A Butterfly

In my heart, I knew Waxy was no longer alive but I called for her anyway. A butterfly came fluttering and went to a pile of dry food. I’ve left many piles of cat food, but no butterfly was ever interested. It stayed there long enough for me to go get a camera and record it. I knew it was Waxy; I knew it the moment the butterfly appeared. She always said “Goodbye”. The third-floor lady opened her window and waved. She said Waxy had died about three months ago. “One morning, I call and call but I no see her.”

Kelly Koh’s kittens stay behind a door with a small hole

Kelly Koh went down the stairs to feed her kittens. There were only two. They get in and out of the abandoned ground floor unit through a hole under a green door. The door was locked and I know the man who lives on the second floor keeps his tools there. The kittens were playful and many tourists stopped to take photos from afar. Whenever someone approached, they quickly ran back inside. They came back out whenever Kelly Koh told them it’s feeding time.

Kitten Trapped by a Brick

The guy who keeps his tools behind the door approached

I went back up stairs and recorded them eating, playing and tumbling. They were so cute. Kelly Koh’s such a good mommy. Kenric came out with his coffee and watched them with me from above. The second-floor guy who keeps his tools there approached the green door. One kitten quickly ran back inside and he kicked the other one away. He used the brick to block the hole again and closed the door. I was thinking if he didn’t want the kittens inside, why was he closing the door when that kitten was trying to run out.

The Monster

I grew up in a market and have seen many cruel treatments of stray cats and dogs and I know people here routinely poison and drown them, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight of a man violently stomping on a weeks-old kitten’s head. It is something I can never forget. Once we realized what he was doing we shouted for him stop, and when he tossed the body outside, Kenric ran downstairs. When the kitten screamed in pain, that monster stomped on it again. Kelly Koh was steps away watching and pacing back and forth. That monster was going for the other kitten. I knew then why the brick was placed there. It was to block them from coming out that morning and why Kelly Koh had only two kittens left. That fucking monster.

He denied killing the kitten

Danijela

Last year, I had searched online many times for a cat rescue and sanctuary in Kotor but there was nothing official. All I found were articles or blogs about people who were helping the cats out of their homes but were tapped and couldn’t take on any more cats. We searched again and after about an hour, I came across a comment that said while there are multiple souvenir shops that called themselves Cats of Kotor, or variations of that, the only shop owner that actually helps the cats with food, medical needs and general welfare is Danijela – the owner of Kotor’s Cats.

More research, and I found her storefront. It’s very close to the North Gate. Kenric and I sometimes leave food for the big group of cats that she cares for. Some of them hang out in the store, but most of them entertain tourists who sit on the benches or play with them under the trees. Danijela was at the store and I told her what happened.

She knows the Monster

Danijela was very upset and asked if I had a picture of the man. I showed it to her and she said she knows him. She couldn’t believe that he killed the kitten. She said she had been there to give medicine to Kelly Koh’s kittens and one of them, with a severe herpes problem, had been very sick and perhaps it was the lifeless body of that particular kitten the man was carrying away. I showed her the video timestamped 10:27 am of the two kittens playing and a photo of the lifeless body taken at 10:29 am. She said she would talk to him. I repeatedly told her that I didn’t want to create any trouble for anyone and that I’m afraid her confronting him will only make him more angry at the cats.

Can You Care for the Kitten

I asked if she could care for the kitten for the six weeks we’ll be in Sarajevo. When we return in November, we’ll get him neutered and he’ll be on his own from then on. I later learned that cats here are sterilized only when they are six months old. In the US, spaying or neutering can begin around the second month.

A tourist came in and started telling Danijela that there’s a kitten with a broken leg nearby. Danijela said that kitten was abandoned just days ago, and is too weak for surgery and probably will not recover to point where it’s strong enough for one. She said people just dump their cats here when their cats get sick or injured. She pointed at a little grey tabby recovering from an eye infection. I don’t recall if the tourist bought anything or contributed to Danijela’s donation tub.

Danijela has lost her lease

Danijela told us that if she were to take the kitten, she would have to bring him home because the landlord of her shop will not be renewing her lease (after 27 years). She will have to vacate by the end of November. She was already stressing out about what would happen to the many cats she’s taking care of and she knows if she’s not around as often, the cats will be even more mistreated, especially by the locals. I felt really horrible for dumping this on her, but Kenric and I know that the monster will kill the kitten if he has the chance.

We Must Teach Him to Eat

Danijela had a plan for us – to drop off the kitten two days later (the morning before we leave), but we must teach him to eat solid food within those two days. She suggested we feed the kitten ground beef. To our surprise, the kitten did immediately gnaw on the lump of ground beef we bought.

That afternoon, we brought him to the same vet where we brought Waxy last year and who is also Danijela’s vet. The vet recognized us. I asked him to give the kitten a shot for herpes, but he said if we won’t be here in 30 days for his next shot, there was no point. I told him a shop owner named Danijela will bring him for the follow-up shots. He agreed to administer the shot along with a vaccine and deworming medicine.

