How do we define responsibility? The public simply tells us that responsibility is about proactively doing things that make family or society better. But for most people, it is an abstract word, not concrete. I could not get the true meaning of the word either until I got my own kitten. I was probably captivated by the cats on social media. So I tentatively asked mom, “ Could I have a cat?” Surprisingly, she agreed.  

I am really looking forward to the kitten that’s coming soon, and I’ve already named her. At the same time, I’ve also been influenced by internet and started to worry about whether she will be health and able to live a happy life. 

When she first came home, she was so small and cute. I didn’t want to restrict her too much, which made her very naughty as she grew up. When she hurt me, I wanted to punish her. But I couldn’t bear to do it as looking at her. When I was angry, I even said I regretted getting her. Most of the time, I am still very grateful for the kitten's companionship. I prepare for food and water, clean her things, buy toys and do all these things because I love her.

After I filled out the adoption application form, I went to the stray cat shelter to see the kitten what that was going to be my home. She was sleeping cuddled with her brother, completely unaware of my arrival. 

I stood quietly in front of them, observing the two kitten. “Would you like to pet her?” the volunteer asked me. I was pleasantly surprised, as I hadn’t intended to disturb their sleep. As we spoke, the kitten woke up, and I took the opportunity to stroke her head. At that time, I couldn’t tell it apart from her brother, they were just too similar.

It was a cold day when I brought her home. The volunteer and I were talking about things to be careful, and the little thing was looking around in the carrier. We noticed her, the volunteer took her out to trim her nails, telling me how to trim them without hurting her.

I took her from the volunteer, and holding her soft  body, an invisible connection seemed to from between us in that instant. Her tiny body struggled slightly in my arms. The unfamiliar smell and environment made her feel unsafe, and I suddenly realized that form this moment on. I was responsible for a life. Along with that came a little panic: I worried whether this small cat could grow up. 

To help her adjust to new environment, I initially placed her alone in a small room and told everyone not to disturb her. She stayed quietly in that small, dark room. During the day, I would take her toys to play with her, trying to ease her fear. However, being timid, she would only stay in a corner playing with her toys. She would come out to move around and eat while we slept.

Two days later, my sister asked, “When can she come out of that room?”

I stuck to my initial thought, “She needs more time to adjust here. I’m not sure.”

“You know what? It’s already causing me trouble. Stop being so overly concerned. She’s been here for days now.” She was angry with my answer. 

“That's enough. Stop arguing about this cat.” Finally, mom had to intervene. “Why don’t you consider letting her explore other rooms?”

I hesitated for a moment but ultimately agreed to my mother's suggestion.

Before she goes to school during the day, I open all the doors in the house and put toy balls and snacks near the doorways to entice her to explore the big house. Gradually, she became familiar with the smells of her family and the placement of the furniture, and began to run and dart around the various rooms.

This shy cat rarely meowed when she was little. I even considered taking her to the vet. Fortunately, something else revealed that she wasn't mute. The darkness and quiet of the night made her feel lonely and afraid, or perhaps she missed her mother and brother. Whenever we went to sleep, she would suddenly start shouting loudly. During that time, I could only helplessly plug my ears and try to sleep.

I felt it was time to teach her a new skill. I called her name and she came out. She sat on the floor watching me from a distance, seemingly curious about what I wanted to do. I showed her how to open the door, repeatedly pushing the bottom of the door. She tilted her head to look at me, and in that moment, it felt like we were telepathically connected; she understood my meaning.

Now, the first thing I do when I get home from school is call her name, and she always runs to greet me immediately. When I'm doing my homework at my desk, she quietly sits on the table to keep me company. While writing this, I looked at photos of her as a child, constantly recalling the little details of our lives. These sweet memories keep me smiling as I write. When she's bored, I pick her up and hold her, her warm little body nestled in my arms. I think it's because she loves me, and I love her too.