Life is always full of surprises, and on my journey of cat – keeping, a new chapter has begun. This year, a new member joined our family – a British Shorthair Silver – tipped kitten named Jiaozi. Since his arrival, the “love – hate” daily life between him and my Siamese cat, Meiqiu, has added countless joys and warmth to my life.
As the “original inhabitant” of the house, Meiqiu was quite aloof when Jiaozi joined. Most of the time, it wore an expression of disgust as if saying, “Who is this silly guy? Stay away from me,” as if defending its “territory.” Jiaozi, on the other hand, was like a naughty little fellow, always taking the initiative to provoke Meiqiu. He would pat Meiqiu’s tail or get up close to “provoke” it.
However, life isn’t always all fun and games, and small setbacks also came along. Somehow, perhaps due to Jiaozi’s overly “enthusiastic” behavior, both cats were infected with ringworm. Facing this problem, since it was inconvenient to isolate them in our living place, I could only apply medicine to them every day. During that period, I closely monitored their conditions, fearing that their illness would worsen. Maybe it was their tenacious vitality, or perhaps my meticulous care paid off. Miraculously, they recovered on their own. Seeing them healthy and full of energy again, the stone in my heart finally dropped. I couldn’t help but sigh that although these two little guys could be a bit of a worry at times, they were both strong and independent “little warriors” at heart.
When it comes to Meiqiu, its growth and changes have been truly remarkable. As a Siamese cat, it perfectly demonstrates what it means to “get darker and darker.” I still remember the New Year’s Day when I brought it home in the heavy snow. At that time, it was pure and clean, like an adorable little ball, with a look of ignorance and curiosity in its eyes. But as time passed, at four months old, it visibly got a bit darker, and its originally light – colored fur started to deepen. At seven months, it was even darker, yet still incredibly cute. Its big eyes and lively expression could still easily capture my heart. By nine months, its darkening trend became unstoppable, and after that, it just kept getting darker and darker, to the point where it was almost “unbearable” to look at. I often look at its comparison photos, laughing and crying at the same time. While I jokingly call it “ugly,” I’m deeply attracted by its cuteness.
Even though Meiqiu has become darker and darker, in my heart, it is still an irreplaceable treasure. Every day after work, the thing I look forward to most is going home quickly, cleaning its litter box, and playing with it. When it sleeps peacefully on my body or hands, when it follows me everywhere I go, when it scratches the door to “protest” if I stay in the toilet too long, and when it lies at my feet, looking up at me with its big eyes while I’m cooking in the kitchen, these warm moments make me feel its dependence and love for me. And in the process of getting along with it and Jiaozi, I’ve reaped a lot of happiness and healing.
These two cats at home, despite getting sick occasionally and their “love – hate” relationship, have long become an indispensable part of my life. They have taught me responsibility and love in their unique ways and made me understand that every life has its own unique charm. No matter what they look like, our love for them will never change. In the days to come, I look forward to continuing to accompany them, witnessing more of their growth moments, and writing more heartwarming stories that belong to us.
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