The Heart of a Cat Beat Faintly in His Chest, Thoughts Scattered and Soul Ached: What Could Happen for His Owner to Give Him Away to Strangers and Abandon Him? When Olesya Was Given a Pure Black British Cat at Her Housewarming, She Was Stunned for Several Minutes… Her Modest, Previously-Owned One-Bedroom Flat, Bought with Hard-Scraped Savings, Was Barely Furnished. Other Problems Demanded Her Attention. And Then, Out of the Blue, a Kitten. Astounded, She Looked into the Little One’s Amber Eyes, Sighed, Smiled, and Asked the Gift-Giver: “Is it a tomcat or a queen?” “A tomcat!” “All right then, Tomcat, you’ll be called Whiskers,” she said to the kitten. He opened his tiny mouth and meekly squeaked, “Meow…” ***** It Turned Out British Shorthairs Were Quite Comfortable Company. Three Years Later, Lesley and Whiskers Lived in Harmony, and Through Shared Life She Discovered His Touching Soul and Big Heart. He Joyfully Greeted Her After Work, Warmed Her As She Slept, Watched Movies Snuggled by Her Side, and Trailed After Her as She Tidied Up. Life with a Cat Became Much Brighter. It’s Comforting to Know Someone Waits at Home for You—Someone to Laugh or Cry With and, Most Importantly, Understands You Instantly. It Seemed Like Life Couldn’t be Better, but… Recently Lesley Began Noticing Pain in Her Right Side. First, She Thought She Pulled a Muscle or Blamed Rich Food. But When Pain Worsened, She Went to the Doctor. After Hearing the Diagnosis and What Lay Ahead, Lesley Cried All Evening Into Her Pillow. Whiskers, Sensing Her Mood, Quietly Snuggled Close and Tried to Comfort Her with Musical Purring. Unaware, Calmed by Whiskers’ Purrs, Lesley Fell Asleep. In the Morning, Having Accepted Her Fate, She Decided Not to Tell Family, Sparing Herself Sympathy and Awkward Attempts to Help. She Still Clung to a Ray of Hope that Doctors Could Treat Her Illness. They Offered a Course of Treatment that Might Improve Her Condition. But There Was the Question of Where to Place Her Cat. Deep Down, Fearing Her Illness Might End Tragically, She Decided to Find Whiskers a New Home with Good Owners. She Made an Online Post Offering Her Pedigree Cat to a Loving Home. When the First Caller Asked Why She Was Parting with an Adult Pet, Lesley, Without Really Knowing Why, Said She Was Expecting and Had Developed an Allergy to Cat Hair During Pregnancy. Three Days Later, Whiskers, in His Carrier with All His Belongings, Left for His New Owners, and Lesley Was Admitted to Hospital… Two Days Later, She Called the New Owners to Ask About Whiskers, and Apologetically They Told Her the Cat Had Escaped That Very Night and Couldn’t Be Found. Her First Instinct Was to Flee the Hospital and Search. She Even Pleaded with the Duty Nurse, Who Sternly Sent Her Back to Her Bed. Her Roommate Noticed Lesley’s Distress and Asked What Had Happened. Lesley, Sobbing Bitterly, Told Her Everything. “Don’t Grieve Yet, Dear,” said the thin elderly woman. “Tomorrow, a specialist from London is meant to visit. I also have a bad diagnosis, my son—he’s a businessman—wanted to move me to another clinic, but I refused. He managed to arrange for the specialist here. I’ll ask if she’ll see you too; maybe things aren’t so hopeless,” she comforted Lesley, gently rubbing her shoulder. **** Emerging from the Carrier, Whiskers Realized He Was in a Strange House. Someone Unknown Reached to Stroke Him… The Cat’s Nerves Snapped—he Gave a Fierce Swipe and Bolted into a Dark Corner. “Paul, don’t approach him yet, let him settle,” Whiskers Heard a Soft Female Voice, But It Wasn’t His Owner’s Voice. The Cat’s Heart Beat Faintly in His Chest, Thoughts Scattered, Soul Ached. What Could Have Occurred for His Owner to Give Him Away to Strangers, Why Had She Abandoned Him? His Amber Eyes Scanned the Room in Panic. Then He Spotted an Open Window. With a Black Flash He Darted Across the Room and Leapt Outside! Luckily, It Was Just the Second Floor—and a Well-Kept Lawn Beneath. From There, Whiskers Began His Journey Home… ***** The Specialist Appeared Before Lesley as a Pleasant Woman Just Past Forty. She Introduced Herself as Dr. Mary Palmer, Carefully Studied Lesley’s Medical File, and Asked Her to Lie on the Couch, Turn to Her Left Side. She Probed and Tapped for Some