The imaginations of both my daughters, Zoe and Emma, have been entranced by a series of books about cats. 

The Warriors books, now embarking on a fourth trilogy, tell the stories of cat clans whose members are gifted with special talents and who earn mythic names like Raven Paw, Fire Heart and Blue Star.  I have yet to read the books, but I think I must:  I don’t want to miss out on this world that has so bound the hearts and minds of my girls.  I guess I hope to be bound up with them.

Emma, the younger, was assigned a 5^th grade book-share project – and, oh surprise, she chose the first Warriors book.  For her visual element, she created a board game (see picture 1) – complete with four kitty game pieces – that leads players through prey and power acquisitions, rat attacks, river impasses and gathering places, all leading toward sacred ceremonial grounds where the winning kitty is granted Warrior status.

One might wonder what any of this has to do with GAAR….

Well…We adopted our tuxedo kitten Wasabi, nee Ozzy, (see picture 2) from GAAR two years ago this December.  He was one of a litter of feral kittens discovered with their too-young mother hunkered underneath a deck and terrorized by a determined hawk.  On her recent book-share report, Emma wrote: 

“I always wondered what my cat did while we were gone, and I thought up something similar to this wondrous novel…

I never knew what I thought up and dreamt of would become a book!”

Recently, we (Zoe and I, plus Emma – partly because she’s a bit young to be left at home and mostly because she’s darned adamant not to be left out) agreed to volunteer our Thursday nights at what we call the Petsmart “kitty house.“ That means we commit about two hours of our time each week to care for GAAR kitties on display for adoption.  We clean and tidy their cage homes, replenish their food and water, and make sure they have a little TLC and play time.  This work keeps us grounded and grateful and covered in cat hair.

The girls takes pictures and come up with Warrior names for every cat we tend.

When we arrive home afterward, Wasabi (not to mention our dog Echo) is fully aware that we’ve been “stepping out” with other kitties.  The girls and I wonder aloud if Wasabi feels threatened by their competing scents… if he recognizes his previous, temporary home…if he feels anxious…?  What the girls know and believe in their hearts is that Wasabi, just like every other kitty rescued by GAAR, has a Warrior story:  a tale that is throat-closing and heart-wringing and courageous…and blessedly filled with hope and promise, thanks to GAAR.

I believe that children and pets blossom when they grow together; their friendships are deep and enduring.   My girls have learned powerful lessons in responsibility, accountability, cause and effect, respect and compassion.  Both girls and Wasabi have exercised and strengthened their tolerance and patience muscles.  Wasabi, who came to us frisky and playful – but not very loving – has grown into us gloriously.  He didn’t used to purr; now we pick him up or stroke his chin and his autonomic motor kicks into gear. He knows who is most likely to “play string” (his favorite game by far), dole out treats, or turn on the faucet so he can lap up a stream of fresh water. 

We can’t know that cats feel gratitude, but it surely seems like it.  I suppose we might be accused of projecting our gratitude onto our beloved, adopted kitty – but if that’s the case, then Wasabi’s luminous eyes are surely mirrors that reflect our gratitude right back at us.

Pic (1) Wasabi knows all about being a Warrior

Pic (2) Wasabi, year one, finds sanctuary in the girls’ bathroom