This year, which is supposed to be a special one according to the Chinese zodiac, started off as a real disaster for me. Work was an absolute nightmare, with overwhelming stress and setbacks at every turn. Adding to my miseries, I went through a painful breakup with my boyfriend. These two events combined left me in a constant state of confusion, drowning in negative thoughts and on the verge of depression. There were moments when the weight of everything seemed so heavy that I even considered giving up on life.
In a desperate attempt to find some light in the darkness, I decided to do something for myself. I bought a cat, a Siamese that I had adored for a long time. I hoped that having this furry companion would distract me and bring a bit of joy back into my life. It was the first time in ages that I had done something purely for my own happiness, a birthday gift to myself that I was truly satisfied with.
Since I lived in a relatively small place where it was difficult to find a Siamese that caught my eye, I turned to online shopping. After careful research and reading numerous reviews, I finally found a reliable seller. The seller arranged air freight, and to my relief, I received the cat on the same day. My friend and I went to the airport’s cargo department to pick it up. Even from outside the warehouse, behind the iron fence, I could hear its soft meows. That sound was like a glimmer of hope, assuring me that the journey hadn’t been too harsh on the little one.
When we got home, the cat, whom I named Zhaocai, was understandably a bit frightened. On the first night, it meowed non – stop until the middle of the night and even had an accident on my bed. To make matters worse, my 4 – year – old Labrador, Heidou, excited by the new arrival, scratched at the door all night long. However, things changed quickly after that first night. Zhaocai gradually grew more comfortable around me, its confidence blossoming. It started sharing my bed at night, and thankfully, never had another accident on the sheets. Instead, it learned to use the litter box proficiently. In the initial days, its digestive system was adjusting, so its stools were a bit runny. The smell was quite strong, especially when it would come and snuggle up to me right after using the litter box. Those nights, I often had to wake up in the middle of the night, armed with baby wipes, to clean its bottom before we could both go back to sleep.
Zhaocai has some rather unique habits. It never drinks water from its own bowl. Instead, it always tries to drink from my cup. To prevent this, I placed my cup under the whiteboard where the opening could be blocked. But this little rascal would find all sorts of ways to dig the cup out. If the water level was too low for it to reach by stretching its head, it would simply knock the cup over and then lick up the spilled water. It really left me at a loss sometimes.
Given that Heidou had a habit of chasing cats in the neighborhood without a second thought, I was initially afraid to let the two meet directly. After about half a month, Heidou knew there was a cat in the house and started to get used to its presence, as it stopped scratching at the door. Zhaocai, being new, also knew to be cautious. So, I arranged for them to meet occasionally in a safe way. As they got more familiar with each other, they could now get along peacefully, more or less. Surprisingly, Zhaocai was even bolder than Heidou and liked to tease the dog from time to time. Once, Zhaocai hid under the sofa and meowed. By the time it ran out from the other side, Heidou was still looking for it in the opposite direction. It was really hilarious.
I bought a cat tree for Zhaocai, and it seemed to have a great time playing on it. I also started making cat food at home for it. Each batch could last for one or two weeks. I used chicken, fish, pumpkin, and sweet potato, and packed it in small plastic containers. Zhaocai seemed to enjoy it a lot. Store – bought cat food, though, had a very fishy smell. After all, even expensive human food often contains various additives, and the quality of the ingredients can be questionable, let alone pet food. So, I decided to change the recipe next time.
Next month, I plan to take Zhaocai to get neutered. Since I don’t intend to let it reproduce, this is an expense that’s worth it. We still have many years to spend together, and it’s beneficial for both Zhaocai and me.
Now, Zhaocai is three and a half months old, and I’m a bit worried that its fur might darken all over as it grows, which is a common concern for Siamese cats. I also have some lovely photos to share. One shows Zhaocai looking extremely eager when I was eating fried chicken. Although I had already given it a whole chicken cutlet. Heidou was a gift I brought home for my mom with my first paycheck. At that time, I thought I would work in a different city, and since my dad passed away early, I was worried about leaving my mom alone at home. I thought a big black dog could keep her company. But this guy turned out to be more timid than anyone.
Having Zhaocai and Heidou in my life has made a huge difference. Whether it’s for the cat or the dog, I always want to give them the best. They have brought so much chaos, but also so much joy and a new sense of purpose to my life. I can’t wait to see what more wonderful moments we will share in the future.
Leave a Reply