Our Kittens from Heaven
Two years ago this week my beloved 15 year old cat Isis (named after the mythical Egyptian Queen of the Heavens) died.
A year ago this week I adopted two 4 or 5 week old kittens. They came to us - literally - from Heaven. (More on that below!)
The year between Isis dying and the two kittens arriving was the only time I’ve ever lived without an animal companion. I have throughout my life been blessed with the friendship of many different species; my deepest connections have been with cats, dogs and horses.
Last June I was longing for and dreaming of a new animal companion.
Early one Sunday morning I woke up thinking, “Today I am going to find a kitten on Craig’s List!”
Yep! There was a picture of a tiny orange kitten with a note that he and his litter mates had been orphaned. Since I had been dreaming especially about an orange kitten, I messaged immediately and repeatedly until receiving an answer at 10. (Oh, yeah, I have to remind myself, not everyone wakes up at 5 like I do and some people even think my early morning enthusiasm is obnoxious!)
By the end of the day two adorable tiny kittens claimed residence in our home and our hearts.
The weekend before a man had been camping with his family and heard a cat crying outside his tent. He discovered an injured mama cat, who had probably been hit by a car. Searching in the bushes he discovered five tiny kittens.
Serendipitously, the man’s sister is a cat rescuer. Her passion in life is to find abandoned cats and kittens and to connect them with good homes. The best vet care was unable to save the mama so the kittens were fed formula for a few days and then offered to good homes.
The woman who gave us our cats is named Heaven.
It took me while to hear that name. Three times I asked, “Heather?” She kindly corrected me until I finally let myself hear her real name. She is Heaven and her mission is to rescue kittens.
So you see, our kittens did - literally- come to us from Heaven. They came to us through a sweet combination of dreaming, serendipity, intuition and action.
Many cat experts believe that it is more humane - and easier- to raise two kittens than a single cat. With orphans this seems to be especially important. A single kitten at that young age with no mother, may not learn important cat behaviors, including purring.
Of all the animals I have loved- these are especially precious- partly because they were so young and trusted and bonded deeply and immediately with us, partly because they are the first animals I have adopted since my human babies were all grown up.
Pele is orange with tabby spirals, amber eyed, rambunctious and languorous and gallops pell mell into adventures. Nimbus is grey striped, green eyed, elegant, regal, strong and observant. Both are playful, deeply affectionate and responsive to our schedules and requests.
They have opened my heart more than ever to my intuitive, instinctual kinship with all creatures, great and small, wild and domestic.
What animals have you loved and been transformed by?
Interested in further developing your intuitive, empathic relationship with animals?
Check out these related resources:
Kinship with All Life by J Allen Boone. I love this sweet, simple, transformational book written decades ago by an animal trainer in Hollywood.
We Are More Radio Archives: Listen to my interviews with Marta Williams, animal communicator and author