Shyly is a huge one year old tabby, as gentle as a lamb and about as big as a poodle. With his wide golden eyes, long silver and black fur, and delicate peach face markings he just looks like the big softy he is. He is almost completely deaf, but that isn't his problem. Shyly's problem is much more serious than that (not making light of the big guys disability here.) He is very shy, and hides from any visitor and most of the other adult cats, but his real problem is more serious than that.

Shyly wants to be a Mom. Each new litter of kittens brings out the thwarted mom in him... he guards them like a hawk (even standing over them while they eat) and has been known to move whole litters where he can care for them quietly. When kittens are newborn he will take turns laying down with them to give Mamma a break, and even pull out belly fur to help with "nursing". At first this made us nervous, what if he moved a newborn litter somewhere (he hides kittens very well!)? But in three litters every kitten he has cared for has come through marvelously... and all share his deep buzzing purr.

Hmmm... maybe he is a mom after all!

Copyright © Jacquie Bates
July 12, 2002

Read Jacquie's other stories: New Friend & China