Things That Bang

If you talk to any breeder they will tell you the same thing - Never pick up an animal from a pet shop. You never know what kind of disease they may be carrying.

Well, we picked up Kensei from a pet shop; better still we rescued a sick 4 month old kitten knowing he was sick. He was an affectionate little mutt and snuggled up easy in the crook of the arm but was a bag of bones. Our hearts became puddle and we took him home.

We nearly lost him. The poor guy had a weak constitution. He couldn't keep anything down. His litter tray was changed every hour and in the end even though Zoey out of pity accepted him he was isolated in another room with his litter tray.

The image of him unable to get up from his dirty litter tray is still engraved in my mind. We managed to pull him away from death.

But Kensei's constitution, however, never recovered. Any deviation from his meal and it would be stink time all over again.

On 14th of February early morning I heard the newspaper on which the litter was laid ruffle. Zoey was sleeping next to me and I knew Kensei was up to no good.

The sound of paper cackling went on for over five minutes. I groaned and buried my head in the pillow. I knew what had happened. He was trying to bury the crime but couldn't. The floor did not have litter on it! He had missed the litter tray again.

I walked out screaming- Kensei, you naughty cat! Its such a big tray! How can you miss it?

He stood still in his tray with one paw raised. He meowed as if to say- Good morning mama and I was too mad to think- oh, you look so handsome despite the crap you have left again for me.

And, yes, he had pooped right between the two litter trays!

He hopped off the tray, rubbed himself against my legs asking to be picked up and cuddled and I imagined kicking the cat to Timbuktu!

Zoey came out of the bedroom meowing her good morning and headed straight for the litter and I thought -oh! there will be two poops to pick up.

I grabbed the cats and locked them in the backyard. They both gave an indignant meow! Out without food!

I grabbed newspapers, Lysol, Dettol, face mask, hand gloves, a bucket, coconut broom, yanked up my nightwear and got to work.

It took me over forty five minutes to clean his mess, get fresh litter and scrub my hands clean in piping hot water.

I then let the cats in to eat. Ten minutes later I could hear the crackle of the paper again. And I groaned. I screamed- Kensei!!

The paper crackled louder, more rigorous. I hit my head against the couch. The crackling stopped, he sauntered into the living room, jumped up on the couch and snuggled up against me.

I told him he was lucky I didn't kick him to Timbuktu, lucky I preferred to clean up after him and not send him back to the damn pet shop and he sure was lucky that I saved his life.

He meowed, turned on his back, showed me his belly and went to sleep and I wondered if I would yet again have to clean his litter tray.