Mattie

In September of 2000, I went to the animal shelter as a favor for my Aunt Gin. Her husband passed away, and she wanted a companion. There were three kittens there, two beautiful males and one female calico. I was drawn to the calico for some reason. She wasn't the friendliest or most attractive kitten there, but something about that scrappy fur and that pink nose tugged at my heartstrings. In my mind, I named her Mattie. I took Mattie home, and was prepared to deliver her to Aunt Gin that weekend.

Two days later, I had an OB/GYN appointment near home, and stopped in to see Mattie.  I found her in the basement, lying on the floor, not breathing. My two cats were on sentry duty, protecting her.  I immediately began mouth to snout resuscitation on her, an instinct I didn't even know I had. She blinked, looked up, and purred. I raced her to the vet, where tests determined she had epilepsy. The diagnosis was she may or may not grow out of it, but she would require constant monitoring and medication. Aunt Gin was not prepared to care for a kitten with special needs. Mattie was now officially my kitten to take care of, and I couldn't have been more overjoyed.

Mattie came into my life unexpectedly, and rescued me as well. She got me through the end months of a difficult pregnancy. Taking care of her gave me a perspective on what it means to take care of another being that is so dependent on you for their survival, the same skills I needed to be an effective first time parent!  Mattie did outgrew her epilepsy, and is now five years old, happy and healthy and very much loved by our family!

Andra Shipley
Macomb, MI

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