A baby kitten surprised me at my door on Thanksgiving evening six years ago. The kitten had been born in a drafty barn to a homeless mother and unknown father five weeks before. Tragedy struck early in his life as his mother was grievously injured, managing to make it back to her kittens moments before her untimely death. Seven kittens drank the tainted milk that she provided and only one survived, the strongest, loudest, and meanest, my Thanksgiving kitten.
The day Meeko was saved.
My mother found Meeko in the Pine Barron's of Southern New Jersey a day before she was scheduled to traveled 500 miles up the coast to Maine to spend Thanksgiving with me, Duke, and my then boyfriend, Jameson. She brought the lost kitten along, his tiny and fragile body wrapped in a wool sock with bottles of kitten formula by his side and a glimmer of hope in his eyes. My mother started her long journey without speaking a word of this kitten to me, knowing I would love the orphan no matter how feral his blood might have been.
I was so happy to meet my new family member.
I couldn't believe it when I opened my front door expecting my family only to be greeted by a tiny little meowing machine. Meeko didn't have a name yet but he had enough personality to make up for it. I instantly found a small hat to put him in and tied it around my neck so that I could keep an eye on him as people rushed around to make Thanksgiving dinner. Because Meeko's Mother passed away when he was only five weeks old he needed to be fed with a bottle and constantly watched.
Meek wears his sunglasses at night.
Duke instantly loved his new buddy and started licking Meeko's face when they were introduced. Duke raised Meeko and loved him as a member of the pack. He raised him with distinct values... never stop barking/meowing, hit them with puppy dog eyes and a paw to get unlimited treats, there is no such thing as too much food, and never let the mailman leave without a hassle.
Best friends.
Meeko received his name from his tiny little meek meows and traveled with us as a family where ever we went. He moved to five different apartments and three different states. Once, mistakenly running away in a fit of late night exploration. Surviving three days in the wilderness of the West End of Portland, solely on spiders and rainwater. Meeko was eventually sniffed out by his best friend Duke under a shed a block from home.
Me and Meek
Over the years Meeko has been a major part of my family. I am thankful for the fateful events that led to Meeko finding us even if they were tragic. He is feral at heart and slightly mad at times but I wouldn't take him any other way, even if he does need to be tranquilized when he goes to the vet and is horrified of the ducks outside of the living room window. He is the perfect friend for me and I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world or the next.
🖤 Annie