Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Isabel and her sassy rescue, Milly.

Helping Milly bring new life into this world was probably one of the most stressful and beautiful experiences I’ve had in all my years of being a cat owner. And having 5 adorable, energetic little furballs around while on a nationwide lockdown during the COVID-19 global pandemic turned out to be an absolute life-saver!

I’m a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason.” Although Milly’s pregnancy was totally unexpected and definitely unplanned, it turned out to be such an incredible chapter of our lives. One I cannot imagine not having.

Now let me tell you a bit more about the night Milly became a teen mom and I became a grandmother to Tommy, Shelby, Alfie, Basil, and Miley.

As you can see, it’s very hard to guess what series I watched, the foods I ate, and the music I listened to back then!

Accidental Impregnation

“So, how did Milly get pregnant?” you ask. Well, it was right after I graduated from University and Milly and I moved back home with my family to Johannesburg at the end of 2019. Milly came with me when I visited home as a student, so she was used to the space and knew everyone, including our 7 other cats, Chicky, Winsey, Smokle, Lulie, Nibby, Pumy, and Mimi. All of whom were spayed or neutered.

That December, I went to visit my fiance who was visiting his parents in Stellenbosch, Cape Town. Milly was around 9 months old at the time and still a little baby in my eyes. I knew a lot about cats at the time, but I definitely wasn’t the cat expert I am today. I wasn’t fully aware of how early you should spay or neuter cats. Ideally, one can start spaying female cats between 5 and 6 months of age.

I had just finished college, moved back home, and was planning on going on a well-deserved vacation. So, I just didn’t think of spaying her at that time. I told myself that I’d take her for a check-up and book the sterilization in the new year once I came back from holiday.

Too little, too late.

Sometime during that December, she snuck out (all our cats were outdoor/indoor cats, including her) and went and got herself pregnant with an unknown gentleman in the area. Most likely a stray cat. My parents live very close to a shopping center and there are apparently stray cats living in or around the parking lot.

A week or two later, my sister called and said Milly was acting unusually loveable and affectionate and they did see her come running across the street from the shopping center’s side a couple of nights. We obviously knew it was risky allowing her to roam freely while intact, so we did worry that she might have gotten pregnant, but I just really didn’t think she’d be that determined and eager to get pregnant within 2 weeks of being home and while not spayed.

Nonetheless, it was totally my fault. I should’ve been a more responsible cat owner in that scenario and should’ve spayed her much sooner. However, everything worked out fine in the end. No use in crying over spilled milk!

The Pregnant Cat Experience

So, after my sister phoned me, we were about 60% sure she might be pregnant. By the time I got home from holiday, we were certain. Milly was definitely pregnant.

It was hard to be sad or worried because she was the cutest little pregnant gal there ever was! Almost like she was on a pregnancy high. Her belly started to show and it looked so adorable. And her nipples were more prominent and pink. You could easily tell she was in her nesting era. She was so chilled and lovable. Milly isn’t the most affectionate cat, so it was such a blessing to have her be super cuddly and cutesy.

She also had an increased appetite and thirst and lower energy levels than usual, and she played less with all the other cats and wanted to be by my side the whole time. You don’t need to know me very well to know that it was a dream for me! And she looked really happy and healthy as well.

As you’ll see in the video, nearing the 3rd trimester, fetal movements were clearly visible and you could see the kittens moving and pawing around in her belly. We began to get really excited to bring mini-Millys into the world!

As time went on, she started looking for cozy spots around the house. She inspected every cupboard and drawer in every room in search of the perfect spot to have her babies. I helped her browse. My motherly instincts also went into overdrive seeing my little girl all pregnant and motherly. I wanted to make her as comfortable and content as possible! I think she definitely knew and realized quickly that she could rely on us to help her do this thing and we were going to be there for her every step of the way.

Getting Ready to Pop

Around mid-February 2020, many things were about to change. Milly was very pregnant at this point, I had to decide between getting a job or continuing my studies to become a clinical psychologist, and panic started spreading across the world about the coronavirus outbreak and a possible global pandemic looming.

We had a bet going and everyone guessed the due dates. I think I said 19 February if I remember correctly. I missed it by one day. On the 20th of February 2020, Milly went into labor in the afternoon. I knew because she was acting differently. She went from super pregnant and lazy to a girl on a mission real quick. She was pacing and focused and I just had a feeling that today was the day.

