After being married for almost 8 years & several miscarriages, our lives can get pretty lonely. Even when we were just metres apart minding our own business, we still get pretty lonely. I felt it... and I know he felt it too. Back in the USA, all our friends had children. We would get all happy when we get to see their children and spend time with them.. then when we get back to our small little apartment, we both couldn't help but feel that tinge of sadness.
The only time in the US when our lives felt whole was when we "babysat" for our colleague's cat for a few weeks! Alhamdulillah, I was overjoyed! Every time we went out, we couldn't wait to get back home to get to lil S and every time we get back, he would be by the door waiting for us! When we had to say good bye to him when our colleagues got back, we both knew what we wanted to do : go for cat adoption! We searched and searched for adoption centres and found one merely 5 minutes away from us in Tenleytown. We found the perfect kitten, arranged for an interview & a home visit by the owner of the pet store (the process was very thorough! It was a real adoption process!) and we were set....or so we thought! After a few days, we finally had to snap back to reality, crunch up the numbers and weighed in on the responsibilities of having a cat in the small apartment. We calculated costs of transporting back the cat when we eventually have to return back to Brunei and we figured out we couldn't really afford it. As much as we loved the idea of having a little critter to take care of and make our home feel whole.. we couldn't bear the thought of getting attached to it and then having to leave it back in the US just because we can't afford to bring him back home. So, we gave up on that and moved on with our lives... slowly.
When we got back to Brunei about a year after, we were so happy to know that my family still had plenty of cats going around the house and my in-laws had two cats at home too. But somehow, my heart didn't yearn for them as much. Because they weren't mine. ( Eseh! =P ) After a year in Brunei and another miscarriage, we were sent to another country for work. I didn't give it much thought. I knew there and then that I wanted to get a cat.
On our second week here, I took my husband, brother & sister in law out to one of the malls in KL knowing at the back of my mind that I would buy my cat that day...I just didn't know yet if I would fall in love with a small kitten or a grown cat. I was too eager to go to the pet store but I had to play it cool. We all agreed to watch "300 : Rise of an Empire" so we got tickets. After that I suggested to everyone that we take a look at the pet store which so happens to be on the same floor =P
When we looked into the cats section... I saw a beautiful orange kitten and fell in love. I thought about the price, thought to myself that it was reasonable and begged for my husband to agree. He didn't budge. I was heartbroken but I didn't give up. While looking around again, I saw her. She was so small..so adorable...... she looked confused. I asked one of the shop assistants if I could hold her. I did and looked at my husband. He didn't disagree, but didn't look too happy about it either. He told me it was up to me as I was paying for the cat. Happily I told the shop assistant, "I'm getting her!" We paid for her, bought her some toys, food, litter box and her carrier. I totally forgot about the movie we were about to go see. So we told the shop assistants that we would be back for her. Throughout the movie my mind was on the kitten that we will be bringing back home and paid not much attention to the movie... Throughout the movie, it showed how the Persians were bad! So I thought to myself.
"Oh no! Is this a sign? The kitten is persian! Is this a sign I shouldn't get her?" I told my brother and sister in law this after the movie and they laughed at me! I thought "okay.. see Liyana? You were just being silly!" and happily glided to the pet store. =P
As we reached the pet store, one of the SA's picked up the kitten and passed her to us and I happily took the pet carrier from her. Upon arriving to the temporary apartment, we let her roam free but she was too scared and preferred to sit down below the sofa. My husband after playing with her for a few minutes have somehow fallen for the kitten too. He asked me what should we name her and I thought of Bella. This was Bella when she was with us for less than a week.
And look at her now.... =)
Almost two years later, she's now a mama to 11 living kittens (3 given away to friends here). We currently have 10 cats altogether in our humble abode. Our home is full of love.. and in shaa Allah will be filled with more love soon. Aaamin =)
Our cats fill our lives with so much joy.... and pee...... and poo! LOL! But we wouldn't have it any other way. We love them and they love us. We know they do =)
