A snow-white kitten is lying right in the middle of the road, surrounded by fields with not a soul in sight.
Helen works as a sales representative and spends most of her time driving between small villages. This morning, shes off on the move again. The night has been frosty, the grass and tarmac shimmer with a thin layer of frost, and all around is this breathtaking winter beauty.
Since the roads are icy, Helen drives with extreme care. Suddenly, she notices a little white blur along the kerb. At first, she assumes its just a bag or a bit of rubbish, but as she looks closer, she realizesits a kitten! The tiny creature is pressed flat to the cold asphalt, all alone. Theres nothing but fields around for miles. The closest village is far away, no way this kitten could have ended up here on its own. Most likely, someone has dumped the poor thing. In the countryside, its not uncommon for unwanted animals to be abandoned out in the middle of nowhere so they cant find their way home. With the nearest town far off and no one wanting to take animals to distant villages, people just leave pets in the fields as a terrible solution.
Helen quickly grabs her phone, snaps a photo and immediately posts it in the emergency section of a local animal rescue group online, marking roughly where shes found the little kitten.
That same morning, over a cup of tea, Sarah happens across the post while browsing the group, more out of curiosity than anything. Shes shockedthe very same white kitten is right in the middle of the road, wild-eyed and clearly terrified. Great, no address, no phone Where on earth am I supposed to drive? she grumbles in frustration. Sarah decides to message the person who posted the photo, and it turns out theyd spoken only a month ago when Helen had rescued some kittens from the roadside; she still has Helens number from their earlier conversation.
Helen doesnt reply straightaway, and Sarah can only imagine what might happen to the kitten while shes on her wayits an hours drive, and the kitten likely wont stay put. Luckily, Helen calls back and says shes managed to find a box, gently rescue the frightened kitten, and secure it in her car so it doesnt escape.
They agree to meet halfway to pass the kitten over to a new pair of caring hands. Sarah doesnt know exactly where the kitten will go next; shes thinking about paid foster care, maybe a vet stay, and hoping that their dedicated fosterer, Carol, has a free spot for the little one.
When Sarah picks up the kitten, it hisses, yowls, flattens its ears, and tries to look as fierce as possible. She notices something immediatelythe kitten is white with blue eyes. Blue eyes are lovely, especially on Siamese or ginger toms, but in white kittens, this gene mix often means deafness.
As if on cue, Carol phones to discuss arrangements. They agree the kitten will head to her for treatment tomorrow, because shes just waved off another foster late in the evening, and needs to get the pen ready. He cant go to the group foster where Sarah helps outits currently battling a virus outbreak and weak kittens could catch it. So tonight, the kitten must stay at Sarahs homeher husband isnt thrilled with it, and her own cats arent fans of new arrivals and have been known to scratch the sofa or use someones slippers as a litter tray in protest.
The kitten is settled in the downstairs loo with a cosy spot to sleep, a litter tray, and dishes of food. All day, he naps, eats, naps again, and eats once more. But as soon as he starts to mew plaintively, Sarah knows therell be no peace tonight.
She decides to try soothing the nervous kitten. In her leopard print pyjamasto look less like a stranger, she jokesSarah sits on the floor and gathers him into her lap. He watches her warily, as if thinking, Youre kind, but youre not a cat! Still, patience yields resultsthe kitten relaxes, squints his eyes, and soon a hearty purr rumbles through the room.
Eventually, he flops on his side, hugs Sarahs hand with his paws, and rests his little face there. Not feral at all, just scared out of his wits. But how did he end up there? Usually, dumped animals turn up on rubbish tips or by hedges, never right out on the road across open fields. Maybe hed crawled under a car for warmth and fallen out on the move.
But the kitten refuses to stay in the bathroom all night. He moans until hes brought into the kitchen, given a soft blanket and a tiny cushion. Once hes wrapped up, he falls into a deep sleep, not stirring until morning.
The next day, the kitten is off to Carols for treatment for a cold and a sore paw. Hearing tests confirm Sarahs worrieshe is indeed deaf. But thats not so terrible: as an indoor cat, hell be safe and sound. Once hes well again, theyll seek the perfect caring family for him. Deafness has its perks toohe wont rush to the door every time it slams! Though, as many cat owners know, deaf cats still pick up the vibrations and are just as curious on the kitchen counters, keeping their humans well entertained.
