Yesterday was a day that will be etched deeply in my memory forever – the day I was finally reunited with my beloved cat, Xiaoqi, after an intense and nerve – wracking search.
In the past two days, Shanghai was battered by thunderstorms. Little did I know that my mischievous Xiaoqi had gotten himself stuck on a five – centimeter – wide ledge downstairs for a grueling 48 hours. By the time we discovered his whereabouts, the sun was on the verge of setting, and the owner of that house still hadn’t returned home. The thought of Xiaoqi being out there, alone and vulnerable in the harsh weather, made my heart ache with worry. Every passing minute felt like an eternity as I feared for his safety.
My boyfriend, without a second thought, took a huge risk. He climbed out onto the balcony, putting his own life on the line to rescue our furry friend. When Xiaoqi saw someone coming to his aid, in a moment of confusion or perhaps fear, he turned around. In that split second, my boyfriend quickly grabbed hold of Xiaoqi’s head and slung him over his shoulder. Scared out of his wits, Xiaoqi extended his claws and clung tightly to my boyfriend, leaving deep scratches on his shoulders. But in that moment, all that mattered was getting Xiaoqi back safely.
What was both frustrating and endearing was that as soon as Xiaoqi was rescued, he started crying out loudly, “ma~ma~ma~” in a plaintive voice. The neighbors, an uncle and an aunt who lived in that house, were amazed. “Oh, it really is your cat!” they exclaimed. “Listen, it’s calling you mom! This cat is amazing, almost seems like it has human intelligence!” “So you’re its mom!” Their words, filled with surprise and warmth, added a touch of light – heartedness to the otherwise tense situation.
We are truly indebted to that kind uncle and aunt. They called us immediately, saying that their balcony was covered in feces and urine, and although they had found a cat outside, they didn’t dare to touch it due to the danger and couldn’t bring it in. We were incredibly lucky that they informed us in a timely manner. And we were even more grateful that Xiaoqi had stayed put on the balcony all that time, not panicking even during the thunderstorms. If he had made a wrong move, I might have lost him forever. Just thinking about that possibility sends shivers down my spine.
Thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm, and Xiaoqi returned home safe and sound. However, this harrowing experience has clearly left an impact on him. Now, he is extremely hesitant to go near the balcony. Even when he simply extends a paw in that direction, he seems to be deep in thought, as if contemplating the meaning of his feline life for a good five minutes. And he has become even more dependent on us, constantly seeking our comfort and presence.
This incident served as a wake – up call for us. I believe that after this ordeal, Xiaoqi will no longer try to push open the balcony door with his head and wander off on his own.
Looking back on this experience, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Xiaoqi may have caused me so much worry, making me lose my appetite and unable to sleep properly, but now that he’s back in my arms, all those anxious moments seem worth it. As I look at the photo of him when he was first brought home, I’m reminded of the precious bond we share, and I vow to do everything in my power to keep him safe and happy in the future.
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