Navidad Story

 

When this picture came up on my phone recently, all the memories came back of this little kitty named Luna. We were taking care of her for 2 weeks while my sister and brother-in-law were away for Christmas. 

It felt so nice, so sweet to have a cat again after many years of saying goodbye to dear ol' Fluffy. We actually hadn't had any pets since then. So, in some ways it was new but also familiar. Luna was adjusting to everything, including us and her being inside for 2 whole weeks! (Since she wasn't fixed yet and would probably just have run away if she got out.)  But it felt more like the Christmas season with a cat in the house again, near the tree and keeping the house a home.

She was quite scared most of the time and would hide under beds and in tight spaces. We even thought we may have lost her since she hid so well in a tight and small corner until overnight her first night. She was sensitive, but when she got comfortable with me, I was able to pick her up and hold her and she liked that and would start kneading and purring. 

It was by sheer surprise that we received another cat (rather kitten at the time) for Christmas from my brother. I was so shocked and couldn't believe that we had 2 felines in the house at once! And that we would have a cat to call our own. My Dad was livid and not supportive of having another cat (kitten), but he was so cute, small and black. His golden eyes were adorable and his fur so soft. 

We were thinking of a name for him, and some came to mind (mocha, midnight, snickers..) and then I just thought of the name Navidad and everyone agreed and it just clicked as he was a Christmas kitty after all, since we received him on Christmas Day. We noticed how different he was from Luna. He was more active and not as frightened. He's playful as any kitten could be. He would squeak at times but not meow until he was a bit older when he found his 'voice.' 

We only had Luna for a few more days right until New Years Day when my sister and her family would be coming back. I liked Luna, I grew to like her. I guess I liked cats more than kittens, but overtime I enjoyed Navidad and saw him often, but initially he would be staying at my sister's apartment. 

He's now been with us for a little over 2 years, and something about having a cat, especially during Christmas time is sweet and special. He lays right behind the tree, just like Luna. But not so much to hide but to keep warm from the heater in the winter chill. He doesn't seek comfort so much with being picked up, but I like to hold him anyway, as he is a petite size, and his black fur still soft (though shedding and thinning a bit). 

He has the cutest face, and his golden eyes brighten up a room. When we first got him, my brother told us that the last owners said the kitten was a girl. But I didn't believe it, as he always looked like he had a masculine and handsome face. Sure enough, he is a boy, he got fixed within his first year and meows every once in a while.