The Feral Princess is dedicated to Aunt Sheri and my little princess, who has inspired me to write this.  Just goes to show you that with hard work, a little patience, and a lot of cat nip you can make a difference in the lives of animals.  Written By: Amanda O’Neill (11)

Caught in the Trap

I was on my way back to the junk yard hopping like a human on hot asphalt. I smelled the most wonderful smell in my whole life. Suddenly I was horribly hungry. I headed toward this amazing smell. As I got closer the smell got more inviting. I saw the most unusual thing! A soft cuddly blanket surrounded a small opening leading to FOOD! It was the most gooey, squishy, chunky, fishy thing I had ever seen. Just as I finished the last bite, I spotted more food further back. As I stepped forward I felt cold under my delicate soft paws. CLANG! The small opening now had a door over the entrance and I could not get out.  HISS!  I hissed in fear and demanded to know what was going on. I felt fiercely frightened. My ears pointed up like daggers at the night sky.

Two humans appeared and I heard them use the word trap. I was in their trap. They lifted the blanket and stared at me and one said, we have a tuxedo cat. That must be me. One human was a little girl with reddish hair and lips as red as a red rose. She was called Amanda. The other human was taller with blond hair. She had a big kind smile as she looked at me. Amanda said to the taller human, “Ms Sheri, his fur is black as night and his paws are white as snow.”

Placed in a Larger Trap

The humans carried the trap to a place they called a garage. The door of the trap was opened, but only to let me go into a much bigger trap. I soon discovered the larger trap had two floors. On the top was a clean soft blanket and great food.

On the bottom floor was a strange box with sand like stuff. Ms Sheri looked at me and told Amanda that I would know to use the box as litter.

I cried and hissed in fear, but each day my trap was cleaned and I was given new food and water. Amanda would sit by my trap after she fed me and read out of a cookbook, a new recipe each day. I guess she knew how much I loved food as I had always been so hungry. She told me I would be ok and not be hungry or cold again. I began purposely purring and felt happy.

One day when I knew I was safe, Amanda let me out of my trap into the room. She held me and told me my fur sparkled like diamonds and because I had gained weight, that I looked like an overgrown Oreo. I rubbed my head against her hand and purred like an earthquake.

My New Home

The next day Amanda and Ms Sheri told me I was ready for my foster home. I realized then I was like a ship that had wrecked when these humans found me. But now I was bathing in the lap of luxury and walking on air. A loud PURR escaped my mouth as I was filled with delight.

No Longer a Feral

I was a feral cat that was lost and had no home. A feral is a wild animal, one that has never lived with humans, or one that has been lost and becomes wild. There are many feral cats and The Humane Society tries to save as many as they can. I hope my brothers and sisters are as lucky as me.

Amanda has gone on to help other feral kitties. She was able to pass Princess on to Emma and Allysa Cave, young ladies slightly older than Amanda, who also foster cats for HSFC. Emma and Allysa let Princess sleep with them, taught her to play with dogs and now she is ready to meet her new family. Princess is hoping you will come see her in her new gold room at the HSFC shelter!!!