Love in Unexpected Places

If you are open to love, it will find you. Sometimes it appears in the form of a momma cat and her kittens. photo: AdobeStock

“Who Rescued Whom?” You’ve no doubt seen those words on a bumper sticker with a paw print, and for many of us, they ring true. We sometimes wonder how fate brought us this loving creature with four legs and a waggy tail. Some of us even believe that our current dog is a past pet reincarnated, returned to share more love and life with us. I don’t know why I have been so blessed with my pets, but I am grateful that they found me.

And they continue to find me. Three weeks ago, while doing the dishes, I saw a cat walk across the retaining wall just outside my kitchen window. I thought that was funny, especially since it looked a lot like the cat that my dog had chased away from her outdoor potty area about a week before. Why would a cat come back to my hostile home? 

The next day, a neighbor texted me to ask where the meowing sounds were coming from. My daughter and I investigated, hearing cats but not seeing any. Until, one morning, we saw a kitten. A little bitty orange kitten on a ledge behind my house. A kitten! How cute! But what do I do with a kitten?

As I write this, I’m aware that you, dear reader, are most likely similar to me when it comes to  pets. That is, I’m definitely more of a dog person than a cat person. Poop bags, ball launchers, clickers, and treats are the tools in my toolbelt. I have never seen a cat guardian with a bag of small plastic bags, following behind their pet waiting for the poop to arrive. Ah, right, a litter box. Whatever that is. I am clueless about cats. 

As a non-cat person, you, like me, might also have had no idea what to do when a cat and her kittens announced themselves outside my kitchen window. Do I feed them? Do they need water? Will they come to me if I call them? Will they make me sneeze?

Thankfully, through my work with the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control & Welfare, I have met many of our city’s cat volunteers and advocates. These are people who know and love all the felines in our town, both feral and domestic. They frequent our monthly meetings, sharing their passion and keeping cat issues within the scope of our continued work. 

So I reached out to one feline advocate. And another. And yet another. All these cat advocates were beyond generous with their wisdom and knowledge. Thanks to these committed women, my family and I were slowly able to lure the momma cat into our basement. Thanks to them, I learned that the best food for a stray or feral cat is the cheap stuff, nothing fancy. With the experts’ guidance, I was able to make momma cat feel comfortable enough to take her food inside my basement. After that, all we needed was to get her kittens. 

Have you ever heard the expression “herding cats?” Sounds funny, yet it’s not so fun in practice. But we got it done: all five kittens safely inside with their mother.

With my new charges now tucked in the basement, I was finally able to look closely at them. At first cautious and maybe a little scared, I slowly gained confidence in myself as they did in me.

To borrow another phrase, love is love. It was meant for people who love each other who previously were not allowed to or who were shamed for it. But it applies to animals, too. 

If you are open to love, it will find you. Sometimes it appears in the form of a momma cat and her kittens. This momma trusted me and my family with her most precious assets. She trusted that I would and could love, even though this experience was new to me. She was led by her need for survival; I was led by my open heart. 

Sharp claws make their mark. The odor wafting from the basement is a new one. The cat section of my local pet store is now familiar to me. And our dog is still not sure why she’s no longer allowed in the basement.

As we all know, cats are different from dogs in so many ways. But when an animal trusts us, asking for scratches or snuggles or simple safety, we know what to do. Give love. It will come back to you in unexpected ways.

Please be aware that the views expressed in this column are the personal views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the San Francisco Commission of Animal Control & Welfare. The commission welcomes the public at its monthly meetings. Find details at sfgov.org/animals.