Me and My Cats
Emmanuel Mesa
BEFORE YOU READ:
Describe what you see in the portrait of Emmanuel and his cats. What adjectives come to mind when you study the picture?
When I adopted my cats, they were not healthy. Their paws and their eyes were injured. Parts of their tails were burned. They had a lot of fleas and parasites. I took care of them. I took them to the vet for treatment and for vaccinations and sterilization. It took almost five months for them to be healthy and happy. Since that time, they have shown me their love. They love it when I’m at home with them.
Now they’re part of my life. Sometimes I’m busy at work. I am away from home for 15 to 17 hours. My roommate sends me videos of them. He says they are asking for me, which is funny.
When I’m feeling sad living in New York City, they remind me that I’m not alone. In fact, it’s the opposite. I adopted them, but they have adopted me too! They show their love to me. They show me that I am their favorite human.
They have known me since they were kittens. They were hurt, dirty, and had no home and no love. But now we are each other’s home and each other’s family.
AFTER YOU READ:
1. Describe the relationship Emmanuel has with his cats. What does he mean when he says “they have adopted me”?
2. In your experience, do pets make a house feel more like a home? If so, how?
Emmanuel Mesa is a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City. He loves animals and nature, and he believes this planet is our home.