About 6 years ago, I accepted 4 orphaned kittens at my home, her mom had been scared away with hot water. The smallest one died right away. I bottle-fed the other three for several weeks. Nikita had clouded eyes from the moment she opened them and some neurological problem that made her walk in circles. When they were almost ready to be adopted, two of them got sick and died. Nikita was still going strong. At that time, we had 2 cats in the house, and were not ready to adopt another one, but who would be interested in adopting a black cat with eye problems and a terrible temper? We felt we had to keep her. This was a tough decision, because I felt my house was too small for another cat, but I knew I had no choice, I was her mom. Once we got her vaccinated, her left eye got infected and she spent a week with the left side of her face swollen and a fever. When she finally opened her eye she had lost it. There was nothing but red tissue. Even then, she lived her life normally. After all these years, many, many scratches, and 3 rescued dogs later (and still in the same house), she still has a temper, and everybody, including the dogs avoid her when she is mad. My girls love her, and my little one says that Nikita is her cat. Nikita has mellowed and now she sleeps with me most nights. I am so happy we decided to keep her. She has been wonderful, and although she drives me crazy sometimes, almost nothing makes me happier than when she lets me hug her (unthinkable a few years ago) and she purrs while we fall asleep together.

Militza Diaz
Chihuahua, Mexico