When a stray cat meowed loudly and scratched frantically at an elderly man’s door on a wet day, the man was astonished when he opened the door and realized why the cat was acting strangely
A fierce storm was roaring outside. Lightning ripped across the sky in blinding bursts, and thunder roared so loudly that the windows trembled. It appeared strange that the streets were empty; everyone had fled to their houses to avoid the wrath of the weather.
Just a handful of people, holding onto their umbrellas, rushed over puddles in an attempt to reach their homes as soon as possible.
A cat emerged in the midst of this mayhem. With water streaming from her ears and whiskers, her striped fur was fully saturated, and her large, brilliant eyes, filled with desperation, silently begged the onlookers.
She appeared disoriented and worn out, as though a horrible incident had occurred. However, nobody listened as they hurried by, hiding behind their umbrellas. Before vanishing down an alley, one man even kicked her out of the way.
With a pathetic meow, the cat shivered and walked to the closest door. She got up on her hands and knees and scratched frantically at the wood. In the hopes that someone would hear, she meowed loudly and insistently.
Finally, the door opened with a squeak. A man in his fifties, dressed in slippers and a wool sweater, stood on the threshold. He scowled, anticipating a neighbor or bystander looking for cover. However, he was taken aback upon seeing the wet cat:
He leaned down and said, “What do you want, little one?” — Feeling hungry? Hold on, hold on.
When he came back, he set a slice of bread down at her feet. The cat didn’t touch it, though. Rather, she raised her head and fixed him with a fixed gaze, as though she were attempting to convey a significant message. “Come with me,” her eyes seemed to beseech.
She turned abruptly and rushed down the street, meowing loudly and continuously checking behind to make sure the old man was still after her.
Puzzled, the man picked up his coat and followed her. Then he noticed something frightful, and he realized right away why the cat was acting strangely
He followed the cat across courtyards until they came to an ancient hole that was partially filled with rainwater.
The elderly guy stopped when he noticed a small kitten fighting to keep afloat on the water’s surface. He was on the verge of sinking because his tiny paws were weak. Desperate, the mother cat circled, but she was powerless to stop it.
The man murmured, “My God,” and hurried to the hole without pausing. He carefully cradled the shivering, scarcely breathing cat against his breast after removing it. The wet cat immediately ran to them, licking her infant and keeping her gaze fixed on the man.
The elderly man forbade them from going back to the streets that evening. He poured milk for the mother, wrapped the kitten in a towel, and warmed it by the stove. She remained by his side the entire time, her eyes full of trust and thanks.