Naturally, I was in a much bigger tizzy than anyone else in the house, including Milly, the pregnant queen herself. I was pacing up and down, too. Looking for boxes, blankets, towels, and other supplies that we were going to need to ensure a smooth home birth.

My sister and I were self-appointed midwives and we took our job very seriously, although neither of us had ever helped a cat give birth, nor seen any cats give birth, so this was very new to both of us. Luckily, my dad is a dentist with a military medicine background, so having someone around with medical knowledge made us feel a little bit more at ease.

We were ready.

Milly Giving Birth: The Wildest Experience of My Life

Around 18:00, Milly was restless. Eventually, we found her in one of the several nesting spots we made for her. It was in my sister’s home office, so we decided to close it off, especially since the other cats were curious and we didn’t want anything to stress Milly out. It went from home office to feline birthing ward within the hour.

Between me and my sister talking, overthinking, worrying, asking hundreds of unanswered questions, and faffing over Milly’s comfort, and Milly pacing from one nest to the next, I’m sure no other person would have been able to be in that room with us. It was controlled chaos. Me, the most dramatic person in the family, my sister, basically a calmer but equally passionate version of me, and my teen mom-cat giving birth on a Friday night.

Around 20:00 she was having contractions, and that’s when things got a little intense. Milly is a small cat in general and she was still young. She looked at us like, “I don’t know what I’m doing here, please help!” but we weren’t sure how much she wanted us to intervene or when helping turns into disrupting. It’s a natural process driven by instincts and we didn’t want to overwhelm, distract, or annoy her, so that made things hard because she did look like she really wasn’t sure what to do or how to do it. Of course, to no one’s surprise, I was in full panic mode.

1 Kitten… 2 Kittens… 5 Kittens?!

After about 15 minutes of Milly having contractions and looking quite uncomfortable, we noticed a little cat paw sticking out of her. We were expecting them to be delivered head-first so we were a little worried, but turns out it’s quite normal. However, this was still a hectic start to the birthing process because it took a little long, and Milly paced up and down and vocalized while pushing the first kitten out, so emotions were high. We were worried and Milly was stressed. Still, we didn’t interfere too much or touch her, until we were forced to.

After another 15-20min, Milly was still struggling to get the first kitten out. The way she looked at us, I think she wanted us to help. With a clean glove on, my sister gently pulled Shelby out of the birth canal and into the world. Perfect, healthy, and cute as a button.

Another 20 minutes later came Tommy. Milly was also pacing around while delivering him, and she looked a little bit strained, but she pulled through and he was born. The placenta chewing was unusual to see but Milly didn’t have any problem with it; she did it like she knew exactly what must happen. I was like, “Wow, girl, how do you know how to do that?”

At this point we were like, okay, maybe there’s just two? Nope. Along came Alfie; he was a big boy. But by now Milly understood the assignment. She popped him out in the nesting cupboard this time (the first two were outside the cupboard, on the floor). Then some more time went by and Basil and Miley came out directly after each other. We like to think that they’re twins.

We waited another 30-40 minutes to see if there were more kittens coming, but thankfully, 5 was the lucky number. Milly delivered five beautiful, healthy kittens, and I was the proudest cat grandma ever. It truly was an unforgettable experience and I’m happy my sister and I shared it with Milly. So special!

Tips for Helping a Cat with a Home Birth

Prepare a Comfortable Birthing Area

• Set up a quiet, warm, and private space where your cat feels safe
• Use a large box, crate, or cupboard lined with lots of soft blankets or towels
• Set it up away from loud noises, other pets, and excessive foot traffic

Know the Signs of Labor

• Nesting behavior (your cat may start seeking out a spot of her own)
• Increased affection or withdrawal from people
• Restlessness, pacing, or excessive grooming, especially around the belly
• Decreased appetite and possible vomiting
• Visible contractions and panting

Support Without Interfering As Far As You Can

• Cats are instinctive mothers and usually don’t need help, but be nearby in case of complications
• Speak in a calm, reassuring voice and avoid excessive handling
• If a kitten is stuck, you can gently assist by grasping it with a clean towel or glove and pulling very gently in the direction of delivery

