The car stops outside a large house, pretty flowers grow up the side, their winding stems intertwine around the trellis. The journey you've been on has lasted several hours and you think about where you have just come from. You've been told you have to live with this new family, but that's all. You're frightened, and want to cry, but you don't. You're too afraid to make a sound.
As the door opens, a woman steps out of the front door to greet you. She looks nice, kindly sort, but for all you know, she could be a monster disguised as a friendly lady. You peer out from the bars of your cage and hear the pounding of footsteps towards the car and the hysterical cries of delight makes you tremble with fear.
"Mummy! Mummy, look!" The child squeals with pure excitement.
You've never heard the shrill of childhood happiness before. All you have ever known is the warmth of your mother and the fun of your siblings. Family means all to you, but you're unsure if you can leave it all behind. Will you ever see them again? Will you be happy here? You're still so young, but so confused. Fight or flight. That's what you need to do.
Your cage is lifted out from the boot of the car and carried by the lady into the house, followed by the little girl. As your cage is placed into the room, you inhale the multiple smells and listen, as something comes barging through the door.
Your eyes widen as you catch a glimpse of your worst enemy. You hiss, snark and move backwards towards the wall of your cage. A horrible smell, a mixture of dirt and poo, drifts up nostrils. A loud, deafening noise alarms you, followed by another and another. A long black muzzle pokes at the barred entrance. Saliva drips from its mouth. A loud hiss and you swipe at its nose, your sharp claws instantly force fresh blood to seep from the wound. A feeling of triumph comes over you and as the door opens, you feel confident enough to step out of your cage and out into the room.
"Hey Kitty." The child says, and you look at her warily, making sure your enemy is nowhere to be seen.
The creature has gone, simpered off to lick its wounds. Although it's intellectually lower than you, it knows that you are the boss and savvily, stays out of your way. It's in the other room now with the door closed, but you can hear it whining and scratching at the door.
The smell of special roast chicken dinner, smothered in a rich gravy, enters your nose. You feel as if you haven't eaten for days. You have, but nothing as tasty as this. It's Sheba, or Iams, instead of the cheap Whiskas tinned muck you've been used to.
The second you take a bite, you know you're going to like it here. You know you'll be happy.
