Cattitude Trust founder Devika Khazvini was in Bangalore on vacation when she realised that there’s no such thing as a time-out for animal welfare workers. In the neighbourhood where she was staying, she observed a group of children harassing a kitten throughout the day. “Across the compound wall, I saw four young boys pushing a kitten up a tree, getting him stuck there and then climbing the tree to pluck the kitten off and fling him down again”, she recalls. “They then repeatedly put him in a garbage can and closed the lid. I was unable to rescue him as they were in a gated community that did not allow anyone inside without identification”. She finally called CUPA’s animal emergency service that sent a humane officer over to the area. Within minutes, the children were given a stern talking-to and the kitten was rescued.
The bright-eyed ginger kitten (now named Rusty) was delighted to be given a large plate of food, and instantly blossomed into a playful pet that couldn’t sit still. “A tiny, scared kitten can turn into a comical, loving individual, within moments of being rescued from cruelty”, says Khazvini who adds that he has a unique way of showing gratitude. “He curls up beside you and falls asleep with his paws gently touching your face”, she laughs. “He also bosses over cats that are four times his size and whizzes around the room like a hurricane”. Rusty was given a temporary home by a Bangalore-based couple and later in the week, Devika and her volunteer Shatrughan cancelled their train tickets to bring the kitten to Chennai by cab.
Rusty is now in a foster home where he shares his bed with a green stuffed toy, and is waiting to find his permanent adoptive family. To adopt Rusty, call 9840411759 or email cattitudetrust@gmail.com.
