The lockdown last year brought with it a new set of residents here at Purva Venezia; a bunch of stray cats who made the colony their home. You could see them at every corner, from scouring the neighbourhood supermarket for food to lazing in the warm sun in the amphitheatre.
They were a fun bunch to look and admire for their antics, though as the months went by we saw less and less of them. I guess that's because a stray dog had made its way into the compound and had also made it its home. These cats were very wary of any dogs, stray or domesticated, and they promptly took to the underground parking at the sight of them. They must be staying there these days, especially since it is quite warm in Bangalore at this time. Still, I missed seeing them on my evening walks.
So it came as a surprise a week ago when my mother told me that there were a bunch of kittens who had made their home on top of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) near C Block. Now, I had seen the occasional stray kitten before, but they were always very shy and ran away from me whenever I approached them. Apparently, these new kittens were different. They were very friendly.
As evening approached, I decided to make my way to check out these new residents of the colony. By the time I made my way to the STP, it was dark. I saw that someone had constructed a makeshift house for these kittens from an old toy house, a bunch of cardboard boxes, broken buckets and crates, among other things. I did not see anything, and after a minute of waiting I thought that they had left.
But just as I was leaving I heard a meow. And then another. And another. Out from the darkness came three little adorable floof balls. Two of them were black as the night itself, while the third was a larger kitten, white and grey and brown. The black kittens were smaller in size while the third one was a bit larger. They all tumbled out of their house, running towards me at full sprint. Two of them knocked themselves silly, tumbling over themselves, while the third lumbered over with a bit more control.
I was surprised and delighted. They were adorable, cute and cuddly, and unlike all the previous kittens I had seen, they were very friendly and not at all shy. At a distance I could see an adult black cat. It must have been the mother, I thought, keeping an eye on her babies. So while I wanted to play with them, I decided to let it be for the moment. Instead, I tried to take a few pictures, which was difficult since it was dark and the cats were moving constantly.
As soon as I started walking back, they started following me. I thought they would follow me back home, but after 15-20 feet they stopped, as if there were an invisible wall, and instead took to trying to climb the nearby trees. I watched in fascination, and decided to get them some cat food next time.
I had ordered some dry kitten food on bigbasket along with my groceries, and as soon as it came the next morning I packed a bit of it in tissue paper and made my way to the cat house. It was 8 am, the sun was up and I was sure to get a good look at my new friends in broad daylight. I guess they did remember me, or were enticed by the smell of the food I was carrying, for as soon as I was within 10 feet of their house they all bundled out together, running to greet me. They sniffed my leg and meowed, their tails stiff in the air pointing to the sky and twitching quickly (which meant they were excited). I poured their food out and they went about immediately devouring it.
It was then that I stepped back and got a good look at each of them. Two of them were black and smaller in size, one being completely jet black while the other was black with white paws. The third kitten was bigger than the other two and was a mix of white, brown and light grey. I also saw that someone was already feeding them, for there was a big bowl of cat food in the corner along with a bowl of water.
I found them prancing around, and discovered that they were trying to catch the bees which were flying around them. It was an adorable sight, and I could have spent more time watching them, but I had to leave. Still, I could not wait for the evening to come when I could see them again.
That evening I went back to meet my cuddly friends, and they greeted me with the same enthusiasm as before. This time, I tried to get closer and give them pats. The black kittens allowed me to do that, and their tails perked up whenever I would scratch and pet them. The third one was a bit more aloof and not as interested in receiving affection. As I was scratching them, I decided to give them names. The black with white paws I would call Oreo, the all black one Hide and Seek, and the third one Marie. While I was thinking about my names, Hide and Seek decided to play a bit more aggressively and gave me a sharp scratch on my palm. I forgot that kittens have sharp claws and that they do sometimes let it out when playing.
I was taken aback and hurt for a bit. But one more look into their innocent eyes and I realized they did not mean to hurt me with any ill intent. Still, I left them that day and quickly went home to wash the wound with soap and water.
It soon became a routine for me to visit my fuzzy friends in the morning and evening, whenever I went for a walk. I didn't really need to take them food, since some other residents were feeding them. What I did enjoy was their company, giving them pets, watching them play with each other, and just basking in their cuteness. Word must have got out, for I saw more and more people making their way to their house, some playing with them, others admiring them from a distance.
All I know is, in these uncertain times, with the stresses that are present, seeing my three little furry friends definitely brings a smile to my face each and every time I am in their company. I know one day they will grow up and leave their house for greener pastures. But until then, I will enjoy and cherish their innocence and their company.
