Charlie the Kitten Who Saved a Life

‘Well, all the cats I know can understand Human,’ I said. ‘So I didn’t think it was unusual.’

‘We’ve only ever had other feral cats for company,’ Stinky said. ‘All of our mothers were ferals. All the females we mate with, and all our kittens, are ferals too.’

‘Yeah, we’ve never been friends with a posh domestic cat like you before,’ Black said. ‘We normally leave them for dead if they stray into our territory.’

‘I know.’

There was another silence.

‘Well, we’re sorry about that now, aren’t we, boys,’ Big said. ‘And it looks like you might be a useful little cat to have around, after all.’

‘How?’

‘You can give us the low-down on what any passing humans are saying. There are always rumours going around our community about them plotting to poison us or chase us out of town, but we’ve never known whether there’s any truth in it all.’

‘Good idea,’ Tail-less said, ‘And in return we’ll keep trying to help you find your humans. You don’t belong round here, that’s for sure. You’re … well, you’re different.’

I wasn’t sure if the look he was giving me now was one of admiration or wariness. But it was a fair enough bargain. And if it resulted in me finding my family, preferably before I turned feral myself, it was the only way to go.

‘OK,’ I said. ‘I’ll be your translator. Now, can we start searching for my holiday home?’

That evening, while Black and Stinky went scavenging for scraps in the bins as usual, Big and Tail-less took me on a tour of some of the streets of the town. The houses here seemed mostly to be very large, with signs outside printed with names in Human.

‘Hotels,’ Big explained. ‘Holiday humans stay in them and get fed. The bins round the backs are good for scavenging. I’m guessing your humans will be in one of these?’

‘No,’ I meowed sadly. ‘They’re staying in a little house – a cottage. It’s in a quiet lane, not a street like this with -pavements. It’s near the sea.’

‘Hmm. Sounds like it’s further out of town. Well, we’ve covered quite a lot of ground already tonight. I suggest we call off the search for now and get something to eat. Don’t worry, young Charlie.’ He was sounding quite affectionate towards me now. ‘We’ll search the streets every day. We’ll get there in the end.’

I hoped he was right. But I was beginning to feel like it might be an impossible mission.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Yes, my friends, you’re right in thinking I was becoming used to the feral cats by now. After living with them like that, I can tell you I actually have a lot of sympathy for them. They’ve got a terrible reputation, and it’s true they can be very aggressive. I’ve got the scars to prove it! But it’s understandable. They’ve got tough lives, and after all, they didn’t choose to be born into those circumstances. I understand now why they hang around in gangs, too. On their own, they’d be prey to all sorts of dangers. They need each other for protection. It’s all very well for domestic cats like us to say we enjoy our own company. We can pick and choose which cats we want to spend time with, and who’s allowed into our territory, or we can be completely solitary if we want to. We’ve got humans to protect us and we can choose to stay inside our nice warm homes whenever we like. I found myself wishing I could do more to help those cats, but to be honest, I don’t think they’d have been able to adapt to a life like ours.

For one thing, none of them had ever heard about going to the vet for that operation. They looked absolutely horrified when I told them I’d had it.

‘I thought you said your humans were kind!’ Black said.

‘They are. I know it seems like a cruel thing to do, but honestly, it’s just like my friend Oliver explained to me when I was a little kitten: what you’ve never had, you never miss.’

‘Well, I’m as sure as a dog’s backside that I’d miss it,’ Big said. ‘We all would! Apart from the fresh fish, it’s the only thing that makes our lives worth living.’

I thought about this for a while. There were so many things that made my life worth living when I was at home in Little Broomford, I felt almost guilty about it, not to say even more homesick.

‘We have humans to love us,’ I tried to explain. ‘We sit on their laps and get stroked and cuddled. It makes up for not mating.’

‘You must be joking,’ Stinky said. ‘That sounds awful. I’m surprised you put up with it.’

‘And it can’t possibly compare with a quick session with Blotchy Face when she’s on heat,’ Black put in.

‘Yeah, she’d soon make you forget about your humans, Charlie!’ said Tail-less.

I felt sorry for Blotchy Face, whoever she was. She must have spent her whole life being pregnant and having loads of kittens.

As the boys continued to discuss their mating rituals, I distanced myself from the conversation. I couldn’t help thinking about my sisters back at home. I was glad to remember most of you females have been spayed.