🌿 Introduction

Before IndiCats ever existed, there was Kitty—the cautious, independent rescue who arrived uninvited but never unwelcome. I didn’t know it then, but she would change the course of my life. ‘The cat who changed me’ is the story of how one feral cat taught me love, patience, and purpose—and became the beginning of it all. Kitty wasn’t just my first rescue—she opened my heart to a world I never knew I needed. She’s the reason I became a cat person and the soul behind everything IndiCats stands for.

A Surprising Arrival

It was 2008, and I hadn’t been living in India long when Kitty came into my life. She was probably around eight months old, and to be honest, I was a little afraid of cats back then. I’d always been a dog person. But Kitty clearly had me sussed from the beginning. Pregnant and looking for safety, she picked a vulnerable foreigner to take her in—and that was me.

She made her way into my home slowly and cautiously, and though she moved in, she didn’t let me get too close. It suited me—I wasn’t too sure of her either. But she had a quiet determination, and she found her spot in the house where she wanted to give birth. And she did—to two tiny kittens, Cookie and Squeaky.

Becoming a Mother

Watching Kitty become a mother was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. She was so full of love, guidance, and quiet strength. I respected her independence, giving her the space she needed to raise her babies. Not long after, she had three more kittens—Rosie, Tinker, and Ginger—while I was on a trip back to the UK.

That’s when I knew it was time to have her operated on, which turned out to be quite an ordeal—and resulted in my first (and hopefully last) cat bite!

A Life of Independence

Once she was spayed, she stuck close to the house, coming and going as she pleased, always maintaining a certain distance. Over time, she simply became part of our lives. When we moved house, the whole cat family moved with us.

Kitty adapted gradually to a more indoor life, and as she got older, she started to relax more—curling up on furniture, lounging in comfort—but she still kept a certain space around herself.

The Day She Trusted Me

Then one day, she came and sat next to me.

It felt like a huge milestone—like she was saying, I trust you now. I felt honored. Maybe it was watching the other cats curl up on my lap that gave her courage. Maybe she just decided the time was right. Whatever it was, it moved me deeply that she finally felt safe.

The Unexpected Escape

Life carried on this way until she began to have trouble eating. A trip to the vet revealed she needed some teeth removed. The procedure went well, and we brought her home, placing her in the kitchen where she loved to nap on a shelf under the worktop.

What happened next shocked us—she suddenly bolted out of the house.

We were stunned. I tried everything to coax her back, but she refused. She stayed in the compound behind the house, and if I got too close, she’d run. For three long months I left food on the wall and hoped. Eventually, she returned—slowly, cautiously—and once again became part of our home

I came to understand that some feral cats always keep a little bit of wildness inside them.

Slowing Down, Growing Closer

As the years passed, she went out less and less until she truly became an indoor cat. And in her final years, she got even closer to me. She would sit on my lap and lie near me, and I could feel her growing old—though she tried to hide it, as cats often do.

Through Hard Times, She Stayed

From 2019 to 2023, life brought many challenges. I had health issues, then the pandemic hit, and we lost our business. My partner had to return to Kashmir—a move we thought would be temporary—leaving me alone in Chennai with nine cats and an uncertain future. Figuring out how to relocate all of us felt impossible at times. But through it all, Kitty was my anchor—steady, quiet, and always by my side. She was not in great health, but she hid it well, and every night I would ask her not to leave me yet. I knew I couldn’t do it without her.

And she kept on going.

One Final Journey Together

She made the long and somewhat challenging journey with me and 6 other cats from Chennai to Kashmir—I know it was difficult for her. But we made it. Sadly, just a few days after arriving, on November 18th, 2023, Kitty passed away peacefully in her sleep. She’s buried here in Kashmir—and I’m so grateful she waited. That she came with me.

A Life That Changed Mine

Over the years, many cats have come and gone. But there was always Kitty. She was the beginning of this journey. We grew it together. She taught me so much about patience, love, and trust.

I miss her deeply.
But I will always be thankful that she chose me.