One Cat, Nine Lives Saved

In December 2019, while treading downhill from a busy day at the farm, we found an abandoned kitten, wet and shivering.

We assumed he was thrown at the nearby brook, but survived. It also rained heavily that day, he must have been really cold and hungry without his mum's warmth and milk.

He was wailing for help in a sharp but minute voice. Three of us siblings wanted to pick him up, but was afraid.

Papa don't want pets, he thinks that they are expensive and dirty. Giving them food and care will produce more spending at home.

We reached home, without Papa in the house, and talked about the abandoned kitten. We all "washed hands" and said No, because Papa would get angry.

But my younger sister was courageous enough to help the kitten. Later that day, she rode her motorcycle back to the hill and took the kitty home.

She kept th kitty in a shoebox padded with use clothing and fed him some foods, we were all still afraid of what Papa would do to her and the kitty.

A day later, she was the living room, reclining on the floor with the kitty on her chest, when, BAAAM! Door opened, Papa came in and looked at the two of them.

Papa didn't mind at first, but we we're all shocked and are all about to burst in laughter. We couldn't do something, we were all surpised!

To our (another) surprise, Papa decided to allow her to keep the kitty, after all it was a season of giving.

She called her "Animal", but I refused since it was derogatory in our language, so she shortened it to Nemnem resembling an animal or creature.

It's probably because our last adopted cat was named "Helen" (sounds like Alien) and Nemnem must be an animal.

Here's him today, already around six months old. These are his photos yesterday, sent by my sister. He is really sweet and playful.

Back when I was home early this year, I played with him using a DIY "butterfly" toy together with Helen the Cat.

Time flew fast, he was drenched in the rain months ago, alone, hungry, and cold, but right now he's full with love and warmth as a part of the family, especially with his (adoptive) older brothers—Mim the White Cat, Primitivo the Badboii Cat, and Helen the Cat.

#MeowDaddy

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About Me

@oniemaniego is a test engineer, but outside work, he experiments in the kitchen, writes poetry and fiction, paints his heart out, or toils under the hot sun.


	Onie Maniego was born in Leyte, PH. He grew up in a rural area with a close-knit community and a simple lifestyle, he is often visiting his father's orchards during summer and weekends, which has a great impact on his works.