Watch for Normal Birth Patterns

• Kittens usually arrive within 20-40 minutes of each other.
• Mom will break the amniotic sac, clean the kittens, and eat the placenta and umbilical cord
• If she doesn’t, you may need to step in by gently breaking the sac and rubbing the kitten with a warm towel

Be Ready for Emergencies

• If over 40 minutes pass between kittens or she struggles for more than 10 minutes to pass one kitten, call your veterinarian
• Excessive bleeding, severe distress, or unresponsiveness in the mother requires urgent attention
• If a kitten isn’t breathing, try rubbing it gently with a warm towel to stimulate breathing

Post-Birth Care

• Ensure all kittens are nursing within the first couple of hours
• Keep the nesting area warm (around 85°F/29°C for the first few days)
• Watch for any signs of illness in mom or kittens (lethargy, refusal to eat, abnormal discharge, bleeding, etc.)

Tune in next time as I share a little bit more about the wild and wonderful journey of raising kittens during lockdown, watching Milly be the cutest mom, the difficult decision of putting two kittens up for adoption (together), and going through the heart-breaking experience of losing Tommy at the hands of a reckless driver when he was about 2 years old.

Till then,

Cheers vir eers!

(Cheers for now)

The post Quarantine Kittens: The Night I Became An Accidental Midwife for Milly (With Video) by Isabel Ludick appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Isabel and her sassy rescue, Milly.

Getting a tattoo should never be an impulsive decision. Getting a portrait tattoo is even more so a decision that should be thought through long and hard. Why? Because if the face on your skin doesn’t end up looking like the face on the reference photo, you just end up having a random face on your skin… Forever.

It’s no secret that tattoos are permanent (yet so many people make the same impulsive mistake) and the tattoo removal process is a lot more painful and complicated than getting the actual tattoo, which is already a pretty hefty endurance.

I decided to get a portrait tattoo of Milly because she is my soul animal. The bond between Milly and me is something that I haven’t experienced before. I’ve formed many beautiful bonds with cats and other animals in the past. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and growing up with around 17 cats, 9 dogs, and around 20 bunnies (not all at once), but what Milly and I have is magical.

I think it’s because it was the first time it was my decision alone to be an animal’s guardian, with no parental guidance. As some of you may recall, our paths crossed while I was a student. She was born in the back of my favorite bar, Die Mystic Boer (The mystic farmer). You can read that whole story here.

Also just having her around as a kitten while being a student was a blast. She lifted every gloomy cloud and comforted me while I was away from home and navigating becoming an adult. Being her caretaker, protector, and companion helped me in many ways. I will cherish those memories forever.

I can go on and on about how much I love Milly but that’s not why we’re here today. Let’s get back to the tatts.

The design

The first step is to research and visualize your design. Are you going for a realistic or artistic portrait? Or maybe you just want something more abstract like their paws or an animated outline of a unique feature or their fur pattern. Whatever it is you’re going for, make sure to get lots of inspiration and ideas that you like for the tattoo artist to create your design.

I wanted to get a semi-realistic portrait of Milly that reflected her personality and aura. She’s graceful yet quirky, wise but lazy, and a phenomenal hunter of flies and small defenseless animals. She is soft yet fierce, adorable yet sassy, and just downright mystical. She comes from the streets, so you definitely don’t want to mess with her, but she is also fully aware of how exquisite she is. Oh, and she doesn’t care about your problems.

My inspiration came from an AI-generated image we used for a cat star signs video on YouTube. Although Milly is technically a Purries (Aries), it was the Scorpurrio (Scorpio) image that caught my eye. I was mesmerized. The moment it jumped out on my screen I thought, “It’s giving Milly”. And the idea for the tattoo was planted!

The reference photo

The reference photo is very important. It has to encapsulate your cat perfectly. It truly needs to be the picture that speaks a thousand words.

I went through multiple photos every day trying to look for the right photo of Milly that would capture the right vibe. After careful consideration, I found it. It was a gorgeous photo that Milly’s dad took of her. It was perfect.

The size

Next up, pick your size. I can’t really help with anything here. This is 100% up to you. But remember, the smaller the tattoo, the less detail will be able to fit in. Tattoo lines have a natural tendency to thicken slightly over time so tattoo artists (good ones, anyway) will recommend the right detail-to-size ratio for your design.

