“Three, two…” I counted down. “One!”
Kaden hoisted the box up in one swift motion so that the cat remained on the ground. All the fur on her body bristled. For a split second, she was frozen by confusion and indecision - and that was all the time I needed to catch her with the laundry basket. Once she was caught, I grabbed the scruff of her neck. I didn’t like doing it, but it was the best way to make sure she stayed still and I didn’t get hurt. When she didn’t fight back, we all sighed in relief.
“I’m gonna carry her into the store so we can get a proper carrier,” I said.
Kaden and Griffin cleared the path.
“Grab one of those small ones,” I told Griffin, pointing to the rack of pet crates.
He returned with an enclosed plastic crate, and I eased the cat inside. It was just big enough to contain her. Her fluffed-up fur stuck out of the wire door and the ventilation holes. When the door shut I was finally able to breathe properly.
Well, sort of.
“You did it!” Kaden said.
“That was incredible,” Griffin added, sounding proud.
“Thanks,” I said, “but we have a little problem.” I paused. “Orproblems.”
Kaden and Griffin exchanged a confused glance. They hadn’t noticed it, but I certainly had - especially when I felt how heavy the cat was.
“Guys,” I began, “this cat is pregnant.”
Kaden gasped. “Oh my god! Someone abandoned a pregnant cat?”
I nodded grimly. “She seems quite a bit along. They probably didn’t know what to do, or didn’t want to deal with the kittens.”
Griffin’s face was a mix of fury and protectiveness. “What are we going to do?” He stepped forward. “Does she need medical attention?”
I nodded. “I think a vet visit would be good, yeah.”
Griffin was already looking at his phone with a determined expression. “I’ll see when the closest one opens.”
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly he was taking charge.
“There’s one a few blocks down from here,” Griffin told me. “They’re the only place with early Sunday hours.”
“Then let’s go there,” I agreed.
Griffin immediately called them.
“Um, I don’t think I’ll be able to come,” Kaden interrupted. “I still have to start my shift at the café.”
“That’s okay. You were a huge help, Kaden,” I said with a relieved smile. “Without you, we wouldn’t have known about this one. She might have even been long gone. So, thank you.”
Kaden smiled back and began to head for the door when I remembered something.
“Wait,” I said. I punched my key into the cash register, popped it open and slipped a twenty inside from my wallet. Kaden watched me curiously. Then I told him, “Go and grab the heater you need. Aquarium supplies are in the back. It’s on me today - for helping us with the cat.”
“Oh!” Kaden grinned. “Thanks, uh - Jake, right?”
I nodded.
After picking up the aquarium heater, Kaden returned and said to me, “Skylar was right about you being a cool guy. I’ll see you around.”
We waved him off. Then I turned my attention back to the cat. She had begun letting out a low, loud yowl of distress.
“I just let the office know we’re coming in and they squeezed in the first appointment for us,” Griffin said.
