The heart of the cat beat heavily in his chest, thoughts scattered, my own soul ached. I kept wondering: what could possibly have happened for his owner to give him away to strangers, why did she let him go?
When Emily received a pitch-black British Shorthair at her housewarming, she stood in stunned silence for several minutes.
Her modest one-bedroom flat, which she’d struggled to save up for, was still bare, and there were plenty of other worries calling for her attention.
And now, here was a kitten. Once she’d recovered from her shock, she gazed into the kitten’s deep amber eyes, gave a sigh, managed a smile, and asked the person who’d brought him:
Is it a tom or a queen?
A tom!
All right then, Tom, you shall be called Percy, she announced to the bundle of fur.
He opened his tiny mouth and obediently squeaked a quiet Meow.
*****
As it turned out, British Shorthairs are rather pleasant sorts. Three years went by, and Emily and Percy lived like soulmatessharing everything. In that time, Emily discovered Percy had a tender spirit and a generous heart.
He would wait excitedly by the door when she came home from work, warm her as she slept, nestle beside her for films, and would tail her about, especially during chores.
Life with Percy had burst into vivid colour. Its a comfort to know someone is waiting at home, someone to laugh and share worries with. Most importantly, he understood her, almost before shed spoken.
It seemed the perfect life, but
Lately, Emily began to notice a pain in her right side. At first, she blamed it on perhaps twisting awkwardly or straining a muscle, then on greasy food, but as the ache grew sharper, she visited the doctor.
When the doctor finally told her the diagnosis and explained what lay ahead, I saw Emily weep into her pillow all evening. Percy sensed her distress and lay quietly beside her, soothing her with melodious purrs.
As Percy purred, Emily drifted off to sleep. By morning, resigned, she decided not to tell her family about the illness, to avoid pity and awkward offers of help.
She still held out hope that her doctors might help her beat it. They recommended a course of treatment that could improve matters.
But the obvious question arose: what would happen to Percy? Deep down, Emily, having made peace with how things might end, resolved to find Percy a new home, with good people.
She posted an ad online, stating she was looking to rehome a pedigree cat to kind owners.
When the first caller asked why she was giving away her adult cat, Emily, almost unconsciously, said she was expecting a child, and had discovered an allergy to cat fur during her pregnancy.
Three days later, Percy left with his bed and toys, zipped inside a carrier, and Emily checked herself into hospital.
Two days on, she rang Percy’s new owners to see how he was. With constant apologies, they explained hed escaped the very night he arrived, and they hadnt seen him since.
Her first impulse was to flee the hospital and search for her cat. She even tried asking the nurse to let her out, but was sternly told to get back to her bed.
Her ward neighbour, noticing Emily’s frantic mood, asked what was wrong. Emily, in bitter tears, poured out her story.
Hold off the worrying, love, said her neighbour, a thin older lady. Tomorrow, an expert from Londons comingmy son sorted it. Hes in business, wanted me moved to a posh clinic, but I said no.
However he managed, he did, and Ill ask if this consultant might take a look at you too. Maybe its not all so dire, she said, gently squeezing Emilys shoulder.
****
Stepping out of the carrier, Percy realised he was in a strange house. Someone unknown reached out to stroke him
Percys nerves snapped; he slapped the hand with his paw and bolted to a dark corner.
Paul, dont touch him for now, let him settle in, Percy heard a soft womans voice say, but it wasnt Emilys voice.
Percys heart thudded in his chest, thoughts jumping wildly, his soul felt abandoned. What could possibly have happened, for his beloved owner to leave him with strangers?
His amber eyes swept the room, wide with fear. Then he spotted an open window. In a blur, he darted across the room and leaped outside.
Luck was on his sideit was only the first floor, and beneath the window was a well-kept lawn. From there Percy began his journey home
*****
The renowned consultant appeared a little differently than I’d expecteda kindly woman in her early forties called Dr. Mary Prouse. She carefully reviewed Emilys file, then asked her to lie on her side.
