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Cats have long been a favorite among animal lovers. They are quiet by nature, demure, loving and easy to care for. For a family that wants a pet but does not have the time, energy or space to accommodate a dog, a cat is the easy and practical choice.
When my family decided to let a cat into our home to join the family, we knew without a doubt that we would be traveling to a shelter. In the first place, we were not about to spend over a hundred dollars for a cat, and secondly, a purebred was not a necessary qualification. Why? Because a cat is a cat, reguardless of how much money you spend while purchasing it. Buy a two hundred dollar purebred Persian or a ten dollar stray kitten from a shelter, and she will still love you for who you are, why shouldn't you do the same for her? Not to mention that the ten dollars spent will go to caring and feeding for the other animals in the shelter.
After a few days of searching for a shelter in our area we finally decided on one and set out to find our cat. First stop though, is the pet store, to pick up some essentials. Kitty-litter, a litter box, some food, a collar, and a toy; all under seventy five dollars, not a bad start. Next stop is the shelter, where we are greeted by barking dogs outside and a strange not-so-pleasant smell inside. But also inside, and not to be ignored, were dozens of kittens, all just staring at you, wanting to play and be held. I initially fell in love with a bunch of kittens that were just brought it, but after learning that they were no more than four weeks old and that they would not be allowed to leave the shelter for a few more weeks, I backed away. No need in breaking your own heart more then necessary.
In the corner of the room was a cage full of about eight kittens, all from different litters, and all adorable and playful. I saw that my sister was already playing with one and I knew that we had our cat. I walked over and looked into the cage and saw the strangest marked cat I had ever set my eyes on. Her entire belly was white. Her face was an uneven mix of black and white. Her tail looked like that of a ferret, all black with rings of brown. She wasn't ugly by any means, she was exotic and she was beautiful.
Of course I didn't know she was a 'she' at first, and called her Mr. Marbles until the volunteer at the shelter informed me that it was a girl. Okay, Miss Marbles. Another few minutes of playing with her and we had all made up our minds, Miss Marbles was coming home with us, and being saved.
When we got her home we realized for the first time how dirty and skinny she was. We took her to the vet and learned that she had a cold and an acute eye-infection. A small price to pay for being saved from being put to sleep. In the next few weeks, she ate very well, took her medicine and started to look like a healthy kitten.
Now, just a few months later, she is as happy and healthy as any other cat in the world. From undernourished, dirty and, possibly, a few weeks away from death,; to a warm, clean house that she practically has entire rule over.
Not a bad life, whoever the saint of cats is, they're looking out for her.
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