From Kitten To Mother

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch my cat of four years become a mother.   I remember when my sister gave her to me years ago.  She was the funniest kitten.  She was very sweet, loving, and always managed to make my day.  My sister told me that her name was Hazel.

Four years ago I was living in my parents rent house.  I walked out on my job of one year due to harassment, my son was sent to live with his father and my father just passed away.  It was a very emotional time for me.  I ran out of money and I didn't have electricity, but I had a small radio, a kerosene lamp, battery operated lamp and mirrors to illuminate the room.  I listened to talk shows on the radio.  The shows I listened to were normally televised and I read.

I washed my clothes by hand and bought ice for my ice chest to keep my food from going bad. Through it all Hazel was at my side.  I would wake up in the morning and she would just stare at me upside down.  It was so funny.  She kept doing that throughout her life.  She didn't like to be touched too often.  It had to be on her terms.  Believe it or not she even played fetch.  She was a bit like a watch dog.  She and I spent many days looking out the windows.  We watched the neighbors having bar b ques.  We often looked for a beautiful fluffy white cat that roamed around the shed.

At some point I suffered a nervous breakdown. Hazel and I went to live with my mother after I was discharged from the hospital.  She was there when I was rehabilitating, after I developed Tardive Dyskinesia due to the medication I was given.  She was there when I finally moved into an apartment.  I didn't need a guardian anymore.  She kept me company and always gave me a morning kiss.  I would say, "Hazel?  Kissie, kissie, kissie."  And she would nuzzle and give me a kiss.  She still does.

I began to write inspirational blogs.  She was there to comfort me and sit on my lap as I wrote.  I wrote about life and many journeys.  I wanted to do something good.  I wanted to help people.  When she wanted me to stop writing, she would jump in front of the computer screen and meow.  I got the message and laugh.  In the photo at the left, Hazel was actually biting me. Ha. Ha.

Later, I moved to San Antonio and I wasn't able to take her with me.  By that time I also had Sadie my Shitzu Bishon and I couldn't afford to pay another $300.00 pet deposit.  So she stayed with mom.  My mother absolutely adores her.  And Hazel loves my mother.  She followers her from room to room. 

Then 2 1/2 years later, mom and I suspected that she might be pregnant.  She looked a little bigger then usual and she was eating a lot.  That wasn't like her.  The week of my birthday I noticed that she kept coming up to me and meowing.  Like she was trying to get my attention.  I watched her go in and out of her litter box.  I remember telling my mother that I thought she might have her kittens.  So we looked in the litter box.  She was sitting there looking up at us, but no kittens.

So, we left her alone.  I remember seeing her roll on her back at some point.  I laughed because she reminded me of me when I was pregnant the first time.  Her belly was so round and odd shaped.  I couldn't believe my baby was having a baby.  Sounds funny I know, but she is much like a family member as is Sadie.

The day I left back to San Antonio, mother called to say that she delivered two kittens around six p.m.  One didn't make it and the other was living.  Mother explained that Hazel was having difficulty delivering the second kitten.  She could see that the kittens paws were hanging out and Hazel was running around trying to deliver the kitten.  Thankfully mother was there.  She gently tugged at the paws and helped Hazel deliver the second kitten.  The kitten was ok.

Then I saw a posting from my sister.  Hazel delivered another one over night.  So far she has one grey and white kitten and two gray and black striped kittens; which I call her mini me's.  Two females and one male.  I can't wait to hold one of her kittens!  I'm so excited and happy for my cat.  The photo on the right is two of her kittens.  See, one is a mini me.  Technically she has two mini me's.  I need a photo of the other one.  

I'm so happy that my cat is ok and her kittens are doing well.  Mothers says that Hazel's a very good mother to her kittens.  When she hears them meow, she runs to their side.  I love my cat.

I hope you enjoyed this story.  I just wanted to show you how much I love my cat. 

Written by Donna C. Ledesma
Writer, published Author 

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Zero Boxer/Pit

Zero is the latest addition to my little family.  My son Zachary was looking for a larger place to live so, I offered to take him in for three weeks.  He has been a handful and also very delightful.   He's a very energetic dog.  He loves to run back and forth in my tiny one bedroom apartment.  He runs like a quarter back.  Quick run, then quick stop and back again.  Over and over until he wears himself out.  
My dog Sadie and I just watch him go back and forth.  It's kindof like, what the heck?  We watch in amusement and then I have to stop him him with one of his favorite toys or large rib bone.  I've noticed that he's still a pup.  Not quite a year yet, but very loving and very sweet.  He still believes he is small enough to sit on my lap.  He just crawls up my leg and clumsily tries to sit on my lap.  He really heavy and doesn't understand his own weight and strength.  I just giggle and tell him, "Zero, your not a puppy anymore.  Your a big boy down."  Then I just give in and let him sit on my lap.  It's funny.

He is disabled like I am.  He's blind in one eye.  Sometimes at night, I let him run around the play area at my complex.  But I worry cause on occasion he will run into things, because he can't see very well.  We've practiced on his behavior and potty training.  He's a nervous dog.  But I've that I can give him other things to chew on that are ok.  And when he goes outside to do his business, I reward him with a scooby snack.  I tell him, "Good wee Zero.  Or good poo poo."  It's sounds a lot like, "Me Tarzan.  You Jane." Ha. Ha.  But I have to say that it works.

