This corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals.
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TIGER is Celeste Gruezp’s “scratchy cat.”
Celeste shares their story:
“I first saw this tiny orange ball on the roof of our chicken cage at the corner of our backyard. I became excited when I realized that the orange ball was indeed a kitten !!!
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to have a pet cat.
I started to try and approach the orange kitten but it was skittish, though at times I would find it inside the cage peacefully sitting beside our rooster.
Leaving fish at the back of our kitchen worked as I saw the orange kitten jump from the roof of the chicken cage and walk towards the food. Little by little, I was able to hold the orange fluff for some time. But when I release it on the floor, it unleashes its claws and turns me into a scratching pole.
As time went by, I realized that Tiger ( perfect name both for its ginger color and feisty personality) would not turn out to be my idea of a cat…something that will let me hold it and pet it gently. No. Tiger was the direct opposite of all that.
Tiger scratches me when I feed him and pounces on me as if he is always surprised to see me. But through it all, it never crossed my mind to just dump him out in the streets, I just kept my distance and calculated my movement around him.
Nowadays, there has been some improvement. After a night out of cavorting in our yard, he would be behaved in the morning and I would be able to hold him enough to be able to put his collar back on him again.
It might be a long time before Tiger finally lets me pet him. Or maybe that time will never come. But my so-called prodigal cat has taught me that when you decide to care for a cat, it can teach you a thing or two about yourself.
In my case, Tiger may be this masungit and scratchy cat I rescued from our backyard who is a far cry from my idea of a pet cat, but he will always be my first official cat. The first kitten I was able to care for to grow up into this proud macho cat who proudly roams our yard—his kingdom—sunning himself, catching mice or basking in the knowledge that he has a loyal subject like me who takes care of his whims and wants.”
Editor's note: These stories were compiled by admin Miks Lim of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), a SEC-registered animal welfare group that helps animals in need, and encourages and promotes responsible pet ownership, adoption of rescued dogs and cats from fosters, shelters and pounds, and spaying and neutering of pets to control animal population in the country, among others.