Time, Asked Where It Hurt and What Kind of Pain. Then She Checked the File Again and Repeated Tests on Medical Equipment. Lesley Expected Nothing Good. She Returned to Her Bed, Where Her Neighbor Already Lay. “So, what did they say, dear?” the woman asked. “Nothing yet, said they’d come to the ward again.” “I see. Well for me, they confirmed the diagnosis,” she said sadly. “I’m very sorry, and thank you for everything,” Lesley replied, not sure how to comfort someone who knew she didn’t have long. Half an Hour Later, Dr. Palmer Entered the Ward with Other Doctors. “Well, Lesley, I Have Good News for You. Your Illness Is Treatable—I’ve Prescribed Your Course. Stay Two Weeks, Complete Treatment, and You’ll Be Healthy,” She Told Her With a Smile. Once the Doctors Left, Her Neighbor Spoke: “That’s wonderful. I’m glad I could do one more good deed before I go. Be happy, darling,” she added. ***** There Was No Guiding Star for Whiskers—and He Wouldn’t Have Known of One. The Cat Simply Headed Home, Driven by His Feline Inspiration. The Road Through Thorns to the Stars Was Full of Dangerous Adventures and Silly Mishaps. Unfamiliar with the Streets, The Noble Brit Quickly Became a Fierce Predator, His Instincts Sharpened. Avoiding Busy Roads and Noisy Streets, Whiskers Sneaked, Sprinted, and Flew Over the Ground (or so it felt while fleeing dogs), Scampered Up Trees, and Doggedly Pressed On… In One Quiet Yard, Fleeing the Nearby Road’s Roar, He Came Face-to-Face with an Experienced Alley Cat. That Cat Didn’t Waste Time Inspecting Whiskers and Instantly Recognized Him as an Outsider. With a Loud Meow, the Alley Cat Attacked, and Whiskers—transforming from a Stately Aristocrat to a Furious Bandit—Didn’t Back Down. The Scuffle Was Brief; The Local Feline Boss Retreated in Shame to the Bushes, Leaving Behind a Slightly Torn Ear as a Souvenir. What Else Could the Cat Do? The Alley Cat Was Showing Off, Trying to Prove He Was Boss, but Whiskers Was Headed Home and Nothing Would Stop Him. The Journey Continued. Summoning Memories of His Wild Ancestors, Whiskers Learned to Sleep in Tree Forks. Oh God, How Embarrassing, but Whiskers Learned to Eat Out of Bins and Steal Food from Other Alley Cats, Thanks to Sympathetic Locals. Once, He Ran Into a Pack of Stray Dogs. They Chased Him Up a Fragile Tree, Barking, Jumping, and Scraping the Trunk. People Gathered, Driven by the Noise, and Chased the Dogs Away. One Woman Decided to Adopt Whiskers, Tempting Him with a Piece of Delicious Sausage. Hunger and Fear Clouded the Brit’s Judgement, So He Let Her Pet Him and Carry Him Inside. However… After Resting and Eating in Warmth and Safety, Whiskers Remembered His Mission, Bolted Out After the Woman and Slipped Into the Lobby as the Door Opened, Continuing His Trek Home… ***** Discharged from Hospital, Lesley Went Home. She Couldn’t Stop Thinking of the Woman Who Wished Her Happiness. Of Course, She Was Thrilled Her Diagnosis Wasn’t Confirmed and She Was Well. But Her Heart Ached for Whiskers. She Couldn’t Imagine Returning to A Lonely Flat With No One To Greet Her. No Sooner Had She Crossed the Threshold than She Phoned Those Who’d Adopted Whiskers, Asking For Their Address. Arriving, Lesley Learned How Whiskers Had Escaped, and Decided to Trace His Steps. She Was Told It Was Impossible, That Two Weeks Had Passed, That No House Cat Could Survive on the Streets—But She Didn’t Want to Believe It. Lesley Walked Through Every Yard, Checked Nearby Parks and Garages. She Tried to Think Like a Cat Who’d Never Been Outdoors. She Called Out for Whiskers, Peering Into the Darkness Beneath Basement Windows. Nearing Her Own Building, She Realized The Cat Had Disappeared Without Trace. It Was Unreal That He, Unfamiliar With The City, Could Reach This Far, Where She Had Walked For Two Hours With Many Delays. She Entered Her Courtyard with a Heavy Heart, Eyes Filling With Tears, Soul Burdened and Sore. Through Her Blurry Vision, She Saw, Across the Pavement, a Black Cat Limping Her Way. “A Black Cat” Flared in Her Mind. Lesley Stopped and, Staring Hard, Understood. She Broke into a Run, Shouting: “Whiskers!” But the Cat Didn’t Rush to Her—He Simply Had No Strength Left. He Sat Down, Squinting with Joy, and Quietly Squeaked, “I made it!”

