The Kitten in the Tree and the Girl I Once Was
A stray kitten crying for help from a tree triggers powerful childhood memories of abandonment, loneliness, and the deep hope that someone kind would finally come to the rescue.
Cry for Help
I heard the crying behind the concrete wall that separates our house from a wild stretch of land filled with trees and grass.
At first, I pretended not to hear it.
I told myself the sound would stop soon.
I tried to ignore it.
But the tiny cries kept coming.
It was two days before New Year’s Eve—not exactly the best time to bring home another animal. Everything was already busy and chaotic. On top of that, we already had six cats. And every late afternoon, one regular stray shows up at our door for some nibbles.
Our small home was already full of whiskers, paws, and hungry mouths. There was simply no room for another furry baby.
Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
The Peek I Couldn't Resist
Still… curiosity won.
“I’ll just peek,” I told myself. Just a quick look.
So I walked to the wall and carefully looked over. And there she was. A tiny kitten, desperately trying to climb a tree.
Her fragile little body stretched upward with all the strength she had. Her claws scratched against the bark as she tried to pull herself up.
Then she fell.
She tried again.
And fell again.
She was so small. So helpless.
A quiet voice inside me whispered, Maybe if I give her food every day, she might survive.
So I hurried inside, filled a tiny cup with warm rice porridge, tied it to a rope, and slowly lowered it down the wall as close to her as I could.
But the kitten was too distraught to notice the food. She kept climbing the tree like her life depended on it. My heart broke watching her.
What if she refuses to eat?
What if ants bite her?
What if it rains tonight?
What if she’s still there tomorrow… too weak to move? The questions kept circling in my head.
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| This frightened stray kitten wasn’t sure if I was a threat or the help she needed. Rescuing abandoned kittens often begins with earning their trust. |
A Child I Used to Be
As I watched the tiny kitten struggle, I realized why this moment affected me.
I saw myself in her.
I was nine years old when my Aunt Yda left me. She said she needed to go back to the province to build her retirement home. So she left me in the care of one of her boarders—a woman who, like her, lived alone. I remember feeling confused.
Lost.
Unwanted.
My parents had sent me to live with my aunt because there were too many of us at home, and they couldn’t afford to send all of us to school. So they gave me away.
And just like that kitten, I know what it feels like to keep climbing… hoping someone, somewhere, will finally see me and give me a permanent home.
Finally
A tiny voice inside was telling me to walk the long way around the back of the property…
to scoop that tiny trembling body into my arms—bring her home.
AND SO I DID.
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| We named her Kermit. She is the sweetest and cutest Kitty ever. So playful she brings joy in our home. A Call for Help for Stray Cats and Dogs |
Every day, posts from animal rescuers asking for financial help appear in the Facebook group Aspin and Puspin World. These rescuers work tirelessly to save abandoned and injured animals, often using their own money to pay for food, medicine, and veterinary care.
Many of the animals they rescue are aspins (Asong Pinoy) and puspins (Pusang Pinoy)—the stray dogs and cats commonly found on the streets of the Philippines. Without help from kindhearted people, many of these animals would have little chance of survival.
If you would like to support animal rescue efforts in the Philippines, even a small donation can make a big difference. Your help can provide food for hungry strays, medicine for sick animals, and hope for rescues waiting for a second chance at life.
Consider donating or sharing their posts so more people can help these animals in need.
Want more stories like this? Read about the dog I bought for Php 100 in My Aspin Story
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