We've even worked on which side of the sidewalk he can walk and which areas are ok to do his business.  It takes him about three to four days to fully comprehend his lessons, but he gets it.  When he misbehaves I give him a time out on the patio.  He hates that. He'll whimper and wine until I bring him in.  I just put him out for three to five minutes.  Just long enough for him to understand the his behavior is not tolerated.  I don't  believe in abusing animals.  Animals are caring and nurturing with their young, so I believe that the are fully capable of understand what it is that we want from them.  If your good to your pets, in time of need; they will protect you from harm.  The just need patience and understanding.

For instance if Zero comes to me and sit right in front of my feet.   Then he begins to whimper kinda of insistently.  I know that he needs to go outside, or if he's hasn't eaten then he just wants his meal.  To lessen accidents in the apartment.  I feed him twice a day very well.  And I give him large amounts of water twice a day.  In the morning and late evening at around 6pm.  I also walk him first thing in the morning and late evening.  We take short walks, about three of them at noon and before bedtime.  This has proven to work.  I also learned that doggie biscuits should really be called, Doggie Laxatives!  Ha. Ha. Yeaah, no...

So I buy the small dollar bacon flavored snacks and other small morsels and call them Scooby snacks.  I've been teaching my pets to stop at crossings, so if they get lost; they won't get run over.  My only wish is that I had a larger placed to live with a big back yard for my pets.  Zero would be so happy if he had a place to run.  

In this picture Zero is shaking a tennis shoes I gave  him.

Luckily for him, my son will be picking him up this weekend.  I hope he will try to keep him awhile longer.  He wasn't fortunate enough to find a house to rent.  And lease is not up until May of next year.  So on a sad note we may have to find a home for Zero.  I hope not.  But I'll keep you posted.  My complex won't let me keep him, because of the breed he is.  Despite the fact that he is friendly, loving and blind in one eye.
 
Well, I hope you enjoyed this story.

Written by Donna C. Ledesma
Copyright © 2012
All rights reserved

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Faithful

The wonderful truth about pets is that they do love us unconditionally. If we fall ill, our pets are always at our side until we feel better.  I have a  3 year old Shitzu/Bishon. A friend gave her to me on Valentines Day February 14, 2010.    Sadie has been a God send.  I suffer from depression from time to time. Having a pet like Sadie forces me to to get up and care for her.  I have many days where that can be a difficult task.  But If I truly love my dog I will get up.

The beginning of our day always starts the same.  I stir slightly and Sadie watches me to see if I'm fully awake.  She perks her ears up and studies me.  If I close my eyes, she will lay her head down and wait.  Faithful.  

When I do I get up she jumps on me and lays her head on my chest.  Sometimes she yelps like a puppy while she wags her tail.  I just hold her close and pet her head.  She looks up at me with those innocent eyes.  As though they were the eyes of a small child.  I can't help but love her.

We get up out of my bed and go directly to the kitchen and into the living room.  Where I grab her lease.  She gets really excited about going outside.  So I have to say, "Calm down Sadie.  Hush.  Hush."  She will then sit down and wait patiently as I hook the leash to her collar.  Then we go downstairs to her favorite patch of grass.  When she 's done we head back upstairs for breakfast.  

I fill her bowl with her favorite dog food.  I make sure she has fresh water to drink.  Then I start making breakfast for myself.  Sometimes when I'm at the table eating, she'll come up to me and sit by my chair.  She likes to wait to see if I'm going to give her a scrap of bacon.  Or she'll whimper when she gets impatient.

It's funny because, she is so smart that when I talk to my mother, I have to make sure that I don't say the word (walk).  If she hears me say that word.  She will start to jump up as high as my chest and yelp and bark while spinning in a circle.   So I spell it out. lol

It's seems kind of silly that I have to spell it out.  But she knows the words - up, down, stay, sit, no, eat, walk, wee wee, poo poo, eat your papita, go mimi, lay down, go over there, no dirty, go get your kitty, where's  your teddy bear? and do you want a scooby snack?



She my little investigator and is attached me by some invisible umbilical cord.  If I sit on the recliner, so will she.  If I open the door to the patio, she will follow me outside.  Laundry days are hard for her, because I have to leave her on the patio while I wash.  She will bark and whimper whimper till I get home.  She even competes with my granddaughter for my affection.  If my granddaughter is on my lap, so is Sadie.  She is very faithful.  Sometime I feel like I have another child.  

From time to time I have to pick up her toys and any other thing she may have chewed on.  If I'm gone for too long, lets say I go grocery shopping.  Even though I take her out before I leave.  She will deliberately protest by leaving a small present in my room, if you get my drift.  Aye yi yi...

Faithful. Through and through.  When I'm ready for bed.  I call out to her and she walks into my room and jumps on the bed.  She will lay down on the pillow next to me or back to back.  I never feel alone.  I often feel like I have a person right next to me.  Of course when she growls at a person coming home and into their apartment I am reminded that she is just my dog.  I will clam her down by petting her head and stroking her back.  "It's ok Sadie.  It's ok.  Go mimi."  And she does.

My dream for Sadie is that I will own my own home with a big back yard.  I want her to be able to run around freely without restraints.  She loves to taste plants and explore her environment.  I just watch her quietly.  Right now, she is rolling around the carpet.  I think she getting impatient. 

I guess the best testament is that I am fortunate to have such loving companion.

With peace and love
Donna C. Ledesma

Written by Donna C. Ledesma
Copyright © 2012
All rights reserved
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