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Eendag, in 2008, toe ek af siek was van die skool, het ek 'n miaau geluid gehoor, terwyl ek in die bed gelê het. Die geluid was so aanhoudend en deurdringend, dat ek besluit het om ondersoek in te stel. Ek het oral gekyk, maar kon niks sien nie en die geluid het ook gestop. Sodra ek ingegaan het, het die gemiaau net weer begin. Ek het weer ondersoek gaan instel en sowaar, daarbo in die boom langs ons huis, sit hierdie kleine, swart en wit, wollerige gesiggie na my en staar.

Ek moes die muur uitklim om by die katjie uit te kom. Hy was baie bang, maar omdat hy so klein was, was dit nie te moeilik om hom uit die boom te kry nie. Hy het probeer om uit my arms te spring, maar ek het gou by die huis ingegaan.

Die katjie was baie vuil en het honger gelyk. Ek het gedink dat hy miskien verlore geraak het, terwyl hy die wêreld verken het en nou nie sy pad terug kan vind nie. Toe my ma tuis kom, het ons hom na die veearts geneem. Die veearts het die katjie, wat ek Rocket gedoop het, ondersoek en gesê hy is gesond, maar te jonk vir inenting. Hy het Rocket ontwurm en vir ons 'n katjie beginnerspak en 'n maatkoppie gegee.

Rocket het opgegrooi in 'n pragtige, lang-harige kat. Hy was baie spelerig en het om hoekies vir ons gewag om ons skrik te maak, kompleet soos 'n mens. Hy het op die 17de September 2009 gesterf, deur 'n byt aan sy nek. Daardie oggend oppad skoeltoe, het ek hom op die veld, oorkant ons huis, sien lê.


One day in 2008 I was off sick from school. As I was laying in bed I heard a meowing sound, so I went outside to investigate. I looked everywhere, but I saw nothing. I went back inside and the meowing started again. I went outside again, this time I looked longer and sure enough in a tree next to our house I saw a small black and white, furry face staring at me.

I had to climb our wall to get to the kitten in our tree. He was very scared, but because he was so small it wasn't too hard to get him. I climbed down the wall and he tried to escape so I quickly ran into the house. He was very dirty and looked hungry. I thought maybe he ran away from his litter or got lost when exploring and couldn't find his way back.

When my mom came home we took him to the vet. He examined the cat, which by then I'd named Rocket, he said he was alright but was too young for vaccinations. The veterinarian dewormed Rocket and gave us a kitten starter pack which had kitten food in it and a measuring cup.

He grew up to be a very beautiful, long-haired cat. He was very playful and would hide behind corners waiting for us to give us a fright. He died on the 17th of September 2009, by a bite to his neck, I found him laying on the field opposite our house when I was walking to school that morning.

After veterinary check-up

Rocket

An adult Rocket

Written by Shanlan Wyngaard