Why Milo? – The Surprises Brought by a Little cat-1

Design Description:
This article adopts a warm and authentic style, starting with the story of my cat, Milo, to showcase our emotional journey during the pandemic and how an unexpected decision changed our lives. Through detailed emotional descriptions, it portrays my daughter’s anticipation, my hesitation as a mother, and the transformation of our family relationships after Milo's arrival. The goal is to convey the deep bond between pets and family, bringing warmth and inspiration to readers.

Chapter 1: A New Beginning – Why We Chose Milo

In March 2020, COVID-19 swept across the world like a fierce wind, disrupting the bustling scenes of cities. Soon, Toronto’s once lively streets, bars, restaurants, and schools were shut down, and children were forced to stay home. Every household was locked in its own little world. For children, the days off school weren’t filled with joy as expected, but instead with endless emptiness and loneliness. My daughter spent long days at home, and the dancing she once loved was replaced by endless hours immersed in video games.

My daughter often came up with various ideas out of boredom. One day, she excitedly ran to me, her eyes gleaming with anticipation: "Mom, let’s hatch a chick from an egg! My cousin hatched quail eggs, and they started laying eggs!" I couldn’t help but laugh but also felt a bit dismissive. I replied, "Raising chickens isn’t practical, and buying chicks would mean a long trip to the farm. Plus, most eggs we buy aren't fertilized and wouldn’t hatch." But my daughter’s enthusiasm didn’t wane; she gazed at the sky, deep in thought.

She had often mentioned wanting a kitten, but I had never agreed. Owning a pet meant responsibility, endless care, and commitment. Especially with a kitten, while they’re adorable, their litter box can smell strong, and they require significant time and energy. I remembered the animals I had cared for back in China for my son’s interest—most of the work fell to me: cleaning, feeding, and taking care of them. Thinking back, I felt hesitation and inner conflict.

One day, my daughter received a message from her friend and rushed over, excitedly shouting, “Mom, Mom! Charley’s mom said I can have a kitten! But they need your permission first!” Her voice was full of anticipation, her gaze filled with longing.

Seeing her bright little eyes, her hope and desire filled me with an irresistible warmth. The word “No” felt so heavy, stuck in my throat as if it was pressing down on my heartbeat. How could I extinguish this small flame of hope in my child? What could be more important than her hopes? No, I would regret it when she grows up.

My heart softened again, and I found an excuse for myself: "This way, at least she won’t be stuck playing games all the time." Still, a little unwillingly, I half-jokingly added, "The cat might live for many years. When you get married, you’ll have to take it with you." My daughter didn’t fully understand, but her face lit up with surprise, and she nodded enthusiastically, then kissed me on the cheek and shouted, "Yay! I’m getting a kitten!" At that moment, my son’s voice echoed from downstairs: "A kitten? That’s awesome, I support it!" His cheerful tone made me chuckle. Though he was in his twenties and seemed very tall, his excitement and support made him seem like the little boy who used to help us take care of cats.

I felt like the happiest mom in the world. I may not have wealth to leave them, but shouldn’t I share this little bit of kindness with them? Writing this, I had to pause and wipe away my tears.

We started preparing to adopt the cat. My daughter carefully selected a kitten from photos, but we never considered black cats. I had never seen a black cat back in China, and I thought the "Black Cat Detective" was a fictional color. Additionally, the Western superstition associating black cats with the number 13 made me feel indifferent to them. I had never planned to adopt a black cat.

I stubbornly encouraged my daughter to choose a black-and-yellow tabby from the photos. We didn’t know who the father was, only that the mother lived on a friend's farm. Unfortunately, there was a fire on the farm, and while the mother cat and some of her kittens survived, two did not. The kitten we had chosen was one of the victims. Eventually, we reluctantly agreed to take the only remaining kitten—a small black male cat that no one else had chosen. This became our Milo.

As the smallest son in his litter, he wasn’t as strong as his siblings and had to stay with his mother a little longer. His brothers and sisters were gradually adopted, and the kitten my daughter had been eagerly waiting for hadn’t arrived yet. The waiting days seemed to stretch on longer than usual.

When we finally received the kitten, I was surprised at how small it was—so small, it looked like a big mouse. It's a domestic short-air. Its tiny, squeaky sounds (it hadn’t yet learned to meow) were both pitiful and adorable. As soon as it entered the house, it shakily walked straight to my daughter, following her step by step. Watching it depend on her, my daughter was so excited she didn’t even stop to eat. But inside, I felt a twinge of guilt—did it know I wasn’t particularly looking forward to its arrival?

However, the moment I saw this charming little creature, it was no longer that unwanted abandoned baby. All my resistance melted away. Milo’s soft little body and adorable look captivated every member of our family. I realized that this wasn’t about the responsibility of owning a pet; it was about starting a new companionship and emotional journey.

As Milo’s story unfolds, our family continues to change in ways we never expected. Chapter 2 is just around the corner.