Kittenzen: Hospice cat

When Easy and her kittens came into our lives I felt that they had a purpose: that they were healing cats. Most animals have healing powers I think, but my sense was about these cats that since they had been "thrust upon us" that they were to join our mission in life, to be healers.

One of the five kittens, the long large white one we named "Great White" (we actually thought at first that we had 6 kittens because in the mass of squirming newborns we saw a white tail so far away from a white head that we counted him twice) was the first to show signs. Easy developed mastitis when the kittens were only 2 weeks 1/2 weeks old and was at the animal hospital for 3 days, and so Great White took over caring for the smaller kittens, letting them all lie on him like a great downy pillow or covering them with his body when temperatures dipped below 75 degrees in the bedroom. He never shivered like the others did and gladly shared his warmth.

Fast forward to a week ago. My sister Sigrid and her family adopted our 3 boy kittens in November and they went to live with them on Vashon Island. They have 2 old cats, too, a brother and a sister about 16 years old, and the old cats didn't much care for the kittens so they mostly avoided them and glared at them when they came near. But last week Tabitha, the female, began to wane and the vet said she wouldn't last long. Now Great White (aka Sharkey) follows her everywhere and sleeps next to her and she is allowing it. He is, it turns out, a hospice cat.

When Sig told me this story it brought tears to my eyes. We are called to give solace and warmth to those in need, even the ones who are grumpy and curmudgeonly or maybe especially to them. Lord, give us the vision to see beyond the unwelcoming exterior to the heart.