I'm happy today
Because I get to play.
It wasn't always that way
I used to be a stray.

A kindhearted man
Gave me a hand
He fed me and loved me
And just let me be.

He always came back
Sometimes with a snack
And one day we had a big surprise
Kittens being born right in front of our eyes.

The babies were fragile
And truly not agile
Their mom scared and weak
It frightened me to just take a peek.

Four babies there were right from the start
And the kindhearted man with the beautiful heart
Worried and fretted and didn't have a clue
About feeding or bathing or just what to do.

He got advice from so many
Some good, some worth but a penny.
But then one day he found while on the phone,
That really and truly he wasn't alone!

Helpers came and sighed when they heard the babies coo.
By that time there were but only two.
Two had been lost
A very sad cost.

But those two did not give their lives in vain.
Because of their loss, we all remain.
The pain and the sorrow
Brought help for tomorrow.

They cared oh so much for all of us
Never ever saw such a fuss,
We'd always been left and yelled at and booted!
Now suddenly our males were being neutered!

Our gals were taken away to this place,
A vet they called it when to our face.
Really we knew our real scary fate.
Never again would we ovulate.

But this wasn't bad
Although sometimes kind of sad.
But rather than be such a depressant
We rejoiced to not have to stay forever pregnant!

But then there was more
It was almost like going to the catnip store!
The kindhearted man and the lady again
Came on a mission to protect us from the rain.

At first we had boxes and places to hide
But one at a time we each went for a ride
And there we met more kindhearted folks
Who patted and talked and even told jokes!

One day it was my turn
Scared silly I left and almost didn't return
But back then I came
Hoping to keep out of the rain.

Well that's what I said
But really I dreamed of a super soft bed
And someone to love me every day
And never abandon me in any way.

And amazing as it sounds
That's exactly what I found!
My new "mom" and my "dad"
Well they're really not bad!

I'm still kind of scared to get close
and sometimes the food, well its kind of gross
but they say I'll get used to it one of these days
dunno about that but I sure like their ways.

At nighttime they call me and ask me real nice
to come cuddle in bed and not bring any mice
and sometimes I do. It gets nicer every day
I think I really love these folks in every way!

But no matter how old
We get nor how bold,
I'll never forget the dear wonderful people,
That kindhearted man and the lady so smitten,
They actually cared for a little homeless kitten.

So I wanted to write,
This story so bright,
To let everyone know how much it can mean
To give a little love and don't let the strays continue unseen!