The fine dust I was born on was under a house in downtown Natchez. My brothers, sisters and I quickly grew into a colony. This is known as a family of cats. We are ferals, which means we are wild. I don’t have a name, but this is my story.

Our black and gold mom ran out of breast milk. There was nothing to eat. Chaos quickly moved in. All six of us were starving. Mother scoured the neighborhood for food while we caught bugs and to no avail chased a few mice.

A blessed lady across the street had taken up the task of putting food out for whatever street animals were hungry. We quickly found the answer to nourishment.

Learning about cars and becoming adept at crossing the street to eat and getting back home safely was our next lesson.

The blessed lady feeding the homeless became overwhelmed since two cats had become eight. She discussed her fears with a good friend. He knew her struggles were real and handed her a bright orange slip of paper that read “Mississippi Spay and Neuter 601-866-901-7729.”

I hid under cars as the lady stepped outside. I started to talk to her in my feral language, which was a squeak instead of a meow. I followed her to the entrance of her door squeaking. She called me Marley Sage, and I rubbed against her leg. Just think, I finally had a name at 6 months old.

Things moved swiftly from this point forward. The blessed lady called the Mississippi Spay and Neuter office in Pearl. The kind, concerned people took her information. Vouchers to help with the cost of surgery were mailed. They suggested contact be made with an Adams County emergency team to get local help.

A dedicated friend of the Adams County private animal rescue division called the blessed lady as my family continued to search for food. The dedicated friend was highly organized and delightfully ready to help with the poor homeless cats. She asked the blessed lady to call the team of JoAnne and Ed Phipps, who were devoted to cat rescue.

The dedicated friend went on to explained that once trapped, the cats would be taken to the vet of the lady’s choice, which was Dr. Robbie Savant, for spaying and neutering. Each new owner would pay for a given a rabies shot and something for pain from the surgery. Dr. Savant’s staff of professionals was organized and ready for the delivery of the patients. After the vouchers were ready, the dedicated friend would try to raise donations to cover the remaining monies for the vet charges through a mass e-mailing.

The long-awaited call came from JoAnne and Ed Phipps. Within an hour, the two were on location. Professional at helping cats find loving homes after surgery; JoAnne took over and set up metal traps using canned food. Ed set up a table and two metal crates where the surgery patients would live for several days as they healed. The husband and wife team were pros at helping homeless cats.

From the street I poked my head around a car tire and watched all the commotion with no knowledge as to what was going on.

In a matter of minutes the lady’s patio was transformed into a rescue shelter and free-standing hospital.

The sun went down, and the lady did not put our food out as usual. When it was dark the ferals in my colony came to eat. Excited by the smell of the wet food in the especially designed cat traps, four of us found our way inside only to discover we could not get out.

Early the next morning, the blessed lady came out of her door. We were transported for a 7:30 a.m. appointment at Dr. Savant’s office.

The surgeries went fine, and by afternoon we were ready to go home. Three of my family members were put in the cages now filled with water and food. They would stay there until they healed.

I did not know the blessed lady had decided to keep me, but I was put in her house. I litter trained immediately and was introduced to Donna Harrison, a local animal specialist, who had responded to dedicated friend’s e-mail for help at our location.

The critical part of this operation had now begun. Finding homes for the three fixed ferals. News came the next day that a home was available for all three. It was a blessing for all who had worked so hard to save the homeless ones.

My life was saved by all the caring people who worked so hard and made donations. With my squeak, I thank you.

Loving homes like mine are desperately needed for our very own Natchez street cats.

 

Marley Sage — the cat — is the pet of Deborah Lewis Branton. Branton is a Natchez resident.