NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio -- My cat, Ducky, has had quite the life. I got her two months into my time teaching English in South Korea. She had wandered onto the school grounds as a weeks-old kitten, completely alone.
The school secretaries called me down to see her, and I was immediately concerned that she was so small and obviously abandoned. After school, I found her near where they had left her. With no other cats in sight, I decided to take her home and look after her.
I called up a then-acquaintance to help me find kitty-care stuff, and we ended up being best friends ever since!
If you were wondering, Ducky’s name came from the sound she made as a kitten, which was less like a “meow” and more like a “quack” -- hence, Ducky!
She's kind of a grumpy cat, and not very friendly with anyone but me, but she has been a loyal companion for five years and counting.
Visually, she is very interesting -- her tail ends in a stump, which sometimes happens when the mother cat is malnourished during pregnancy, but it just adds to her unique charm.
When the coronavirus hit, I was already planning to leave South Korea, but I had to speed up my plans to make sure I could bring Ducky with me. She had to suffer through 50-plus hours in a crate or carrier during transit, but honestly, she was a complete angel and surprised nobody more than me by how well she took everything in stride.
Now we're back in Ohio, enjoying some time with Ducky's grandparents and great-grandparents, and I get to see the family I've missed for five years.
There isn't a ton of wildlife to see living in a South Korean apartment building, so Ducky has been absolutely living it up with all the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and deer that regularly wander by the windows!
She's a brat, ha ha, but I'm glad that we both made it back safe and sound.
Kiah Watson,
North Ridgeville
Do you share your life with an animal that is near and dear to you? Tell us something about your pet - all species are welcome - and send along a photo of the two of you. Be sure to tell us which Greater Cleveland community you live in. Send everything to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com.