Mine is 12.5 cm or just below 5 inches from top to bottom and 9cm or about 3.5 inches across.

The placement

Once you have your size you can start thinking about placement. This is low-key one of the most important steps. A bad placement can ruin a good tattoo. Also, there are other factors to consider: does your work allow visible tattoos, are you planning on getting pregnant soon (if yes, avoid tattoos on your stomach or back where the skin is prone to stretching, etc.).

Since it’s a tattoo of your beloved cat, I would imagine that you’d want it in a spot where you can see it and admire it frequently. You didn’t spend all that time, money, and pain management to not see it, right?! However, something else to consider here is the tattoo pain chart. Some types of skin and parts of the body are more sensitive and therefore more painful to get tattooed.

I got mine on the top outer part of my right arm, just below my shoulder. It took about 3 and a half hours to complete and the pain was (for me) like a 5.7/10 overall. Of course, some parts were more painful than others like the little umbrella that is over the beginning of my shoulder bone (very painful) and the shading of the darker parts like the eyes was also more painful because it needed to be “colored in” technically.

I have other tattoos so I knew what to expect but if this is your first tattoo, it’s hard to know how you’ll experience it. Some people have a higher pain tolerance than others, but overall it will be sore to some degree. It is little needles penetrating the skin over and over again at top speed for prolonged periods. It ain’t gonna be a walk in the park. But you’ll be fine!

The tattoo artist

The not-so-low-key most important part of this process.

Research, research, research. If you’re going with a portrait, look for someone who specializes in portraits, or more specifically, pet portraits. If you’re doing something more symbolic or abstract, you can just look for an experienced artist that matches the vibe you’re going for. Tattooing is an art form and it takes a lot of practice to become really good, especially with everyone’s skin texture being unique. Make sure the artist you choose has at least a couple of years behind the belt.

You’ll want to inspect their portfolios and past work carefully. Take your time here. Go through at least 5-10 different tattoo artists’ portfolios. Today, many artist’s work can be found online.

Once you’ve found your artist, contact them and express your interest. Have all your info on hand:

The price is subjective to what you think it’s worth at the end of the day. Some tattoo artists charge by the hour. This will vary from artist to artist but in most cases, it’ll be around the $100-$300 mark for a “good” artist. Some still rock it old school with pricing based on size and detail requirements.

For small tattoos, you’d probably be looking at $50-$300. For medium-sized tattoos, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$600 and for large tattoos (of course, depending on exactly how large you’re talking about) it can be anywhere from $600-$1000 and upwards.

Keep in mind, that these are rough estimates and your price will depend greatly on the location, artist, and design.

Final thoughts

I hope you find a good artist that can bring your ideas to life. Please share your tattoos with us if you do! We’d love to see your pet tatts and the stories behind them!

I’m incredibly happy with my tattoo of Milly. I literally couldn’t have asked for a better Milly portrait from Micheal Angelo himself. I love looking down my shoulder and seeing her little face. It brings back so many fond memories and reminds me of all the beautiful times we’ve had the pleasure of sharing.

I also boop her little nose to send air kisses to her when I’m on holiday and she’s with the sitter.

May your pet tattoo bring you as much joy as mine does to me! I’m so happy to have an eternal tribute to Milly, the Thunderkitten. I will lovingly carry her with me until the end of my days.

Catch you next month with another exciting cat parenting story. You don’t want to miss this one.

Spoiler: I’m sharing the story of when Milly accidentally got pregnant and had 5 little Milly’s during lockdown. It was wild and amazing.

Cheers vir eers!
(Cheers for now)

The post Getting A Tattoo of Your Cat: Everything You Need To Know by Isabel Ludick appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Isabel and her sassy rescue, Milly.

Dearest Catsters. I must apologize, I did everyone dirty and left you on a cliffhanger last month… Milly demanded my immediate attention as I missed dinner time by 33 seconds – a staggering new record. She was appalled, and I had to cut the story short. Forgive me.

Good news – I fed Milly on time today! She’s bathing in the sun, all fat and sassy, so I can continue sharing the story of my 10-stage, panic-infused travel journey with Milly from Johannesburg to Cape Town and how I helped her to settle into her new home.

