Month with newish kitten

It was a month ago, on 5 January, when I was heading home to the działka from Chynów station; looking at my phone, I saw I could do with some more paces, so I decided to return the long way, right through Jakubowizna along the main street to the end, then turn into the forest and back that way. It was about five pm, night had fallen; it was cold (-4°C). As I walked on the paved side of the village street, I suddenly became aware of a small animal darting through the shadows and around my feet. I stopped. It was a kitten. "Probably got out through a gap in a fence," I thought. So, abandoning plans to carry on through to the forest, I walked up and down the street seeing if the kitten would find its home. It didn't. I'd stop at each house, at each farm, and see if it would dive under a gate. Sometimes it would, only to reemerge and continue to follow me. It followed me back, past the station, past all the houses, past the point of no return.

In the end, I decided to pick it up and take it home. I took a photo (below, on phone, hence poor quality) and posted it on the local Facebook page, where two people immediately re-posted it. The next day (Trzech Króli, Three Kings) was a public holiday, so shops were shut – no chance to buy pet food. No problem; tuna, smoked salmon, (mild) chorizo and natural yogurt went down a treat. 

The next day I went into Chynów to buy a few days' supply of kitten food (2-12 months) and some cat litter, and I returned via Jakubowizna to check whether anyone had put up a 'lost kitten' notice anywhere. They hadn't; I checked back each subsequent day, but no. No one has lost a kitten. Maybe someone with a surplus kitten drove out to the countryside to drop it off outside a farm that might take it in? I often wonder what the first months of her life looked like; she is evidently house-trained and was brought up around humans.

So – the kitten is a keeper then? First think – a name. Easy. As Moni's late cat Jowisz was named after a planet, this one will be named after one of the two planets in conjunction with the moon on the night I found it – Saturn or Venus. And as it's a female, it has to be Venus (Polish Wenus, diminutive, Wenusia, abbreviated to 'Nusia).

We are different species. I am Homo sapiens, Wenusia is Felis catus (as defined by H. sapiens). And yet we are both alive and conscious. There is the bond.

Below: kittens grow up quickly. Photo taken this morning. 

I ponder on the quality of the telepathic communication between us; even if only rudimentary, can it evolve over time to become more effective? In the mornings, she will wake me early if I need an early start, and wait until later if I can sleep in. 

After a month: cat food bill is 116.19 złotys, around £21. Will be less next month as I've quite a bit  of stock left over.

Many thanks to Moni for passing on the late Jovis's cat tower (scratching post and bed combined) and to Roman for the waterfall/fountain drinking bowl.

This time last year:
Another dream of the future

This time ten years ago:
Białystok fails to impress

This time 11 years ago:
Sadness at the death of Tadeusz Mosz

This time 12 years ago:
Interpreting vs. translating vs. explaining

This time 13 years ago:
More than just an Iluzjon

This time 14 years ago:
Oldschool photochallenge

This time 15 years ago:
Warsaw's wonderful nooks and crannies

This time 17 years ago:
Viaduct to the airport at ul. Poleczki almost ready