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I've had many different cats in my life, but I don't think I've ever had a cat like Callie.

Last year two of our older cats passed on due to old age. That was rough for me because I can get too attached to my animals very easily. Although I missed them, I really wanted another cat or dog to keep my company around the house. At that point we were down to one dog and one cat. I had been asking my parents if they'd let me have another animal, but they refused. They had to make an exception, though.

On Feb. 29, 2008, just a few days before my birthday, my brother looked out the window and saw a kitten walking around, looking scared and meowing. My dad had walked by, but he didn't see it, so we went outside to see it for ourselves. She was scared and very hesitant to walk up to us. After a little while I was able to get her to come up to me, and I slowly began to pet her, hoping she wouldn't run away.

When my dad came back he told me to go get some canned food and a bowl of milk. It didn't take her very long to engulf nearly the entire can of food -- and we're not talking about the tiny cans. She ate and drank as if she hadn't eaten for quite some time, but we'll never know what she had been eating before we found her.

We all took turns holding her and petting her in the garage. Every time we finished petting her our hands would be covered in dirt. She was literally covered in fleas, indicating the fact that she had been living outside and wasn't being cared for by anyone. Even though she was dirty we had all decided to keep her, because she deserved a good home. A kitten that adorable just didn't deserve to live on her own.

We left her in the garage that night with a litter box, food and water, because we didn't want her in the house with all of her fleas and dirt. We put some medicine on her back that night to help kill the fleas, and we later found a flea collar for her. The next day we brought her in the house and kept her in a large cage so she could see us but wouldn't find a hiding place somewhere in the house.

After she had her bath she was a free kitty. We let her run around the house wherever she wanted to go, but she liked to hide in places we couldn't find her. She was definitely home after the bath. There was no turning back at that point.

My chihuahua, Paco, doesn't like anyone outside our family. He wasn't sure what to do when he first saw Callie, but since she's been here they have become good friends. They play with each other when they're bored, and they're about the same size, so it's not much of a problem for either of them. He still gets territorial when she's in his way and will growl, but it doesn't bother her too much.

I love my kitten so much, and I miss her right now. I'm out of town, but I'll give her a big hug when I get home. Sorry it's so long, but it's just a long story. Imagine how long it would have been if I had given EVERY detail. Boy, you wouldn't make it through that story.

I'm exhausted and my eyes are closing, so I'm going to go to bed. I'm too tired to reread and edit it tonight, so if you find any errors, which I know you will, just laugh silently and keep it to yourself. You're not perfect either, you know. Ha. Good night!

Robin