Wonder: From Cruelty to Royalty
If I ever write a book about Wonder, that’s what I’ll call it.
I’m constantly amazed by this cat and all that he’s been through. Honestly, I try not to think about it, because it will crush my soul. Better to focus on the present than the past. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder about his past.
When kittens come into the world, they, like human babies, are greeted with happiness and love from their mothers. If these kittens are lucky, and they should be, they are also greeted with happiness and love from the humans that have been caring for the mothers. So what was Wonder greeted with? Certainly his mother cleaned him and nursed him and loved him. But for how long? Was he born under a shed in someone’s yard? A cozy towel-filled box in a linen closet? Were there humans there to make sure the birthing process went safely? Or did those humans just steal him away for a life of torment?
Sadly, these questions remain unanswered. I can’t even speculate as to his entrance into this world. Wonder is easily the happiest cat I’ve ever met, and yet he went through unfathomable pain. He holds no grudges against humans and will happily greet anyone who wants to greet him. More accurately, he’s happy to see you whether you want to see him or not. He’s full of love and joy, and he wants to share it with you.
As Wonder plays with a toy mouse right now, he is unaware of how special he is, how famous he is in our small-town area. Since he came on in November, more money has been spent on him than on my other two cats combined. He’s been to the vet so often that I’m known as “the blind cat lady.” He was treated for worms, toxoplasmosis (twice), constipation, a bladder infection, diarrhea, and itchy skin. It was as if he knew he was home and it was okay to let his inner kitten out…except that his inner kitten was sick! He is on a food trial now, an expensive venture in which he, Pixie, and Lola will eat only a prescription food for the next 6-8 weeks. Why? Because Wonder has a food allergy. After two weeks on this diet, he’s doing AMAZING. He’s remarkably less itchy and his digestion has improved tenfold. I am more than happy to shell out $40 for a six-pound bag of food and $100 for 48 cans of the wet version if it means health for my little guy. Why wouldn’t I? He’s so friggin’ cute!!
And this leads me to the message I have for the heartless bastards who ruined Wonder’s entrance into life: Fuck you. Heaven only knows why you thought it was a good idea to gouge outs the eyes of a five-week-old kitten. The thought came to you, you sought out a kitten, and you acted. And for what? To impress someone? Because your mother didn’t hug you or your dad said you’d never amount to anything? You will probably never again think of the kitten whose life you hoped to destroy, and he certainly doesn’t think of you. And yet here he is: healthy, happy, loved. He has brought more joy to my life and the lives of those around me. You took his sight, but you did not take his spirit. Wonder may have started out at a deficit, but now he sits on top of the world. He sleeps on my bed, eats pricey food, plays with whatever he wants, sits on and claws my furniture, hassles his sisters, and receives nothing but love and affection from all who meet him. Wonder’s life is great and will continue to become greater. You, however, are still the same miserable bastard you were when you thought, “Hey, you know what would be fun? Gouging out the eyes of a kitten!” Enjoy the rest of your hate-filled life. Maybe someday you will realize how evil you were. In the meantime, Wonder has bathroom counter that needs inspecting.
Amen, sister!
I hope things are going better now for you and Wonder. I wish you both happiness and joy. It looks like you have already found him.
Hi, I just found out about Wonder after reading “Homer’s Odyssey” and I wish I could be there to hug and kiss both of them!
If they ever catch the losers who did that to Wonder, I want to join the long line to take care of them – for good!
Cats rule forever! Peace, Grace
Just wanted to say hello and thanks for being so kind hearted to take such good care of Wonder as you do. We need more people in the world like you. I think He sounds like a wonderful cat and would love to play with him. I have 5 cats now, 2 found us this past summer while we were biking. They jumped out of the bushes at us like tigers on the attack. Both were around 4-6 weeks old at the time. We looked all over for a house where they could have came from but there was no house for around 2 miles. Someone dumped them. These two cats are the best cats ever, these people do not know what they are missing. Take care, please write more. Greg
Thanks so much, Greg, for your kind words. It sounds like you are also a very kind-hearted person. Cats seem to have a way of finding those of us who will take the best care of them. Wonder would certainly love to play with you too! He’s such a friendly cat! He’s never met a person he doesn’t like. Whatever evil he encountered as a baby, he doesn’t seem to remember it. We should all be so lucky to be that happy!
