I was so pleased that our little newspaper allowed me to write an article about our sweet little Mokey! I have copied the text below, so you can all enjoy it too.
A Different Side of Mother’s Day
On one Sunday a year, all of us Mother’s are treated to a special day. One where we might receive a yummy hand prepared breakfast of eggs, juice, toast and maybe a red rose in a bud vase, all served in the comfort of our beds. It is a day of flowers, cards and dinners out. For some of us, it’s a day of remembering the hand prepared breakfasts and the scribbled notes that said “ I love you, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day!”
This year I am reminded of a different kind of mother. Different from we “perfect” human ones. I know a story about a special mom who cares nothing about cards, or flowers or eating out. She asks no one for help in what she knows she has to do. She does her job and does it well. Not only does she do her job, but she is doing the job of another, who cannot.
Meet Mokey. Mokey is a cat. She was found stray in Walnut. Western Iowa Feral and Homeless Cat Program promptly took her in for her “spa treatment” which meant she would be spayed and vaccinated. Mokey had a scar on her abdomen, so it was determined that she most likely had already been fixed, so the surgery wasn’t necessary. Because she is a friendly and sweet cat, Mokey found a home with Heather Gettler and her family. This spring, however, Mokey got “fat”. Oops, turns out she wasn’t spayed after all. On april 10, 2012, the kitty gave birth to four beautiful babies.
Taking care of four children is a job in itself, but Mokey has gone way beyond just caring for her own babies. Another mama kitty in Harlan who had just given birth to four babies, met with a horrible accidental death. On a hunch and with no other options, it was decided to see if Mokey would accept them as her own. Heather introduced the kittens into Mokey’s litter, one at a time, and one at a time, Mokey began grooming them and allowing them to nurse. It was only minutes and the two groups of babies meshed and one happy family was born.
Isn’t this just like a mom? Doing what needs to be done and doing it with love. Mokey is the purrfect example of what it means to be selfless and to put her family ahead of everything else. And when you think you don’t have room in your heart for more , that heart makes room, one by one and in only minutes there is enough love and more to go around.
Happy Mother’s day to all moms, human and animal! May this be a special day as your little ones surround you and lavish you with all the love you deserve. Believe me, Mokey knows what it feels like to be surrounded with love! My hope for Mokey on Sunday is that she might get 5 minutes to herself and a special can of tuna!
Kathy Humann
Western Iowa Feral and Homeless Cat Program
Follow what happens with Mokey on our face book page at www.facebook.com/wifcap2