If you missed the previous article, you’ll need to follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss another wild adventure story of me cat-parenting Milly, the cutest, sassiest cat in the southern hemisphere! You can also read it here.

As I Was Saying, Panic Mode 10 Ensued…

The flight was intense. For me, this was because I worried myself sick about Milly and ugly cried almost the entire duration of the flight. For her, this was because she was in the cargo hold of the plane and had no clue what was going on, where she was headed, how long the journey would be, or if she’d ever see the light of day again for 2 straight hours. That’s rough.

When I landed in Cape Town, we had a bit of a struggle to find the cargo department as it was outside the regular terminal and you needed to drive in between what felt like the underbelly of the airport. It made my anxiety worse because I kept thinking, “Milly is here somewhere! What?!”

Nonetheless, we found her, safe and sound. Someone from Global Paws took us to a back room that closed completely so we could transfer her to her other carrier safely. As expected, she was scared, confused, and a little hesitant to climb out once we opened the metal door of the airline carrier. She even seemed a bit lethargic, which indicated to me that she really didn’t have a nice time.

I felt extremely guilty and angry with myself for being the facilitator of this uncomfortable experience she had to endure. But at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do.

Mily’s First Few Days in Cape Town

Once we arrived home, we immediately took her to the dedicated nesting room (our bedroom), closed all the doors and windows, and shut the curtains so it was nice and dark. Milly’s dad lovingly prepared the room before our arrival so it was stocked with the Cat 101 necessities. I only realized a couple of days later that plastic bowls aren’t ideal as they harbor bacteria, and the litterbox was a tad too small at first, which deterred her from using it. So, make sure you get the right gear for your cat. Catster can help you with that!

The first day, she spent most of the time under the bed or in the cupboard; this is normal. Cats like dark, confined spaces as it makes them feel calm and secure. She didn’t eat or use the litterbox at all in the first 24 hours. She did, however, bake biscuits on our bed when we went to sleep, but then retreated back to the closet and slept in there. Which was totally okay, we just let her do her thing.

The next couple of days, we slowly introduced her to the rest of the house, letting her navigate the journey, moving at her own pace and what she felt comfortable with. We always kept the nesting room’s door open for her to retreat to when she heard something or got overwhelmed.

I’d say it took about 3 weeks for her to settle into the new space completely. There were many ups and downs and lots of learning throughout this whole process. I made a whole 21-day vlog if you’re curious to learn more and see how Milly settled in day by day. (Spoiler alert, everything worked out beautifully and she’s happier and healthier than ever before!)

Tips to Help Your Cat Settle Into Their New Space

Here are some quick tips on how to make the moving and settling-in process as comfortable for your cat as you can:

Always Allocate a Safe Space

Put yourself in your cat’s shoes and picture moving from their point of view. The unfamiliar smells, the new rooms, the sheer audacity of it all. Cats find change to be really hard and unsettling. Cats need a small, safe space to process the whole experience before they can really get comfortable and feel safe enough to explore the new home fully.

A safe space in a quiet area of the house is crucial. Make sure to stock it with all their basic needs and anything else that would help them feel at ease. Please be 100% sure that all points of entry are closed at all times in this room and be very careful when entering and exiting yourself (or other household members).

Let Your Cat Explore at Their Own Pace

Cats need to feel that they are in charge of their decisions and movements, it’s just part of their nature. They’ll tell you when they’re ready to explore beyond the borders of their safe nesting room by sitting in front of the door, being vocal in front of the door, following you to the door when you aim to pop out, etc.

Milly sat in front of the door nearing the end of the second day, so we decided to pick her up, open the door, and show her a brief peek into the living room. She looked with big, curious eyes and demanded to be put down at once. She wanted to explore on her terms.

She walked around a bit, peeped out the window, sniffed around the kitchen, and abruptly ran to her nesting room when a couple of kids ran up the stairs outside and she got a fright. I know, how rude. Nonetheless, it was a successful first step outside. Well, inside, but, outside her safe room.

Give Your Cat Plenty of Attention (But Not Too Much)

Milly loves attention, but she’s also a master of the art of “don’t touch me unless I ask for it.” So, I had to find the balance—giving her affection without overwhelming her.

