Hi #CatsOfTwitter. I'm Tinsel.
This is my story. I am 8 weeks old. Mama and I didn't have a home. We lived outside, even though it was cold. She loved me, but life was hard. There wasn't any food. One day, she went to find food. I waited a long time, but she didn't come back.

I was so scared and hungry. I didn't know what to do. I looked for something to eat. I only found some garbage cans. I hid underneath one, trying to stay warm.

But it was wet and cold. I couldn't stay warm. I felt sick. My eye got infected. My ears hurt. I had fleas crawling on me and worms in my belly. Whenever I found a scrap to eat, the worms got fed instead of me. I couldn't go on much longer.

Soon the snow would come, and then I would freeze.

I cried for help.

I cried and cried.

People heard me. They felt sorry for me, and some of them left me food. But it wasn't enough. I needed more than just food. I needed shelter and medicine. I was too little to survive on the streets all alone.

Then a lady came to the garbage can to throw away some garbage. She heard me crying.
She tried to talk to me, but I was too scared to be close to a human. Some humans were scary and mean.

A boy appeared and she asked him whose cat I was. He replied that I wasn't anyone's cat. He wanted to help, too. He put down a handful of kibble for me to eat, and left.
The lady was sad. She had to leave, too.
After that I felt so alone. I cried more and more.

Later that night, the lady came back. This time she didn't bring garbage. She brought a green suitcase. She put it down on the ground. She opened a tin of fancy cat food. It smelled wonderful.

This time I trusted her, so I let her pet me. Before I knew it, I was locked inside the carrier. She picked it up and began walking. I was frightened so I cried. But she spoke to me in a kind voice.

When the carrier was opened, I didn't know where I was. I was too scared to come out.

This place was warm. Much warmer than outside. I smelled food. I ate the rest of the tin of food, but I was still hungry. So I peeked out to see if there was any more food.

The human petted me. That made me feel happier. She set out another dish of food, and brought a litter tray full of clean litter. I ate the food and explored the litter box. Then I went back into my carrier and slept. Being a homeless kitten had exhausted me.

It was so nice to have a warm place to sleep.

(to be continued!)

My new human took me to the vet. I was scared. They weighed me. I was only 2.6 pounds. Then I got my ears cleaned. They were full of brown gunk and ear mites! I also got a pill against worms, and a treatment for fleas. It sure is nice to be rid of all those nasty parasites.

At home, I have to stay in the kitchen in case I'm still infectious. My human has other cats, that's why. I see my human a lot but I wish I could be with her all the time!
#CatsOfTwitter

My human gave me my very own bed. I've never slept in a bed. It's so soft and comfy. I love it. #CatsOfTwitter