Meeeeooowwww…

I admit it. I have horrid eating habits. If Neil isn’t around to nag me, I would probably die of starvation sitting at my computer. Neil and I had decided to walk over to Sun Dance for me to have a bowl of soup and homemade bread late yesterday afternoon, because it was only a few hours to dinnertime and we’d made plans with friends, so I couldn’t spoil my appetite. And on the way to Sun Dance, we saw this:

It was barely moving, only meowing a little and it seemed to only be able to move its head.

(People who really know me know how much I love animals — all animals, pretty much — and how much I really love cats. I was raised to not ignore an animal in distress.)

Neil and I had agreed a long time ago that we wouldn’t have a pet while we’re in China, because of quarantine issues when we leave (quarantining pets, not ourselves). Our neighbour who runs a little shop downstairs, however, adores cats. So I lifted the kitten, which looked about two months old and there wasn’t a mother in sight, onto my hands, trying to make sure its entire body was supported, and carried it back to our apartment complex. The kitten meowed some more, but it didn’t struggle, it was completely limp.

This was the point where my lower lip should’ve started wobbling but I was too busy making sure I didn’t drop the cat.

Our cat lady friend hand fed the kitten a little fish and rice (it wouldn’t take any water or milk — a starving cat is picky?) and then we put it in a box with egg cartons as a lining, and when we got back an hour or so later, it was asleep, a little curled up even. It looked a little more normal and less at death’s door.

We’re going to head downstairs later to check on the sweet little thing, and chat to the lady about who’s going to care for it. Hopefully the kitty will survive the next few days and get strong and healthy again. If the lady can’t or won’t take in this little refugee (she already has another cat who is apparently being courted by our neighbourhood tom*), we’ll need to find a home for it.

I really hope it’s okay.

* The tom picks on the young female cats, he doesn’t go for the ones he’s loved and left before. He’s a grizzled white bear of a feline (what an image) — not very attractive, but obviously thinks he’s the shit. I guess he’s a typical male in China. Heehee.

• 13 May 2006