Hello,
My name is Jacqueline and I'm a very proud grandma.
I write stories from my grandchildren and I'm very happy to share them with you too.
So if you're ready,
Make yourself comfortable because my next story is about to begin.
Kelty and the kittens Kelty and her little dog Duggee were out playing in the forest by her house when they heard a cat meowing.
Kelty looked around but couldn't see any sign of a cat,
But the meowing continued.
Duggee,
Where do you think that cat could be?
Asked Kelty.
It sounds as if it needs help.
Kelty followed the sound of the cat's cries and found it was coming from a big prickly bush nearby.
Looking into the bush,
She saw a grey cat peering up at her with a sad look on its face.
Meow,
Meow,
Cried the cat.
Kelty noticed that the cat was tangled in the brambles and couldn't get out.
Duggee,
Stay back while I try and free this cat,
She said,
And set to work as carefully as she could to pull the brambles away and create an opening for the frightened cat to get through.
Eventually Kelty succeeded and luckily did not scratch herself too much.
She held the final piece of bramble back and the grey cat jumped through the opening.
Duggee went over and sniffed the cat,
Who didn't seem to mind at all.
In fact,
The cat rubbed against Duggee as if to say hello.
As Kelty watched the animals,
She noticed the cat was wearing a collar which had a tag hanging from it.
She knelt down and immediately the cat came over to her.
Kelty looked at the tag which seemed a bit worn out.
All she could read was the name Susie and a few numbers,
Probably a phone number,
She thought,
But most of them had been rubbed off.
Kelty stroked Susie as she said,
Come home with me and I will see if my mum knows what we can do to find your owner.
Kelty stood up and started walking back towards her house,
Hoping that Susie would follow her.
The grey cat was very friendly and appeared to like Duggee.
As Duggee walked behind Kelty,
Susie followed.
Arriving back at her house,
Kelty went into the kitchen where her mum was preparing dinner.
Hello Kelty,
Mum said glancing up as she peeled the potatoes.
Did you have fun with Duggee?
Yes mum,
Kelty replied,
And we found a new friend.
Oh,
Exclaimed Kelty's mum just as Duggee walked into the kitchen followed by Susie.
What a pretty cat.
She was tangled in a bramble bush,
Explained Kelty.
I managed to free her and only got a couple of scratches on my hands and arms.
The tag on her collar says Susie,
But most of the telephone number has been rubbed off.
How can we find her owner mum?
Kelty's mum dried her hands on a tea towel and thought for a moment.
You can put a card in the corner shop window,
She said,
And I can phone the local vets to see if anyone has reported her missing,
But all that will have to wait until tomorrow because they are closed now.
In the meantime,
You should wash the dirt from those scratches before they become infected.
Kelty went over to the sink and washed her arms and hands.
What shall we do with Susie tonight?
She asked,
Happy that the scratches had not left too many marks.
We'll keep her here overnight and tomorrow we can hopefully reunite her with her owner,
Replied her mum as she bent down and stroked the purring cat.
Kelty dried her hands and glanced up at the clock on the wall above the sink.
It's Duggie's dinner time,
She said.
Shall I give Susie some of Duggie's food as we don't have any cat food?
Yes,
Replied mum.
It won't hurt her for one night.
I'll get some cat food tomorrow for her if we can't find her owner.
That night Kelty settled Duggie into his dog bed in the kitchen and then went upstairs to get herself ready for bed,
With Susie following behind.
When she had finished in the bathroom Kelty went into her bedroom and there was Susie curled up on Kelty's pillow.
Don't you want to sleep downstairs with Duggie?
She asked as she climbed into bed and snuggled with Susie.
Susie purred loudly.
You really have made yourself right at home here,
Kelty said as she stroked the contented cat.
Not long after the two new friends had fallen fast asleep.
The next morning Kelty woke to find Susie was no longer on her bed.
She went downstairs and into the kitchen and there she saw the cat curled up with Duggie in his bed.
They looked so comfortable together and Kelty couldn't help but smile.
Duggie woke first and ran over to Kelty and within seconds Susie ran over to join them.
You two are so cute together Kelty said as she made a fuss of both animals.
After breakfast Kelty's mum phoned the vets to see if anyone had lost a cat and Kelty went to the corner shop and put a card up in the window which read,
Found pretty little grey cat very friendly.
Please phone 423 1678 for more details.
But no one had reported a missing cat or knew of anyone having lost their pet so Susie settled nicely into life with Kelty and her family.
