Fish and bunnies aside, we have been very strong in our resolve about not getting pets while in Thailand. (To properly read that sentence, ‘we’
is pronounced ‘Win’ and ‘significant pets’ refers specifically to cats.) We don't want to get attached when our living situation is temporary. Our defenses, however, have been breached. We’ve thrown in the towel. Our white flag is
a-wavin’ and I blame it on a bunch of elementary kids.
Sometime in July a lovely stray cat -- white with big, round
patches of pale orange and grey -- took up residence in the pratom 5 and 6
(elementary) building on our campus. Shortly thereafter, we discovered that the very friendly
stray cat was also very pregnant. Between students and teachers, when Mama Cat
gave birth the kittens were moved to a safe place in the music room on the first
floor. Mama Cat was free to come and go, students fed and watered her, and the
kittens slept nestled away in a box (unless interrupted by screaming children
or music class).
Unfortunately, two of the three kittens have died. The
remaining kitten is tiny and frail, and the incessant attention from students
is almost certainly not a health-positive situation (who knows where those
hands have been?).
We tried to be stoic. We tried to be rational. We are going
on vacation for a month, and we are leaving Thailand in the spring. But how can you look a
kitten in the face and still say no? The kitten, with black-on-white,
symmetrical inkblot coloring across its back, curled up in Mama’s protection,
just washed away all rational arguments against taking them home. Someone has
to feed our fish and water our plants while we’re gone, what’s the big deal if
they feed the cats too?
The Thai teachers wasted no time once they saw the chink in
our armor. Upon first sighting, Mama was wrangled by fifth graders and Baby put
back safely in its box. An army of students trekked them across campus to our
office, where they caused a stir with the high school kids. So, both Mama Cat and Baby Cat are in for some foreigner TLC.
Mama Cat is a bundle of purring and affection, despite being
a stray cat. Baby Cat is possibly the most precious fuzz puff I have seen; too
young to have developed proper motor function, it bobs and weaves after our
feet, the tiniest of obstacles or disruptions sending it tumbling. Real names
are still to come, but I am anticipating cat cuddles with the greatest of
joy and the biggest of smiles.
