We have six cats, all rescues from the hard times of living on the streets. Animals have many things to teach us. With each rescue I have ever been surprised by how love can take over in what appears at first to be an indifferent cat. Here are two of their stories.
Tank lived next door to us. One day freezing rain was falling and I saw him high up on the windowsill of his house, trying to get someone’s attention inside to let him in. He was a very young cat, and I went out and got him and took him to his owner. I found out that they left him outside most of the time, even in severe winter weather. I would see him going back and forth in our back yard, but he would never come to me. During the time before winter of that year, I did not see him as much, but finally spotted him one day in the cold winter weather and snow outside of our window eating the corn and deer meal.
I know a cat will not eat this kind of food unless they are starving. He had been left outside to fend for himself, and I found that he had been coming and going back and forth under the abandoned house next door to us. He must have suffered terribly that long winter outside, but I knew I could not get him to come to me to rescue him.
As winter finally faded into early spring, he was still coming and going underneath the abandoned house. I began to give him food in the morning and evening, and eventually, he would sit on my lap under a blanket for a short time in the morning sunlight. Little by little I would call him when I brought him food and he would come. His owners knew he was living under the abandoned house, but they would not take him home. He needed to be neutered, but they would not do it. I asked them if I could have him neutered and the owner said I could.
I took him to the vet and then kept him on our front porch for many days after, secluded from our other cats. I invited his owner to come over to see him and when she did, she said I could keep him. Shortly after his operation he had a urinary blockage and had to be in the hospital for over a week to clear it up. When he was able to come home, and after he felt better, I introduced him to our other cats. He did not have an aggressive nature and got along well with all but Harry, another male cat, who was a bully. Tank and Jasper became playmates and best friends. Tank is now a happy kitty with no more food or shelter worries. He became a happy indoor cat and does not long to go outside again. He was so grateful to have a home.
As the days and weeks went by, Tank really began to change. He was so loving, and now, no longer afraid of me, he comes up on the bed at night while I am sleeping and lays his head on my shoulder with one paw on my face and goes to sleep. I remember the morning I first woke up and saw him peacefully sleeping beside me, amazed at what love could do and how it had changed him.
Jasper was found going back and forth from the abandoned house to get food, chasing all the other cats away. I had to take him in to stop this. He was not wild and let me pick him up. One November day, I realized I hadn’t seen him for a few days and prayed that he would come back before winter so I could rescue him. God answered and he has been part of the family ever since. He was people-friendly, and while we didn’t know his story, we concluded that he had gotten lost, because he appeared to have been on his own for a long time. He was raggedy with gray around his face and the vet thought that he was about five years old. Apparently not so. As soon as he got good food and care, the gray on his face all went away and he was playing like a kitten. He is the sweetest cat ever and so happy to be in his forever home.
Through Tank’s and Jasper’s reaction to kindness I have been reminded of the changes that can take place in us through the love of Christ. We can be wholly made new through His love, mercy and intervention in our lives. Through the love and care of Christ we can get through the trials of this world, and at last be forever home.