Part V: The Aftermath
This story is number 5 in a series of 5. To read it chronologically, start at Part I. Click here to go to Part II, Part III, and Part IV. I promise you this is the last of it.
Updates from Porto
The next day, Jonas receives updates from Marie via WhatsApp. She sends us pictures and videos of Chorizo, and updates us about its health. The updates are regular and very sweet and loving.
We’re waiting at the airport for our flight, and when we arrive in Warsaw, we know Chorizo is at the people of animal shelter Midas. I get added to a group chat with a woman from Midas named Lídia. When Chorizo arrived at the clinic, the first thing the veterinarians did was get her rehydrated. Chorizo stays at the clinic for quite a long time, because the kitten’s health first got worse before it got better. The poor thing didn’t eat for a while, possibly because of what it ate before.
Then we got the news that we should call her Choriza instead of Chorizo, because she’s a girl kitten.
Health Troubles and Becoming a Chonk
On 25th of July – 9 days after her rescue from the abyss – we hear that Choriza has “ups and downs” with her health. Lídia informs us that even though she is eating well, drinking, sleeping, and becoming a pet, she still doesn’t gain any weight. She’s still at the clinic.
Marie and I receive a picture of Choriza with a cleared-up eye and healthy whiskers. Her right paw is in a sort of cast and there’s a weird shaved spot on her forehead. But Lídia tells us to not be too optimistic, as Choriza’s health is still very fragile.
The cast on the paw turned out to be a post-intravenous fluids bandage. This is probably because Choriza is still rehydrating after her rough start in life on the rooftop without a source of fluids.
On Friday 3rd of August, we get an update that Choriza is finally gaining weight and eating chicken. She’d be allowed to leave the clinic on the next Monday. In the meantime, the good people like Lídia and the veterinarians at the clinic have also managed to get to know Choriza. It turns out she’s very cuddly and (still!) likes to take naps on people’s laps. All that’s left is to find a forever home for her.
Adopted!
On the 4th of September, Lídia messages us that Choriza is at full health, and ready to be adopted! On 18th of September, she’d be welcomed by her new family.
Then on 11th of September, we receive a message that Choriza is leaving the shelter for good. We receive some pictures of a very well-groomed Choriza. She’s now healthy, microchipped and fattened up for her new life as an adopted and loved cat.
This is the last update I got from Choriza’s life. It’s a happy ending.
My Personal Aftermath
You’d say that an experienced hitchhiker has seen worse shit than this, but I hadn’t. This whole experience broke me down to the core. I remember when I first got back to the Netherlands in December 2017, I was so happy that stray pets were not a thing anymore. Really, there are pretty much no stray dogs in the Netherlands, and stray or feral cats are also quite rare. I see now how unique that situation is, and that we shouldn’t take that level of pet care for granted, ever.
I have altered names in this post for privacy and anonymity.
Happy Ending? Share this Story on Pinterest!
