Raja 

by Jan Carlisle

I live in a house with a cat and a dog, two teenagers and a firefighter husband. Well, I could have said that a few months ago, now I live in a house with a dog, a cat and a kitten. I have always had pets, don't ever
remember being without some little critter around needing to be fed, walked, watered or cleaned out....However, the kitten was a total surprise.

My eldest child is 19 and a lover of animals. She also spends a lot of time in the "big city" helping the homeless, feeding them, providing support etc. Kind hearted as she is, she has a soft spot for animals and so, when she saw this tiny wee little ginger kitten with big blue eyes, who was a homeless kitty she could not resist. Home she came, kitten under her jacket, sleeping peacefully all the way home on the subway. So as not to totally shock us she said she was watching it for a "friend" for a few days.... Well, the "friend" never turned up and the kitten is still here.

 Now, don't get me wrong, we love this little kitten, whom has been named Raja. Problem is, when I sit at the computer Raja loves to jump at the keys as they move and, talk about smart, the delete button seems to be a favourite.....Raja also loves to steal the plug from the bathtub. Nothing worse than thinking it's time for a de-stressing bath only to realize that the plug is gone" once again" If you didn't need a "de-stressing bath" before the hunt you will afterwards....

My husband has been saying all along that the kitten can't stay....The kitten has to go he'll say, as he picks Raja up and snuggles her to his chest...the kitten has to go he'll say, as Raja playfully grabs his hand and purrs madly when my husband pets her...So now we find ourselves in a different spot because our daughter, the kitten bringer home daughter, has found an apartment with a friend in the "big city" and they don't allow pets....not even cute, not so big anymore, kittens.

She is trying to find a home for the kitten because my husband keeps saying Raja can't stay, but I don't think he realizes yet...our daughter is leaving home and the kitten is going to stay. I think this kitten landed in my life at a time when things will be a little rough, saying goodbye to your first born, the beginning of a new life for her and for us. (My son says it's going to be really boring now living with two "old people") Poor fellow...but he loves the kitten too, so that's a saving grace. This week as we all say our goodbyes to our daughter, sister we will hold Raja a little tighter I think, remembering how lucky we are that Tara brought this little kitten home for her "friend" I lose a daughter and gain a kitten....Even my husband has stopped saying "Raja has to go", he knows better now.....