Outnumbered Quilter: February 2012

Several weeks ago, my son found a stray kitten that was small, skinny, rather unhealthy, and he took pity on her and took her in. Of course, he lives in an apartment where they are not allowed to have pets, so the kitten wound up at our house and his pity turned into mine.

We couldn’t possibly turn her away, skinny and frail as she was, so Trish and I agreed to keep her long enough to nurse her to health. She has grown on Trish who now claims her.

Five weeks ago I took her to the vet to be spayed, de-clawed and vaccinated. The vet informed us we had done a good job with her, that she was very healthy now, but she wasn’t a kitten… Based on her teeth, she estimated our kitten at 1.5 – 2 years old. Very small for her age, but at least 1.5 years old nonetheless. And then, I was told that they could not vaccinate her that day because she was most likely pregnant. I could go ahead and schedule the spaying and we wouldn’t have to worry about having a litter of kittens to find homes for and she could be vaccinated after the spay.

I was shocked that they would even do that. “No” I told the vet, “there is no way I could authorize that. God is knitting these little creatures together in their mother’s womb, just like he did me and my children. There is no way I could stop that.” As we were leaving, still shocked and disappointed by the vet’s suggestion, it occurred to me that I should not have been surprised in the least. We do this same thing to human babies every day in this country. Why would we think any less of doing it to our pets?

I really wanted my kids to be able to see Misty having her kittens, but when she went into labor last Tuesday morning, she wanted me. Nobody else. I was the only person she would allow near her. She whined the most pitiful cry when I tried to leave, and she growled at Trish and anyone else when they tried to stay nearby. Normally, it’s the other way around. I am usually the one that is not desired and Trish is the one she always wants to cuddle with, etc. But that day, it was me she wanted nearby.

Trish seemed to think it was because I was not nervous for her. Trish was nervous and she thought Misty could sense that. According to Trish, Misty knew I could just sit there calmly and patiently.

So, I stayed home from work to sit with her and watch her have her babies. At first she just layed on my lap enjoying my rubbing her back and petting her. Once she started having the kittens, she no longer needed my petting or caressing. She retired to the back corner of the closet where she could birth in private. She still whined when I got up to go use the restroom, she still wanted me nearby, but she wanted to be left alone. It is God’s way after all. She would have had these babies out in the cold if we hadn’t taken her in. She didn’t need me there, she wanted me there.

There is something precious about a baby’s first cry. That first burst of sound that says, ‘I can BREATHE!! I am ALIVE!!’ I cried at the birth of my two sons, I wish I could have been there for my daughters births, I am sure I would have cried then too. I will even admit that a tear escaped when I heard those little tiny voices meowing their arrival.

The most odd thing I felt that day was Pride. I was proud of our little cat. Not sure why. It’s not like I took her to birthing classes or taught her anything at all. I didn’t have to give instruction, or remind her to breathe. I didn’t have to tell her to clean them up, or to nurse them. She knew what to do. God made sure of that. But I was proud of her.

So, now we have way too many pets for one house… 2 Dogs, 5 cats, and 5 kittens, and I’m allergic to the cats… Why am I such a pushover? I don’t know, but one thing I do know… Those kittens are adorable.