As a veterinarian, my daily work involves dealing with a wide variety of lovely pets, and among them, cats hold a special place in my heart. In the hospital, looking at those lively and adorable cats, I have always fantasized about the day when I could have a little cat of my own, raise it to be plump and healthy, and make it my wonderful life companion.
This long – awaited dream finally came true last October. That day, I was giving a vaccination to a client’s silver shaded British Shorthair kitten as usual. The moment I picked up the little cat, I was immediately captivated by its cuteness. During a chat with the pet owner, I learned that his female cat had just given birth to a litter of lovely kittens. Perhaps noticing my love for cats, the owner generously offered to sell me one at a discounted price. Overjoyed, I carefully selected a male kitten from the bunch, envisioning raising it to have a cute, round face. So, I named it Shu Dalia, taking my surname.
Due to the nature of my work, I knew that a kitten’s immunity is relatively weak before the full course of vaccinations is completed, and I was worried that I might not be able to take good care of it. Therefore, I waited until Dalia was three months old before bringing it home with great care. I still remember the day I brought it back. The little Dalia weighed only 1.7 kilograms and was extremely well – behaved. In the car, it quickly nestled into my clothes, fell asleep comfortably, and purred softly. That sound seemed to be its approval of the new environment and its trust in me, warming my heart.
Time flies, and the kitten grew rapidly. It seemed like just the blink of an eye, and the once tiny and adorable figure had transformed into a face with a somewhat “mature” look. During its growth, I doted on it like my own son, providing it with various nutritional supplements and carefully nurturing every step of its development. In my eyes, Dalia perfectly met all my aesthetic standards for a cat. Its chubby body, fluffy head, and the big round face with those innocent eyes were all things I adored. I often think that Dalia is the most wonderful gift bestowed upon me by God and an indispensable part of my life.
Now, Dalia is over a year old and weighs almost eleven pounds. Moreover, it has become a father and welcomed its own baby. Seeing Dalia howl alone sometimes, I felt really sad, knowing that cats can also feel lonely. So, I decided to keep one of Dalia’s kittens as a companion for it. Since the arrival of this little one, Erdan, Dalia seems to be much happier and rarely cries alone at the door anymore.
The interaction between Dalia and Erdan is really interesting. As a father, Dalia sometimes gently licks Erdan’s fur and teaches it some basic life skills. And Erdan always follows Dalia around, like a little shadow, imitating every move of Dalia. Watching them accompany and grow with each other, I feel extremely happy and content.
During the days of getting along with Dalia, it has brought me so much joy and touch. Every time I come home tired from work and see it waiting for me at the door, all my fatigue disappears instantly. When I’m feeling down, it will quietly snuggle up beside me, offering comfort with its warm body. I’m so grateful to be Dalia’s owner, and I hope to always accompany it and Erdan, witness more of their growth moments, and spend many more wonderful times together.
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