The heart of the cat thudded quietly in his chest, thoughts scattered, soul aching. What could have happened that his beloved owner had handed him over to strangers? Why had she left him?

When Alice received an entirely black British Shorthair kitten as a housewarming gift, she was, for several moments, completely stunned.

Her modest one-bedroom flat in Manchester, for which shed saved for years, was barely furnished. There were other pressing matters demanding her attention.

And now, this kitten. Once the shock had faded, she peered into the curious amber eyes of the little creature, sighed, managed a smile and turned to her friend:

Is it a boy or a girl?

A boy!

Right then, a boy, you’ll be called Felix, she announced.

He parted his tiny mouth and gave a dutiful Meow.
*****
It turned out that British Shorthairs are exceptionally easy companions. For three years now, Alice and Felix lived in perfect harmony. Through cohabitation, she discovered Felix had the most affectionate soul and a big heart.

Hed run to meet her at the door after work, curl up and keep her warm through chilly Northern nights, snuggle by her side watching telly, and trail after her with eager devotion whenever she was cleaning up.

Life with the cat filled her days with vibrant colour. Its lovely to have someone wait for you at home, to both laugh and cry with, and most importantlysomeone who understands you without words.

It seemed all was well, and yet

Recently, Alice began to feel a pain in her right side. At first, she thought shed slept oddly and pulled a muscle, then blamed it on the fish and chips. Eventually, as the pain grew worse, Alice visited her GP.

When the doctor delivered the diagnosis and described the battle ahead, Alice spent the evening in tears, buried deep in her pillow. Felix, sensing her mood, curled up beside her, purring gently in an effort to soothe her distress.

Unaware, Alice drifted off to sleep to his comforting sound. In the morning, accepting her fate, she resolved not to tell her family, hoping to spare herself their worried glances and awkward offers to help.

There was still a glimmer of hope that the doctors would manage her illness. Theyd suggested a course of treatment which might improve her condition.

Then came the problem of who would care for Felix. In her heart, braced for a worst-case scenario, Alice decided she should find Felix a loving new home.

She posted an advert online, specifying she was offering a pedigree cat to a caring owner.

When the first caller asked why she was giving up an adult pet, Alicehardly knowing whyexplained she was expecting a baby and had developed a sudden allergy to cat fur.

Three days later Felix, with all his possessions in tow, departed for his new home, and Alice was admitted to hospital.

Two days later, she phoned the new owners to ask after Felix. With a hundred apologies, they admitted hed bolted the very night he arrived, and now they couldnt find him at all.

Her first impulse was to leave the hospital and search for her cat. She even pleaded with the nurse on duty to let her out, but was sternly ordered back to bed.

Her roommate, an elderly lady, noticed Alices agitation and asked what was wrong. Sobbing, Alice told her everything.

Dont grieve just yet, my dear, said the thin old woman. Tomorrow were expecting a specialist from London. Ive got a bad diagnosis myselfmy sons got a business, wanted me transferred to another clinic, but I refused. He sorted it somehow, and Ill ask if you can be seen as well. Maybe its not as frightening as it seems, she comforted Alice, gently patting her shoulder.
*****
Felix, upon escaping his carrier, realised he was in a strange house. A stranger reached towards him to stroke himhis nerves couldnt take it.