Kelly Koh

The neighbor is not surprised the the Monster killed the kitten

When we returned to the apartment after dinner, Kelly Koh was still on top of the cabinet. Things from the windowsill had also fallen onto the floor. She must’ve come down to check on her kitty. When I saw the nice couple from the third floor coming home, I brought them in to see her. She loves them but she didn’t respond to them at all. The wife told her husband that Andre had killed the other kitten that morning. That monster’s name is Andre. The husband was sad but not surprised. I told them that Danijela would take the kitty. They know who Danijela is and were relieved.

The next day, I used the mop to shove Kelly Koh off the cabinet and to guide her out of the apartment. She immediately ate the food left outside. Once she was done, she went down the stairs calling for her babies.

An Escape Attempt

Later, we brought the kitten out so that they could spend some time together. He immediately ran to his Mommy and crawled between her legs. The reunion was beautiful and heartbreaking. Kelly Koh went up the narrow stairway that goes up the hill. She looked back at her boy. We watched the little one struggle to climb each step and thought it was good practice for him. Suddenly, Kelly Koh ran to him, opened her jaws wide and was ready to carry him by the back of his neck. I shouted for Kenric to stop her. Kenric managed to grab the little one. The disappointment and sadness on Kelly Koh’s face made me hate myself very much.

Kelly Koh continues to search for her babies

A Visit to the Vet

Shortly after 10:00 am, Kenric came out from the bedroom.

“Babe, I’ve already spoken with the vet he said he can spay Kelly Koh as long as she is not pregnant this Airbnb is booked but I found a studio for €15,00 and it’s only two minutes from the vet so we can stay there for two extra nights while she recovers at the vet then after we drop her off back here we get on the bus to Sarajevo.”

“I came out to poop.”

The vet is overworked and overwhelmed

Kenric took his allergy meds. I put on my winter coat for protection, and used a pair of jeans as gloves. After a long struggle, I shoved Kelly Koh into the tall laundry hamper and dropped her baby inside. We saw the third floor lady on the way out. I told her, “Doctor. Sterilize.” She nodded in relief. The doctor was very surprised to see us. “Right now?!” “Yes, because I may never catch her again.” He asked what would happen to the kitty. I told him that a shopkeeper named Danijela will take him. Yes, we had that conversation the day before. The doctor was just so overworked and overwhelmed.

Just Thirty Euros

As discussed with Kenric, I told the doctor that if Kelly Koh was pregnant, he should remove the fetuses and proceed to spay her. Letting her have another litter will only repeat the cruel cycle and add to her trauma. He thought about it but did not respond. Last year, he quoted me €60 over the phone to spay Waxy. His wife who actually performed the surgery charged €50. I told him we would like to prepay for Kelly Koh’s surgery. “Thirty Euros. I give you fifty percent discount. Just thirty Euros.”“Thank you very much.” That’s how much Danijela told me it would cost her when she insisted on being the one to neuter the kitty because this vet gives her a 50 percent discount.

The surviving kitten is getting stronger

He’s Just 5 or 6 Weeks Old

No one should be pregnant every two months.

Two customers came in and were oohing and ahhing about the cats. One asked to hold Little Kel. She fell in love with him, but said she couldn’t take him because she works on a cruise ship. She and her friend took many pictures with Little Kel and made a donation. I told Danijela that we were able to get Little Kel’s mother sterilized and will be picking her up when we leave. Danijela was very relieved. Wiping away tears, she said, “Now she can have a life. Now she can have a life. No one should be pregnant every two months.” My heart broke for all the other female cats.

Unsung Heros

I told Danijela that the vet gave me a 50 percent discount. She said she has known the vet since they were children. She says the vet always tells her to stop with the cat rescue thing because it’s overwhelming on her health and not appreciated by some locals in the Old Town. Whenever she brings her cats to him, he would immediately say, “I don’t know!” “Just look and tell me.” He would then check on the cats. What good friends. What unsung heroes.

Kelly Koh’s cries are haunting

Kelly Koh was silent during the 15-minute walk home. Once we let her out, she ate some food and then ran down the stairs calling for her babies. Kenric and I spent the afternoon cleaning the apartment. Kelly Koh spent the afternoon calling for her babies. That night, I did not sleep at all. Her cries were haunting and they were almost on a two-hour cycle. I thought without her baby calling back, she would quiet down, but she didn’t. I cannot imagine Kelly Koh’s pain of having her babies all gone one way or another. My heart breaks for all parents who have lost a child or have their children taken away.

I Will Never Forget

At 6:00 AM, I opened the door and she looked around for her baby. She was receptive to my scratches. Had I known she was less angry at me than the evening before, I would have come out earlier to accompany her. I thought she was still angry and I didn’t have the guts to face her. Kenric’s alarm went off and he started with our final packing. I was startled when I noticed the monster sitting on his second-floor windowsill. I will never forget how he stomped on the tiny innocent kitten, and I cannot stop worrying that he will poison Kelly Koh if she doesn’t stop crying for her babies.

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