I gave her a lot of love—when she wanted it. When Milly was seeking attention, I’d gladly offer pets, scratches behind the ears, some quality lap time, and of course, bum pats. But when she gave me “the look” or hid under the bed (her dramatic “leave me alone” signal), I respected her space.

Go with your cat’s flow – don’t be pushy!

Keep Their Routine as Normal as Possible

One of the most important things I learned was to keep Milly’s routine as consistent as possible. Cats thrive on routine, and Milly’s regular feeding schedule was not to be messed with. I didn’t change anything about her regular routine, even though everything else was new. I kept feeding her at the same times, and I made sure to spend time playing with her every evening. This consistency made Milly feel like at least *some* things in her world felt familiar.

Patience is Your Best Friend

This is the hardest one to admit: patience is key. The transition wasn’t instant. It took time. And Milly, being the queen she is, wasn’t in any rush to adjust. But slowly, I could see her becoming more comfortable. And that’s the thing—there’s no magic formula, just a lot of time and understanding.

I let Milly adjust at her own pace. I didn’t force her to explore, I didn’t push her to interact, and I definitely didn’t rush her into things. The best thing you can do is wait for your cat to feel ready.

Moving is tough, especially when you’re trying to make sure your cat feels comfortable during this process. Just remember, your cat will adjust in their own time. So, go ahead—give them their space, stick to their routine, and most importantly, *don’t mess with their dinner time.* Eventually, they’ll come around… and when they do, you’ll both be able to enjoy your new life together.

I hope this brings a smile and a bit of insight into your own moving adventures with your cat!

Catch me and Milly next month with another exhilarating cat parenthood story. Next up, everything you need to know about getting a tattoo of your cat! Yup, you read that right.

Cheers vir eers!

(cheers for now)

The post Milly’s First Days In Cape Town: Helping a Cat Settle Into a New Home by Isabel Ludick appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Isabel and her sassy rescue, Milly.

Flying is fun, exciting, and maybe a little bit nerve-wracking for some people. I mean, you are boarding a 442-ton metal contraption cruising through the sky at 580 mph roughly 40,000 feet off the ground – no biggy.

Flying can be really fear-inducing for some. I travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town quite often, so I’ve become used to it by now. Of course, I have my fears about traveling by air, but I wouldn’t say that I’m scared of flying. That was until I had to travel by air with Milly, my sassy rescue cat, while she was in the cargo hold…

Why Milly Had to Fly Cargo

Nothing quite stresses a cat owner out like discovering that at the time, all domestic airlines in South Africa didn’t allow cats to travel in the cabin of the aircraft, with the exception of service, psychiatric, or emotional support animals. I knew from the start that this would be an intense experience for the both of us, but discovering this information made me fully realize that this was going to be much more intense than I expected initially…

If you read last month’s article where I introduced myself and Milly, you’ll remember that I rescued Milly while I was a student in Potch (Potchefstroom) in 2018. This was in the North West Province, about 77 miles (124 km) from Johannesburg. We frequently drove to Joburg from Potch for the weekend to visit my family with Milly in the car. She eventually got used to that after multiple hellish trips, but that’s a story for another time.

Anyway, I graduated in 2019 and had to move back to Johannesburg with Milly. My partner (and Milly’s dad) lived in Cape Town, about 868 miles (1,396.7km) from Johannesburg. In 2020 (mid Covid-19 pandemic) I decided to move to Cape Town. I decided to go without Milly first, so I could find us a nice home and scope things out before bringing her over because I knew it wouldn’t be easy. So off I went.

Fast forward to 2022, I felt settled in and finally ready to import my little rescue cat from Joburg. I missed her terribly and although I went to visit her a couple of times during these two years in Cape Town, I longed to have her by my side and see her every day. Yes, I am obsessed.

I booked one ticket from Cape Town to Johannesburg and two tickets back to Cape Town, one for me and one for Milly. I used PetLounge, a division of BidAir Cargo. Their reviews were better than some of the other pet transport companies I researched and their prices didn’t make me want to cancel the whole mission completely, so I went with them. They were really friendly and caring and even offered me tissues when I cried hysterically throughout almost the whole process.