With a swipe of his paw, Felix darted off to a shadowy corner.

Paul, best leave him be for now, let him settle, said a soft female voicethough it was not Alices.

Felixs heart thudded miserably. What could have happened for his owner to give him up, why did she abandon him?

His amber eyes scanned the room frantically. They spied an open window. Like a streak of midnight, Felix charged through, leapt out, and disappeared!

Luckily, hed only fallen from the first floor, landing on the soft lawn. Thus began his journey home
*****
The highly-regarded consultant turned out to be a kindly woman in her forties. She introduced herself as Dr Marianne Porter, studied Alices file with care, and asked her to lie down, turning onto her left side.

She examined, tapped, asked about the pain and its nature, then reviewed the file again. More tests on some hospital equipment followed.

Alice braced herself for bad news as she returned to the ward.

Well, what did they say, my dear? her roommate asked.

Nothing yet, they said theyll come by again.

Ah. Mine was confirmed, the worst, Im afraid, the old woman said sadly.

Im so sorry, and thank youfor everything, said Alice, not knowing what comfort might even be possible.

Half an hour later, Dr Porter returned with a group of doctors.

Alice, I bring good news. Your condition is treatable. Ive set out a course for youjust two weeks in hospital, finish the treatment, and youll be well again, she announced, smiling.

When the doctors had left, Alices roommate spoke.

Well, thats marvelous. Im glad I could perform one last kindness before I go. Be happy, my child, she said.
*****
Felixs only guide was pure feline instinct. He simply travelled home, led by hope and memory. The route through brambles and to the stars was fraught with peril and odd moments.

Never before familiar with the streets, the dignified Brit transformed into a daring survivor in a single day.

He dodged bustling roads, darting, creeping, bounding away from barking dogs and scaling trees to escape danger, always heading for home

In one quiet courtyard, having been spooked by the traffic, Felix came face to face with a local tomcat.

It took only a glance for the alley cat to spot Felix as an outsider. With a loud yowl, the alley boss pounced, but Felix, now a scrappy fighter, didnt back down.

The commotion was brief: the alley leader retreated into the bushes, nursing a torn ear.

True, the local cat acted out of pride, wanting to prove his authority. But Felix had only one goalhome, and nothing could stop him.

His journey continued. Recalling distant ancestors, Felix learned to sleep on branches, choosing the best fork for a nap.

Shameful as it seemed, Felix ate from bins and swiped scraps from other street cats who were fed by kindly neighbours.

Once, he ran into a pack of mongrels. They chased him up a thin sapling, barking and pawing the trunk.

The crowd that gathered shooed the dogs away. One woman coaxed Felix down with a tasty sausage.

Hunger and fright clouded Felixs judgement; he allowed himself to be picked up and carried indoors. But after recovering in warmth and comfort, Felix remembered his quest, dashed past her into the hallway and slipped through the door just as it opened, resuming his journey home
*****
Discharged from hospital, Alice made her way back to her flat. The words of that gracious woman echoed in her mind: be happy. Of course, she was overjoyed that the diagnosis was not confirmed, and she was well.

Yet her heart ached for Felix. She couldnt imagine coming home to silenceno one to greet her.

As soon as she stepped inside her flat, she rang the people whod adopted Felix, asking for their precise address. On arrival, Alice learned how Felix had escaped and resolved to retrace his path.

Everyone told her it was impossible, that two weeks had passed, that a house cat could never survive on the streets. She refused to believe it.

Alice walked through every street, peered into every alley and green patch, searched garages. She tried thinking like a cat who had never known the outdoors. She called for Felix, peering into the darkness of cellar windows.

Near home, she had to admit the cat was gone. It was impossible for him, unfamiliar with the town, to find his way here; after all, shed walked two hours herself with all her delays.

Alice entered her courtyard, grief written on her face, tears in her eyes, and her soul heavy with pain. Through her blurred vision, she noticed a figurethe silhouette of a black cat moving towards her on the pavement.

A black cat, flashed through her mind. Alice froze, and as she looked closer, recognised him. With a cry of Felix! she broke into a run.

Felix didnt run to her; he simply had no strength. He sat down, squinting from happiness, and managed a gravelly, triumphant Home

Life is often difficult and uncertain, but even when it feels as though weve lost everything dear to us, love and hope can find a way home.