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| Name: |
Tootsie
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Age: |
Unknown
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| Gender: |
Female
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Kind: |
Cat
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| Home: |
Nicosia, Cyprus
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This
is our beloved Tootsie. We loved her even she was once so ugly
because of a harsh life on the streets. She is old and pretty now and
lives with us in Nicosia in Cyprus.
Now my name is Tootsie. I say now, because for few years I belonged to a
family where I was so well treated, and loved. Unfortunately they had to
move to another country, and without remorse, left me on a private street
wandering between high rise buildings. It was such a shock for me. I had
to look out for my safety as few cars came through the narrow streets, and
I was not used to looking for my food. I was attracted to a certain nice
man who fed other strays, so I had the courage to make my way to get a
little food. My worse nightmare had come true: I was a stray cat! Other
cats were ruthless, and were trained by their stray mother to look for
food. Then came disease, fleas and all sorts of pests. I fought them
courageously. I know that I looked miserable and became the ugliest of the
lot. Eventually, I had an accident, but I honestly cannot remember what it
was because for days I remained hidden with a lot of pain in my jaw.
This is when I noticed a lady calling me. I went to her, and she was not
too disgusted to caress me. Oh, how long it was that I had not felt a
gentle hand rubbing my neck and head. She started feeding me in her
garage, below the high rise where she lived. I knew her car as she came
into the complex, I would wait for her and her husband for hours my heart
pounding, not so much for the food but for the love.
I did not realize that they only came to spend few months in summer here
in Cyprus, as they lived in Canada. How could I know this? They were
absent for very long periods and again I was swinging between sickness and
the cold of winter. This situation lasted for very a very long time. I
fought to survive as I knew she would come back to me. I never left "my
spot" expecting to see her arrive. Many times other members of the family
came to take the car. Madly I would run to the garage, only to see someone
I did not know came out of the car. My tail between my legs, my heart
weeping, I went back to "my observing post".
On one of their visits, she became more courageous and let me jump on her
lap while she was sitting in the car. I cannot tell you what warmth I
felt. Her thighs were comfortable, and I started purring like mad while
she was caressing me. Slowly, slowly she tried to carry me. For a while, I
became wild and could not even trust her. The miracle happened one day.
She grabbed me from the skin of the neck, and held me tight. She went into
the lift. I was terrified. Then she opened a door and let me loose into a
flat.
I was so scared, but still knew that something wonderful was happening.
Day by day I began to feel so loved and comfortable, that I stopped
looking at the entrance door. Even a vet came to check me, gave me an
injection, some medicine, and drops to make me flea free. This was my
mom's doing . I loved her so! I could not believe that I had finally a
home. Her husband was not so keen about me and did not touch me. But after
a month, my mom said I became the princess I must have been years ago. He
started loving me too. He allowed me to go on his belly while he watched
TV and dig my claws in his flesh and purr. I am lucky except that my jaw
is somewhat twisted and often I have to stick my tongue out, which mom
says is so cute.
This is why I say my name now is Tootsie, as I forgot my first name and
life. It is better that way. I am an old cat, no one knows my age, but
they say I should be ten or twelve. I know that now until the end I will have
the love of these two wonderful people that rescued me and that are my
whole world now.
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