In January of 2012, a pregnant cat wandered into the backyard of Carla's mom and gave birth to five adorable kittens. They were a motley crew, each with its own unique markings and personality. Unfortunately, the mom left and never came back.
Carla's mom had always been a compassionate person, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the kittens so she brought them into the house and decided to take care of them.
In the days that followed, Carla's mother lovingly cared for the kittens, bottle-feeding them, keeping them warm and and stimulating them so they would poop. It was a full time job and though she did everything she could and spent sleepless nights caring for the helpless kittens, 3 of them did not make it.
After about six months of caring for the kittens my mother-in-law moved with us and our family grew by three members for a total of 9., Marvin, Gatosa, Bagheera, Tasha, Chuchis, Akela, Cotufo, Carla's mom, Carla and myself.
We made a pen for them and Tasha took it upon herself to watch over them and to make them feel safe. Soon after Gatipo and Gatipa AKA Cosi, were fully integrated with the family.
Gatipo was always self assured and very loving. He got along with with everybody, roamed the house freely and let the dogs lick his face and give him love nibbles.
Gatipa on the other hand was always shy and kept to my mother-in-law's room most of the time. She wasn't afraid of the dogs but she got overwhelmed when there were strangers at the house or when the dogs played inside the house.
Meanwhile our family kept growing and so did the kittens.
In 2013 we moved to a two story house and the cats had all the top floor for themselves most of the time and Gatipa still stayed in my mother-in-law's room most of the time.
Then in 2016 tragedy struck and my mother-in-law died. Gatipo and Gatipa were very confused and felt insecure without her presence. They stayed in her room for the longest time, coming out just to visit the litter box. Little by little Gatipo felt more secure and roamed the whole floor freely and even went out onto the little upstairs patio.
Gatosa, even though she was a bit scary for Gatipo and Gatipa, was also a reassuring presence and kept the neighborhood cats at bay, so her loss was a hard blow for them.
Bagheera was like a big brother that was a calming presence so when he died Gatipo and Gatipa also felt the loss deeply.
It took a while but one day Gatipo started venturing downstairs and soon feel safe everywhere in the house and started spending part of the nigh with us.
Gatipa, fearful and insecure still stays upstairs and only comes down halfway down the stairs. She is the most loving little cat and gives love bites whenever we groom her or when she is in a very good mood. I wish she would come down the stairs and spend more time with us but we, including the dogs, go up to spend as much time with her as she can take.
Gatipo and Gatipa are two precious and adorable cats who hold a unique place in our lives. They are not just ordinary pets; they are living reminders of Carla's mom. These feline companions carry a piece of her mother's love, providing us with a sense of comfort and connection to our departed loved one.
Every time we look into the vibrant, curious eyes of Gatipo and Gatipa, we are reminded of Carla's mom unwavering love and affection. These cats were deeply cherished by Carla's mom, and their presence in our life now serve as a constant source of solace and remembrance.
As Gatipo and Gatipa playfully chase each other around the house, their antics bring a smile to our faces. It's as if Carla’s mother is still there, watching over us with amusement and delight. The cats' soft purrs and gentle headbutts offer a sense of comfort and tranquility, reminding us that Carla’s mom love will always be present in our life.
