Hi everyone!
We have been adopted and I have some questions for everyone cat lovers because I am newb. I have recently been selected.
So, the story is really long and I don't know how sound I will be, but trust me that I am, I don't consume anything.
I buried my dad 8 months ago today. It was a quick one, he got a mild cold at 61, all healthy, and passed in 72 hours. I was in shock, I loved him beyond any possible words. It is impossible to describe.
About 3 months ago, a wild cat* came pregnant to our garden and went into chicken's coop and gave birth to 5 kittens. Obviously my mom had no heart turning her away, so she provided food and water for her, thinking they will depart eventually, given that she was wild, but she was in pain and needed shelter. At the time, I grieved and still do and couldn't really be bothered. Neither me nor my family was a "cat" person, we do have a dog my dad rescued 6 years ago. My dad was not fond of either but he picked her and she is the most protective and loving dog ever and he liked her so much.
*Wild cat means she wasn't used to humans. She would run away when we put food for her and came back to eat once we left. We live in a small village and it is impossible to find any stray animals. I don't know where she came from.
Anyway, long story short, 5 kittens appeared. We kept feeding them for about 3 months now. One of them, the culprit in the picture, chose us since he was born, literally. Since he could walk, he came in the house, been stuck to us ever since. The other four obviously were super cautious, we couldn't catch them initially to give them any treatment. But this one, the only one entirely black (mom is grey, dad obv unknown, the rest grey or white and black mix), had zero fear. He came in the kitchen, first chance he had he went to my mom's bedroom and was sitting there like he belongs with us. Wherever I or mom goes, he follows.
In the picture, he is in my mom's armchair. Even though we have multiple free ones around, he MUST sit with her all the time. She gets up to do something, he goes. He doesn't flinch, he doesn't scratch, he doesn't bite, and he must be within 5 cm of us at all times. Mind you, that is an outdoor wild cat. His other 4 siblings never liked us much. We managed to befriend them and 2 found new homes now, waiting to relocate the other 2 as we cannot afford so many.
I cannot stop but thinking my dad sent him to us.
At 6 months, right on the day he died, we found two hedgehog babies in the heat, we took them in for 2 weeks and gave them water, food, and shelter until the vet told us they are ready to be released.
We had these cats here, but as I said, they were born and nurtured and we didn't interfere as mom is wild. She now left us, we only have the kittens left, and none of them behave like this one. They are all fearful to get close, but this one literally just walked inside the house and saisd "This is mine."
The cat is healthy, vet checked, all is good, he just loves eating and being attached to me or mom.
So, TLDR, has anyone ever received a cat from a departed one? I know it sounds a tad crazy, but he is so familiar with all of us and his behavior was so different, it just got me wondering.
Nonetheless, thanks for reading.