and took it back to her. She was very grateful and wolfed it all down. I decided that I would continue to look out for her as the thought of a living being suffering just tears me up. So the food and water routine carried on for a few days and then I saw that she had two kittens, which explained why she looked so thin and why she was so desperate for sustenance on that first night in her search to feed both herself and her family.

So, despite understanding very little about cats, I took them under my wing and provided refreshment for them two to three times a day. Soon I realised that the mother cat was keen for my company too, so I would spend 15 minutes on occasions just sitting with her and her brood.

This was when I detected their different personalities. The mother was totally relaxed around me, even rolling over to show her belly, which apparently is a sign of trust on her part. The kittens, on the other hand, were opposites: one was brave and inquisitive, the other very nervous. I made sure not to get the kittens used to too much human contact as ultimately they are street cats who have to fend for themselves and not everyone will be as friendly towards them as me.

So now, after all these days, it was truly upsetting to see that one of my little family had died, because in the time that I knew them it re-affirmed all the fantastic things that animals can teach us humans.

I totally respect you if you are a person who does not like cats or dogs, or for some reason are scared of them. All I would ask is that you show them no cruelty or hostility and I would also like to tell you what you are missing because, unlike most humans, these animals will bond with you easily and you will see a pure source of unconditional love. We could all do with more of that!

Sadly yours
G*Nice