It was a journey full of lessons that started on the first day I fostered Charcoal. After seeing firsthand how FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) had caused his breathing to be so laboured that he almost died, I knew I needed to help him get better. After all, I was one of the volunteers who brought baby Charcoal to the vet slightly more than a year ago when a worker found him inside a drain.
Frankly speaking, I didn’t plan to adopt Charcoal when I first decided to foster him. My only aim then was to see him get better. But the long road to recovery had bonded us. The first few weeks were extra memorable as I tried to get a hang of caring for a cat. Despite being sick, Charcoal liked to mew late at night to a point that I was worried my neighbours would complain. It wasn’t that he was in pain - he probably was not used to the new home environment. That’s now all water under the bridge. Charcoal is now comfortable and he sleeps wherever he pleases. I am lucky that my bed is big enough for the two of us!
I have always wanted to have a cat and I am grateful to have adopted Charcoal. I am also eternally grateful for the support from my family, my lovely volunteer family at HOPE, and the generosity of HOPE’s donors, that Charcoal has now been given a new lease of life.
Story by Fadzil