The Flight: A Tale of 10 Panic Modes

Our flight was around 8 am and it was recommended to arrive 2 hours prior. Milly, my father, and I arrived at the airport at 6 am. It was still dark and very quiet at Lanseria International Airport (it’s a smaller airport in Joburg). It was spooky being there so early, and we were the only people in front of the Pet Lounge. The consultant arrived a couple of minutes after us.

Oh, and Milly almost escaped from her carrier when we climbed out of the car, so we started off great! The crying commenced here. Panic mode activated. Luckily, she had her harness on. So when she succeeded in pushing the roof of the carrier just high enough for the little white door to jump out of its compartment and fling wide open, I could hold her close while I tried to MacGyver the carrier to hold until we got inside of the Pet Lounge. Thankfully, she isn’t a runner. But Milly in an open carrier in the dark, misty airport parking lot is enough to make me nearly pass out. Which thankfully I didn’t. Not even when I saw her get loaded into the cargo hold through the airport windows.

We managed to get both of us safely inside the Pet Lounge. My dad wasn’t allowed in because it was still Covid-19 and he forgot to grab his mask at home. (Do you remember the masks? It actually just feels like a fever dream now…)

Panic Mode: 5/10

Anyway, I proceeded to fill out all the forms, and we transferred Milly from her regular carrier into the aircraft-certified pet carrier so we could weigh the whole shebang. She was in mild distress during this whole process, which took about 45 minutes. I was in 5/10 panic mode at this point. The aircraft-certified carrier was nice and big with huge locks and things, so that made me feel a little more at ease. It was fitted with puppy pads and a bowl for water. No food.

Panic Mode: 6/10

After all the formalities, we got to chill in a closed-off, air-conditioned room with a couch and access to an outdoor area with grass. Cats also had a little room with litterboxes, which Milly had zero interest in. One of the consultants gave my dad a disposable mask so he could come inside and be with us. The guy probably saw me slowly moving into 6/10 panic mode and thought I could use the moral support.

At this point, Milly was just alternating between nervously pacing around the room, sitting underneath a table, and accompanying me on the couch for brief windows of time before starting to pace again. She also panted occasionally, which meant that she was very stressed. This, of course, made me very stressed, which made her more stressed because she sensed my stress, which then made me more stressed in return. Loads of fun.

Panic Mode: 7/10

I tried to take her outside to see if she wanted to pee on the grass (she prefers grass over litter) but it was dark and gloomy and I saw some openings in the fence and I just decided it was a hard “NOPE.” Milly hadn’t done her business at this point. She was scared and confused, obviously. So, I was worried about that, too. It preluded panic mode 7/10 beautifully, just in time for the consultant to come into the room and announce that it was time to load Milly and get onboard.

Panic Mode: 8/10

Panic mode 8/10 came earlier than anticipated, and let me tell you why! I now had to leave Milly in a container with strangers and go board the flight. All I could think of was how scared, confused, and overwhelmed she must have been, especially when she didn’t see me outside the metal door anymore. Of course, every single worst scenario played out in detail in my head while I walked to my boarding gate, ugly crying all the way.

Airports are extremely loud places, and cats have a good sense of hearing. I just know Milly was going through the absolute most. I felt guilty and worried and annoyed at everyone gawking at me carrying an empty carrier (the one she arrived in and almost escaped from) and sobbing like a child.

I stood in the queue to board the plane and watched the cargo truck stop and offload a couple of items by the plane. Prams, wheelchairs, and Milly! I recognized the airline-certified carrier, and there weren’t any other pets on this flight. It was her. My pofhoendertjie (one of my many Afrikaans nicknames for her, which loosely translates to fuzzy chicken).

Panic Mode: 9/10

You guessed it, panic mode 9/10 activated. I couldn’t hold back my tears. A couple of people actually asked me if I was okay. Bless their hearts. I was, in fact, not okay. The flight wasn’t long, roughly 2 hours, which felt like seven. I just watched a reality show (my guilty pleasure) and tried my best not to make overly loud sobbing sounds while I gently cried throughout the entire flight.

Panic Mode: 10/10

Finally, we landed in Cape Town and my heart yearned for Milly. To hold her, comfort her, and see if she was okay. I basically sprinted off the plane and out of the arrival gates and met up with my partner. We now had to locate Milly somewhere in Cape Town International Airport. It was at the cargo department, where regular flyers seldomly go. You wouldn’t believe it, but panic mode 10/10 had actually made its way to the party during this search for Milly.