Thank you Rachel. Yes I am very kind-hearted especially when it comes to animals. I wish we humans could forget the evil things from our past like that. Seems like that is one of our biggest hangups. I think you would love the cat we have named Hawk-eye (named after the character in the book “Last of the Mohican’s”). He is one of them that found us over the summer. He is a seal point or chocolate point, not sure, just cute as can be and a dream to play with. He jumps up to you to be held then, he will lay upside down in your arms and stretch his whole body out limp as a noodle. He chases his tail all the time too. Oh his sister and 2 other of our cats love to play fetch in the kitchen with these tiny rubber balls we have but, it has to be IN the kitchen before they will bring it back. Thanks for writing back,sorry it took me a while to get back to you. Greg
My mom always says how much of an inspiration Wonder is. He’s happy, trusting, and loving with everyone he meets. He’s in love with the maintenance guy at my apartment complex, and he adores his vet. This past weekend, he went crazy for my sister’s roommate when he was helping move furniture. The day Wonder meets someone he doesn’t like is the day I’ll stop speaking to that person! Hawk-eye sounds like my parents’ cats. My parents have 7 cats, all former strays. The youngest one they have, Nutmeg, likes to stand on the refrigerator, flip her head upside down, and wait for you to give her treats. But they can only be the catnip flavored kind. Have you ever given your cats Christmas garland? Wonder has been dragging garland around my house since December. He loves it. Shiny must make a sound to cats because he loves anything shiny. He’s also good for stealing tissues and Q-tips out of the trash. Even though he is very much eyeless, sometimes I wonder just how blind he really is.
Rachel, Wonder really sounds like a cool cat. I would love to meet him sometime. I just know we would get along great. It is amazing how cats, or animals in general can tell a persons demeanor,or at least some what of how they are deep down inside. If only all of us could do that. Nutmeg sounds awesome, yes a lot like hawk-eye. I have never given them garland, i am to much of a fraidy cat , he might eat it..ha ha ha. But he does have a Christmas stocking that he drags around with him all over the house…”Hey, it’s empty now! Fill it back up.” he does this all the time. Again, Wonder sounds like a great cat, sneaky little guy too. I will have to try to send you pictures of all my cats soon, hope you can send some of you and wonder to me. Greg
Wonder sounds wonderful. God help those bastards that did That to him. Thank god for you. I have 7 cats… Trooper my baby is just that . My baby. Mamma spot was a stray. Only 8 months when she gave birth. Trooper was the only survived of the litter and spot would not nurse him. So I bottle fed him and did all the other things to help hip along. Those every two hour feeding for 4 weeks were rough but we got it done! Trooper was only 2 oz when he was born. The vet said he was to little and didn’t give me any hope for trooper to last the nite. Trooper went to the vets so many times. He didn’t give up tho…. He fought the ” big cats ” with all his might. When he was up to 1 pound the other cats started running AWAY from him!!!! Trooper is now 6.5 months and is the greatest most spoiled is say kitty!! He sucks and purr on my ear to tell me he is hungry. Nothing like being woke up at 3 in the morning for breakfast with a kitten sucking and purring on your ear. But I wouldn’t trade it.. feel free to write. Kisses to wonder and the rest!
Trooper’s story is absolutely precious! Wonder still nuzzles on my neck. He used to try to nurse on my neck when he was younger, but he’s content with nuzzles now. They must know who their “real” moms are. I definitely get woken up by Wonder because he needs to snuggle. You’re absolutely right; it’s not anything I would trade either. Sounds like we have a couple of great guys!
Give Trooper some love from me!