Tale Of Sick Kitty by Carol Wells
Having children usually means that there lies a possibility of having pets becoming a part of the family. My children adopted a black cat that they named Angel. Angel was already pregnant at the time of her adoption into our family, so she blessed us with kittens. One of Angel's offspring in particular created a slightly humorous memory for both my family and a veterinarian.
Doctor, I hate to ask this but..." and the veterinarian finally confirmed my suspicions. The kitten likely suffered some brain damage as a result of it's adventure at such a tender age - either due to exposure, lack of food and water, or both being contributing factors.
It did not help matters with my mother inadvertently helping to name the kitten. When the kittens would play around her feet she would reach down then hold the offending kitten up in the air while asking, "Which cat is this one?"
If the children replied with one of the other kitten's names, then the kitten was swatted on the tush and tossed to land about 2 or 3 feet away. If they replied, "That's the sick kitten," then my mother carefully placed the kitten back on the floor with a sigh ... knowing that the kitten was 'special'.
Over time, 'sick kitten' became shortened to "sick kitty". After a while it just replaced the cat's original name - which none of us remembers what that was.
One day a cousin of mine stopped by. On one of the chairs a kitten was regally posed while enjoying the sun's rays. "Oh my, she's gorgeous," my cousin exclaimed while stroking the kitten's fur. "What's her name?"
"Sick Kitty," I replied.
My cousin immediately stopped to look at me with a shocked expression. "What's the matter with it," she asked while holding her hands away from her body; silently hoping it was not something contagious.
"Brain damage," I answered which meant explaining about the kitten's unfortunate adventure when younger. Once people heard about Sick Kitty's plight, she became the center of attention. To the point I worried about her becoming spoiled. I kid you not but sometimes we had company not for us ... but because the person wanted to spend time with Sick Kitty.
Into each kitten's life comes a time when they become 'grown up'. Sick Kitty's siblings went into heat. They stealthily roamed the house wailing an announcement to the neighborhood that there were two female cats in the house looking for a couple single male cats. I made a mental note to schedule an appointment for the kittens to be neutered.
Sick Kitty just looked at her howling siblings as if perplexed. Then a couple of days later she joined in the ritual. "Oh dear, we definitely can't let Sick Kitty out of our sight," I told the girls. "If she gets pregnant, that may not be a good thing for her or her kittens. So be especially careful when going in and out."
That same evening, my oldest daughter - then around the age of 10 - came to me holding Sick Kitty in her arms. "Will you try to keep her downstairs," she asked.
"That may be hard to do," I replied while taking the cat from her hands. "She wants to join in with the other two cats upstairs doing their howling thing."
"I know, but she is ticking off Senior [the name of one of the other two kittens]. Sick Kitty keeps trying to wrestle and play piggyback. I don't think Senior likes it 'cause she growls at Sick Kitty."
"What!" It was not so much a question as I quickly turned over Sick Kitty then looked at the kitten's face in shock. I went to the phone and explained to the veterinarian about the other two kittens going into heat then a couple of days later Sick Kitty joining in the fun. "Um, out of curiosity, do male cats howl while in heat," I asked, hoping against hope.
"Normally, no. Some will but that's not common trait for males. Why do you ask?" I then shared with him about Sick Kitty apparently not being a female as originally thought. "Oh dear," he murmured.
"Oh dear what?"
"Well recall that Sick Kitty still learns through imitation. She... I mean he, saw the other kittens doing what is normal for them. Apparently Sick Kitty started howling only because the other two were; but also instinctively reacting, as any male cat would, while in the presence of a female in heat."
"Oh great. Here I have been making sure that the cats remained inside, particularly Sick Kitty, to prevent pregnancy. And instead all I've done is..."
"Supply her, I mean him, with ample opportunities to attempt impregnating the other two non-neutered female cats in the house," the veterinarian replied with a chuckle.
About This Story's Author:
© 1999-2006 Carol Wells; Sick Kitty was adopted in 1993 by an older aged couple. At last report he adjusted well to their one-story dwelling and happily remains the center of attention.
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