A few weeks passed by and Susie seemed quite contented and also seemed to be putting on a little weight.
Are you giving Susie too much food Kelty?
Asked her mum one afternoon.
She does seem to be getting a little belly on her.
I'm only giving her what the man in the pet shop suggested mum,
Answered Kelty.
I don't understand why her belly is growing because she runs outside with Duggie several times a day.
Well we will just have to keep an eye on her and make sure she isn't eating anything secretly,
Said her mum.
Maybe cut down on the treats you give her,
That might help.
A couple of nights later Kelty was woken by a strange sound.
It seemed to be coming from under her bed.
It sounded like Susie meowing but this noise was much quieter and almost a squeaky sound.
Kelty looked at her bedside clock.
It was three o'clock in the morning.
She snuggled back down in her bed and pulled the warm covers under her chin and tried to ignore the strange sound.
But there it was again and Kelty could no longer ignore it.
She climbed out of bed and switched on her bedroom light.
Getting down on her hands and knees she looked underneath her bed.
She could just about see Susie under there,
Lying on top of a towel Kelty must have pushed under the bed after her bath last night.
Susie!
Whispered Kelty.
Are you okay?
Susie had her back to Kelty and seemed to take no notice of her.
Kelty grabbed the torch she kept in her bedside table drawer and switched it on.
Shining the torch under her bed she could see Susie and curled up with her were three tiny newborn kittens.
No wonder she had been getting a little belly on her.
Kelty went into her parents bedroom and as quietly as she could she woke her mum.
Kelty's mum put her finger to her lips as she got out of bed and motioned to her daughter to be quiet so as not to wake her dad.
Back in Kelty's room Kelty pointed to Susie and the kittens under her bed.
Well that explains why she was putting on weight said Kelty's mum smiling.
Well Susie seems to have everything under control here so let's leave her until the morning.
Okay mum agreed Kelty.
This is very exciting.
Yes it is agreed her mum.
Now get back into bed and try and get some more sleep.
The next morning Kelty and her mum moved Susie and the kittens into the kitchen and put them into a large box so they stayed safe together.
Duggee was the proud uncle and would peer into the box every so often to make sure the new family were doing okay.
Later that day the phone rang.
It was a lady called Jean who had seen the card about Susie in the corner shop window.
Susie was her cat.
Jean had been away on holiday to a meditation retreat where no connection to the outside world was allowed.
Her friend who had been looking after Susie was unexpectedly taken ill and landed up in hospital.
Unable to get hold of Jean and not knowing anyone in the area the friend had no choice but to leave Susie to fend for herself.
But luckily Kelty had found her for which Jean was very grateful.
Kelty's mum told Jean their address and immediately Jean came round.
Kelty explained to her how she had found Susie and about the kittens.
Jean could tell that Susie was happy and loved how protective Duggee was as he watched over the little family.
You have looked after Susie very well Kelty said Jean.
How would you feel about keeping her for good?
I am constantly away from home and always struggle with finding someone to look after her.
She seems to be quite content here and it would make me very happy knowing she was in a loving home.
What do you think?
Kelty looked over at her mum and asked,
Can I mum?
Kelty's mum looked from her daughter to the little feline family in the box and chewed her lip thoughtfully for a second.
Looking at Jean she said,
Susie is a lovely cat and no trouble at all but we can't really keep her kittens.
I can find them home said Jean.
I had started to ask around when I discovered she was pregnant but I didn't realise she would give birth while I was away.
I am so happy she found Kelty to look after her.
Well that's settled then said Kelty's mum giving her daughter a big hug.
We would love to have Susie join our family and I know Duggee will be pleased to have a new friend to play with.
Thanks mum Kelty said hugging her mum tightly.
The kittens will have to stay with Susie for a number of weeks before they can go to their new homes said Jean.
Are you ok to look after them Kelty?
Of course exclaimed Kelty.
It will be fun.
Wonderful said Jean.
In the meantime I will find homes for the kittens.
I am so happy Susie has a new loving family to look after her.
Thank you both so much.
Duggee barked feeling a little left out of the conversation.
And thank you too Duggee said Jean bending down and stroking the little dog.
I am sure you and Susie are going to be the best of friends.
I hope you enjoyed my story.
Before you go I would like to ask you a question.
Have you experienced an animal having babies before?
Thanks for listening and come back soon for another story with Grandma.
Bye for now.
