On most evenings I walk to Zabeel park in Karama in an attempt to lose weight . Not there yet but well on the way . If you have visited this park you would  have  noticed that there are plenty of cats all around . Thin ones, fat ones , black ones , white ones , striped ones – have never seen a spotted one though . Now that would be something to write home about .

You would have also noticed that there are many good Samaritans  who go around the park feeding them . Not sure if this is against some rules or not  but the cats are happy . They seem to recognize the “regular feeders” and charge towards them as soon as they spot them . They are quite friendly and wait patiently till the food is put out – then they devour it and quickly look up for more morsels if any .

As a young lad I always had a dog and cats were anathema to me . However  all that changed one fine day after I came to Dubai.

 

" Can you hear someone in the hall room? " says the wife

 

" No I can't " , I replied - pulling the cover over my head and turning over . -

 

Wife " Sounds like there is a cat in the house - go and check "

 

Me'' Go check and  chase it out yourself - your fault for leaving the window open "

 

And then the fight almost started - but then I am the peaceful sort of guy .......!!

 

For goodness sake it was 11 pm and I had work the next day. However I got up - the "HE MAN" - ready to kill the cat - or to put it in the correct perspective- chase it out and get back to bed !

 

I walk towards the hall, conjuring up images of a large fierce cat with large glowing eyes - tail waving in anger- ready to pounce on me   .

 

" Be careful you don’t get scratched " says the voice from inside .

 

" Uff - let it be", I reply – half in fear and half in disgust .

 

I look around ........

 

There- beaming- stands my daughter , pointing to the sofa .

 

I rub my eyes- I can't see a thing amongst  the cream cushions and I had not put on my spectacles either  . There was  a pregnant silence .

 

Then I see it - a little ball of cream fluff - a kitten- it was snuggled up and staring at me - almost defiantly with its  little beady green eyes

 

Do I chase it out , do I scream , do I kill it ?. I had promised to do all this and more every time the topic had been broached in the past .

 

Now here I was and it was the  time of reckoning - We stared at each other ( the kitten and me )

 

Then I made a move - I went forward , picked it up and kissed it .

 

"Her name is Chanel  " Says my daughter

 

" What ?? " say I .

 

" No it's not - its Kitty - maybe let’s call it baby or munchkins, or Little one " Say I

 

Why was I even discussing a name when we were not keeping it in the first place? Silly me .

 

" There is the litter box- This is the  box  in which she will sleep - this is her food - her plate - her covering - she will sleep here " says my daughter .

“Who asked you to get a cat in the first place “ say I  

 

The wife enters the room . She smiles at the kitten and looks at me . “So” she says .  Obviously she had known about this and hidden it from me .

 

" Did I just see the kitten smile back at her  ?"

 

All three exchange knowing glances and I am the odd one out . My elder daughter had now joined in – “ so cute and cuddly “ says she .

 

" Don’t make any plans " I try and sound as aggressive as possible . “ I will get rid of her in the morning “ I left the room and went to bed .

 

There is a little whining ( from the cat ) . The wife and daughters whisper – there is laughter - then silence . All three were obviously happy I had left the scene

 

I wake early and go in search of the kitten .

 

She is awake and she looks imploringly at me, almost willing me to pick her up and hug her .

 

My heart melts . I do the unthinkable – I tickle her and pick her up . She seems to enjoy it .

I hurriedly put her down and plan my next move

 

She comes running to me - mewing .

 

" Come to dada " , I say and pick her up .

 

"Dada" ?? What the hell is wrong with me . I am supposed to be getting rid of this little creature . That was the plan . I am a no nonsense sort of guy. No cats in this house I say to myself

I put her down and give her some food and sit there while she first sniffs at it for a few moments and then begins eating . I will get her out of the house before the others wake – that’s final

 

More than a year has  gone by and she is  still with us – very much part of the family . With 2 daughters and a wife I now have three females to contend with.

 

I play with her daily- many times a day . She  likes me and crouches every time I look and try and scare her  . She enjoys rough play - nibbles on my fingers and toes and comes running to greet me  as I enter the door .

 

I say bye when leaving for work and she is the first thing I look for when I return .

 

Today I lay on the carpet and she  was all over me and we played and we had fun. I certainly did .

 

I feel relaxed and very amused .

 

While I key in these memories she is on my lap- cuddled up and fast asleep.

 

I guess we have a pet and YES we are going to keep her for as long as we can .