You’ll have to tune in next time to hear the rest of this story and how long it took for her to settle into a completely new home and life. If you’ve actually read this far, well done, and thank you! You can catch a new story from me and Milly every month on Catster.com.

Cheers vir eers!

(cheers for now)

The post Cats Flying in Cargo: A Nightmare For the Cat & Owner by Isabel Ludick appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Isabel and her sassy rescue, Milly.

Hi, Catsters! My name is Isabel Ludick and I’m the Marketing Director here at Catster. You may also recognize me from the Catster YouTube channel. I’m a certified cat lover and I’m so excited to share my experience as a lifelong cat owner with you all.

I’ve been a cat lover since I can remember. My family has always had cats, dogs, bunnies, and fish, and although I love all animals deeply, cats have always been my absolute favorite animal and pet. When I was a kid and adults asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I used to say, “A cat, of course!”

Now, please allow me to introduce my sassy rescue cat, Milly.

Milly is my beautiful, six-year-old white/tabby cat. She’s a domestic shorthair and her cuteness is unmatched. Let me tell you the story of how we met and instantly became best friends.

The year was 2018. I studied Psychology and English at the North West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa.¹ Even though I’ve always had cats growing up, I’ve never had a cat of my own. As a student, living on my own for the first time, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to rescue a cat.

I asked my boyfriend (now fiance), “Can we please go to the shelter this weekend to play with the cats and maybe we can bring one home?” He, never having cats (or pets) growing up, said, “Sure, why not!” Such a keeper. We planned our shelter visit and we were both so excited! A couple of days before we were supposed to go, a friend of his called him and said that he rescued a litter of kittens that was born in the back of the bar where he worked. The bar was called Die Mystic Boer (the mystic farmer) and it just so happened to be my favorite bar in town!

The friend said that he had already found good homes for almost all of the kittens, but he had one left, and no one seemed interested in her because she wasn’t as pretty as the other kittens. What are the chances? In the same week I decided that I wanted a cat, a friend called us and said he had one. It was fate. I had to go meet this little unwanted kitten born in the back of my favorite bar.

We went to his house that day and walked into his enclosed room to find the smallest little kitten with the dirtiest little mouth hiding between his shoes in the closet. My heart instantly melted and I dropped to my knees. She was very scared and a little feral so I knew I had to take my time. Luckily, being well acquainted with cats, I knew how to introduce myself. It took about an hour until she finally sniffed my hand. From that moment we both knew we’d be best friends forever.

I stood up, we drove to the nearest pet store and bought a cat carrier, a soft blanket, food and water bowls, a litterbox, and cat litter. We went back to the friend’s house, gently picked her up, and placed her in the carrier. She was coming home with me.

I couldn’t understand why no one would want her, she was the cutest, dirtiest little street cat I had ever laid eyes on. I named her Milly. I took her to the vet that next morning for a general checkup and to get her first vaccinations. The vet said she was about 4 weeks old and very malnourished. She probably only had bar scraps to eat in her first few weeks of life. We’re not sure if Milly was perhaps the runt of the litter and didn’t get any milk. The vet gave me everything I needed to nurse her back to health and that is exactly what I did.

Fast forward to today, six years later, she’s the happiest, healthiest, sassiest little cat in Cape Town and I love her more than life itself. All those people who turned her down can eat their hearts out because look at her! She’s so beautiful I can cry (and I do sometimes). Just kidding. I did cry many times in our journey together at the thought of us never meeting. Where would she have been today if I didn’t find her? I don’t even want to know.

All that matters is that we did find each other.

I really do believe that fate brought us together and it brings me so much joy to share our story with my fellow Catsters! We have many more stories to share, of our journey getting to know each other in Potchefstroom, moving back home to Johannesburg after I graduated, meeting all our other cats, becoming a mom cat (by accident), moving cross country to Cape Town in an airplane, living on a golf course, becoming a YouTube star and so much more.

Stay tuned!

The post Introducing Milly the Sassy Rescue and Her Owner Isabel (with Video) by Isabel Ludick appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.