She spent ages palpating, listening, asking where it hurt and what sort of pain she felt. Another scan followed on some whirring medical contraption.
Emily wasnt expecting good news. She returned to the ward, where her neighbour was resting.
So, what did she say? asked her neighbour.
Nothing yettheyll be back to see me, Emily replied.
Ah. Mine wasnt so lucky, my diagnosis was confirmed, the older lady said, sadly.
Im so sorryand thank you for everything, Emily replied, lost for words in the face of someone facing the end.
Half an hour later, Dr. Prouse entered, trailed by other doctors.
Well, Emily, Ive good news for you, she announced with a smile. Your illness is treatable; Ive set up a coursestay a fortnight, finish treatment, and youll be well.
When the doctors left, her neighbour said softly
Thats wonderful news. Im glad I could do one last kindness before the end. Be happy, dear.
*****
Percy had no guiding star, nor did he know of any such thing. He simply followed his feline instincts home. The route wasnt easyfull of dangers and the odd comic misadventure.
Never having known the streets, Percy, once a dignified Brit, became a hardened survivor almost overnight.
Dodging noisy roads and avoiding crowds, Percy moved swiftlydarting, creeping, springing through the air (or so he fancied, fleeing from barking dogs), scrambling up treesall single-minded in his journey.
In one quiet garden, while dazed by traffic noise, Percy came nose to nose with a seasoned alley cat.
Recognition was instantthe stranger saw Percy was no local. With a loud yowl, he lunged at the posh interloper, but Percy, transformed from regal housecat to angry brawler, stood his ground.
The fight was brief. The local boss slunk off with a torn ear, and Percy pressed onnothing would deter him from going home.
He kept going. Drawing on the memory of his distant ancestors, Percy learned to doze in high branches, picking forks just suited for sleeping.
Oh, how shamefulbut Percy learned to scavenge from bins and swipe scraps from other street cats, fed by kindly neighbours.
One evening, he crossed paths with a pack of mongrels. They chased him up a spindly tree, barking and leaping to reach him, shaking the trunk.
People ran over at the commotion, chasing off the dogs. A woman tempted Percy down with a slice of savoury sausage.
Hunger and fear clouded Percys judgment, and he allowed himself to be lifted, stroked, and carried indoors. But
After resting, belly full and warm, Percy remembered his quest. He slipped from her arms as soon as the door opened and darted out into the night, determined to carry on.
*****
When Emily was discharged from hospital, she went straight home. The neighbours blessingbe happyechoed in her mind. She was overwhelmed with relief: the diagnosis hadnt been confirmed, she was healthy.
But her heart still ached for Percy. She couldnt bear the thought of returning to an empty flat, with no one to welcome her.
As soon as she stepped through the door, she rang the people whod taken Percy and asked for their exact address. Travelling over, she learned how Percy had escaped, then set out tracing his path.
People said it was impossibletwo weeks had passed, and a pampered housecat could never survive outside. Emily refused to believe it.
She walked for hours, peering into gardens, scanning parks and garages nearby. She tried to think like Percy might, never having lived on the streets, calling for him, searching especially in the dark spaces beneath buildings.
She was nearing her own block, realising Percy must have vanished without a trace. How could he possibly cover all that ground, not knowing the city at all, when even she had walked two hours with countless detours?
Emily entered her street with sorrow weighing her down, tears pricking her eyes, her heart aching. Through blurred vision she caught sight of a black cat on the pavement, coming towards her.
A black cat flickered in her exhausted mind. Emily stopped, staredand saw, with a rush of certainty.
She broke into a run and cried, Percy!
The cat did not run. In truth, he had no strength left. He sat quietly and, blinking with pure joy, released a soft, raspy Made it!
This experience taught me how resilient the heart can beboth human and feline. No matter the trials, hope and love can bridge distances we never thought possible. Never underestimate the strength that lives inside, especially for those you care for.
