11/25/2025
On Sunday morning, I thought I saw a dead cat lying outside the church, and when church was over, I went out and was surprised to find it breathing.
I went to Dollar General, purchased Pedialyte, salmon, chicken broth, and a baby eye dropper. I felt its bones, and looked for cuts and bruises to try to determine if any were broken, or if it was starving. I gave it a bath and while washing, it let out two loud meows and thrashed, but its claws never extended. I gently pushed on its pads to make them come out.
For the first time, s/he opened its eyes and like a newborn baby opens its eyes for the first time, it looked directly at me and then my veterinary assistant Bella. Thinking this kitty was a gift from God, I named it Cole because it was black as coal—a Cole-cat, aka Kozmic Kitty.
I dried it off, and gently put warm milk in its mouth with the eye dropper and the accumulation of milk would force it to swallow. As I drove home thinking I now had a pet, her/his eyes fixed on me and I suddenly felt a sense of gratitude. In that moment, I thanked GOD for everything I had and then, s/he stopped breathing. I tried to help her/him breathe with chest and stomach compressions but s/he went. I dug a grave, asked God to receive her/him, and shed tears for the first animal I’d mourn since we lost Hershe.