The cat arrived as it had for the previous week, and as usual, it did not eat any of the dry food that was spread out in containers for its companions. Instead, it dashed over to the packaged meal, chewing into the plastic shopping bag before bolting. She handed her apron to one of the other volunteers and followed the cat, realizing that this was her only chance to solve the mystery. What she would discover would shatter her heart.

Getting Answers 

At the age of ten, Amanda Kim left her home in Lijiang, China, and relocated to Philadelphia with her mother. It was a big adjustment for Amanda as Philadelphia was like nothing she had ever seen before. America was filled with possibilities, and she adored everything about her new home. But, while she was having a great time taking in everything the city had to offer, she had a severe dilemma.

Her New Home

Amanda enjoyed her new home; however, she was having trouble adjusting to everything. Language obstacles hampered her experience, threatening to ruin her childhood. Amanda was alone during her first few weeks in Philadelphia. She spent her time with her mother because she had no siblings. She had no idea how much these intimate moments with her mother would influence her destiny.

Obstacles

Amanda’s mom gave biology lectures at the nearby college. She had studied cars intensively as part of her research, and she loved sharing her knowledge with her daughter. As Amanda grew older, she grew more interested in cats and biology. It came as no surprise that Amanda chose to major in biology as soon as she finished high school. The future was looking bright for her.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Amanda had to volunteer at a local animal refuge or zoo during her summer vacation as part of her first year&#8217;s coursework. What many might consider a gloomy shadow over their summer vacation was paradise for Amanda. She&#8217;d spent most of her youth helping at animal rescues with her mother and was finally excited to be on her own. Unbeknownst to her, a kitten was going to transform her life forever.

Coursework Requirements

Amanda was ecstatic on her first day at the community animal rescue. She volunteered to look after the animals at the shelter with five other pupils from her class. The encounter exceeded her wildest expectations. She&#8217;d done this innumerable times with her mother, and while she cherished every moment of it, nothing could compare to what she was feeling right now. But it all changed when she was transferred to a different position at the shelter.

At Her Happiest

Amanda had been focused on ensuring that the animals in the shelter were washed, nourished, and given medicine as needed prior to her new position. On the other hand, her boss wanted her to be at the forefront of the program, which included caring for stray animals who didn&#8217;t stay at the refuge. Amanda decided to step up, unaware of what would transpire, seeing this as a new challenge to overcome.

A Challenging Task

Even though it was quite a task to feed the animals who did not live at the sanctuary, it was also very satisfying. Amanda gave any animals who came to eat dry food dishes. Also, she&#8217;d note those who appeared unwell so that the refuge could accommodate them. When she was deeply engaged in her work one wonderful afternoon, she noticed something that caught her eye. It seems that one of the cats, a ginger beauty, refused to eat her food. What was the problem?

Working Hard

Amanda was well aware of the difficulties faced by stray animals attempting to make a living in the city. Those who were used to finding free food would eat rapidly and flee. So, why was this cat looking at its dish and meowing at Amanda as if it was in pain? Amanda was perplexed by the situation, but she felt she had to intervene. She told her mother about the incident later that evening. Her mother, as usual, provided her with a solution.

Getting Answers

Amanda&#8217;s mother suggested that she give the cat wet food or feed it in a separate container. Amanda spent the following two days attempting to do so, but the cat was uninterested. She&#8217;d tried canned food, home-cooked food, and even several dried food variations. She&#8217;d fed the cat in various bowls, ranging from vividly colored porcelain to drab steel and plastic. Amanda was not making any progress, and just as she was about to give up, she had an idea.

Trying Different Things

There was one thing she hadn&#8217;t tried yet, and despite her initial skepticism, she felt she had to give it at least a shot. The next day, Amanda packed some dry food in a plastic bag and gave it to the cat. To her amazement, the kitty meowed happily and chewed into the sack. It fled with the entire package rather than ripping it open and digging in.

Stepping It Up

Amanda was taken aback at first, but she sensed something extraordinary was taking place. She ran after the cat, removing her apron and tying her hair back. Amanda snuck into an alley near the shelter to pursue the cat. She stood back and watched as the cat dropped the food bag and began meowing, seeming more distressed than Amanda had ever seen her before. Then something happened.

It Works

Out of one of the alley’s garbage cans came a smaller cat, its fur the same as the one Amanda had followed. It purred up at the larger cat and scratched at the bag. Amanda’s heart broke as she realized what was happening. The cat had been coming over to the shelter looking for food for its kitten. That’s why she never touched the food in bowls but chose the plastic bag at first glance. Amanda hatched a plan as the kitten dug into the bag’s contents.

She Finds Out

Amanda spent the next few days ensuring she packed a variety of nutritious food in a plastic bag for the two cats. The mom started coming directly to her in the second week, and soon enough, she allowed Amanda to follow her into the alley openly. When Amanda first saw the kitten, it’d been malnourished. But now that two weeks had passed, the tiny cat looked stronger. Although the food had been helping, Amanda knew she needed to bring the two cats in so the shelter could adequately take care of them.

Doing More

Amanda reported the incident to her supervisor, filling him in on everything she’d done and the bond she’d formed with the cat. The shelter immediately stepped in, taking the two cats in and caring for them. But it didn’t stop there. Amanda, who’d formed an unbreakable bond with the mommy cat, adopted her and her kitten. She was so touched by the cat, reminded of her mom and everything she did for her as a child. Truly, there is no one like a mom.

Why Cat Carries Food In A Bag