Catherapy

When in the midst of an unfathomable turbulence, a sudden gust of fresh air fills the air-hope of good times to come. This book unravels the mystifying effects of cats. They are rays of sunshine filtering through clouds just when you need it. Angels appearing in most unexpected moments.

2020 greeted us with many surprises, unexpected and heartrending, but as in every event, we see His guiding hand, and ride through each adventure with expectation that He will see this through.
What with the forced closure of our bakery, seeing only ashes on trees and rooftops, the roads being impassable, we did not know what was to become of us, and what to expect next. She refused to stop blowing ashes a whole day and night, coupled with some fiery lava, it was indeed a sight to remember and never forget.
The danger zones were quickly delineated and we knew we were destined to be closed for some time. But when the actual news came out, the entire shopping village was spared from the ashes, being at the brink of the danger zone with the winds blowing the opposite direction.
Just as we were allowed to reopen, along comes the news of another forced lockdown. A deadly invisible enemy just arrived-COVID-19. Anguish in the air, as news of deaths and infections came in. Our store had to close for a second time. We just wanted to keep it open for our staff- to help them at least keep up in spite of the crises we faced-first with Taal then with Covid, but the lockdown prevented even this.
At the height of our turbulent days, Dina (a neighborhood stray cat) came for a visit, asking for some food. We decided to give her some. And she continued coming. We realised she was actually pregnant, and looked like she might give birth real soon! And she did give birth at the neighbour's house, but abandoned them, so they were whisked over by the tomcat to her great distress.

A couple of days later came Trina (daughter of Dina), all skinny and hungry. She was chewing onto a bone she found on the street. Jumped onto our car radiator and pulled out a bird. Well that certainly bought her her keep. And that meant she was to stay. Well, she got herself pregnant too! And she gave birth to 4 beautiful kitties, whom we named Tiger, Tammy, Junior and Patches, another one (RIP)

It was on September 22, 2020 when she delivered them one by one at our entrance door. The darling little hotdogs were too cute and vulnerable. But rains started to come so she moved them -this time to the back yard of our neighbor-right behind us. Little did she know, water wells up this level, and even if it was partially covered, that area easily floods.
And true enough rains started to come, and that made me worry. I decided to walk over, only to find the water coming quick and swelling into a flood. I quickly got an old pot and walked over the mud, to grab the little hotdogs one by one. I got to grab all four, and Trina took her fifth little favourite by her mouth. We both went over to the house in the pouring rain. She laid the crying little babe under the car, while I laid the four onto the basket at our front garage.

Sadly the little one she tried to rescue did not survive the stint.

These little kitties just started to grow by the day, little ears started to pop up and eyes started to open. The pictures and poems will tell their stories. They were/are our bundle of joy. Just watching them gave us an instant relief-a reason to smile and laugh-something to look forward to everyday.

Giving them shelter, food and love, we thought we were giving, but it was not that. They were giving us the love and the blessings. We daily felt the relief in these moments of uncertainty and grief. When things were so unsure, they were there to be for us, so much more than we were for them.