When we first met Nate, she was no bigger than the palm of my hand. Just two weeks old, frail and abandoned, her mother had chosen to nurse her other kittens and left Nate behind.
She was a tiny moggie – a mixed-breed with no pedigree but the biggest heart. She looked so fragile that we weren’t sure she’d even make it through the day.
But something in her pleading little eyes made me scoop her up and bring her home.
Those early weeks were a battle. I fed her, kept her warm, and watched over her as though she were a newborn.
I happened to be on sabbatical at the time, and perhaps it was fate: I had all the time in the world to pour love into this tiny life. And she needed every bit of it.
Before she even turned two months old, Nate suffered her first seizure. Then another. And another. Each one was terrifying – her little body convulsing, her eyes bulging, her stomach flushing bright red.
We stayed by her side, helpless, hearts breaking. Every time, we braced ourselves for the worst, convinced she wouldn’t survive the night.
But every single morning, without fail, we’d wake up to her voice – a strong, hearty meow that filled the house. It was as if she was saying: “I’m still here. I’m not giving up.”
Each time, she rose like nothing had happened, full of life and determination.
That’s when we knew Nate wasn’t just any cat. She was a fighter, a little miracle wrapped in fur.
Fast forward two years, and you’d never guess she was once that fragile kitten on the edge of life.
Today, Nate is the healthiest of our three cats – mischievous, endlessly playful, and with an appetite that never quits. She runs the house with her boundless energy and cheeky personality.
From the brink of death to the brightest spirit in our home, this little moggie has become the heart and soul of our furry family.
Nate is proof that sometimes the smallest ones carry the greatest strength.
This article was written by Azian Aziz. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathered friends to l[email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.