The red paw trembled as Muska tried to make herself comfortable on the cold roof of an old five-story building. The wind ruffled her once beautiful, now tangled and dirty fur, which had become matted. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the one that was tearing her little cat heart apart.
Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered that terrible day. Her owner, Viktor Petrovich, whom she had faithfully served for three years, suddenly changed after a new wife appeared in the house. First there were screams. Then kicks. And one day…
«How many times have I said – throw out that ragged cat!» the new mistress screamed. «Just fur everywhere, no use at all!»
That evening Viktor Petrovich grabbed Muska by the scruff and threw her out onto the street. She heard the lock of the front door click, but continued to sit under the door, not believing what was happening. In the morning, she was doused with cold water from a bucket.
«Get out of here! I don’t want to see you again!»
Since then, many months have passed. Muska learned to survive, but never learned to trust again. The roof became her refuge – from there she could see the whole yard, but no one could reach her. Only the crows sometimes kept her company, and even they seemed to look at her with pity.
«Meow?» she quietly uttered into the void, but her voice grew weaker with each passing day. Scabies tormented her mercilessly, forcing her to scratch her skin to blood. Food was rare – only when she gathered the courage to go down to the garbage bins deep at night.
The rains were the worst. Water seeped through her tangled fur, soaking to the bone, and there was nowhere to take cover. On such nights, Muska cowered in the farthest corner under an old tin awning and shivered, remembering the warmth of the radiator in her former home.
«It’s okay,» she whispered to herself, «maybe tomorrow will be easier…»
But it never got easier. The disease progressed, turning the once beautiful cat into a miserable creature covered in scabs and mats. Local cats avoided her, and children, seeing her, threw stones and screamed: «Ew, how ugly!»
One night, when the pain became unbearable, Muska cried for the first time. Not with her usual meowing, but truly, like abandoned creatures cry – silently and hopelessly. Her little body shook with sobs, and her eyes were so full of sadness that even the moon seemed to hide behind the clouds, unable to bear the sight.
She didn’t know that her life would soon change, and that someone with a big heart lived nearby, who wouldn’t pass by her plight. But for now, Muska could only press against the cold wall, dreaming of warmth and affection, which she thought she would never feel again…
Ray of Hope Natasha often stayed late at the veterinary clinic. Returning home that evening, she noticed some movement near the garbage bins. Something ginger flashed in the light of the street lamp and immediately disappeared behind a container.
«It looks like a cat,» the girl thought, peering into the darkness. In the dim light of the street lamp, she managed to make out the emaciated silhouette and dim eyes.
The next day she came early with a bag of cat food. Muska, starved and sick, was already there – trying to find something edible among the trash. Seeing the person, she wanted to run away, but weakness and the enticing smell of the food kept her in place.
«Come here, little one,» Natasha called quietly, pouring the food onto some cardboard away from the garbage bins. «Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.»
There was something special in the girl’s voice – maybe the professional gentleness of a veterinarian, or maybe sincere compassion. For the first time in a long time, Muska felt something akin to hope.
For three days, Natasha came to the garbage bins, leaving food and quietly talking to the frightened cat. Gradually, Muska began to approach closer and closer, although she still hid at any sudden movement. On the fourth day, a miracle happened – she dared to take food directly from Natasha’s hands.
«Lord,» Natasha whispered, seeing the state of the cat up close. «My poor girl…»
Muska looked terrible. Mats hung in clumps, and through the sparse fur, inflamed skin covered in scabs was visible. Her eyes, once bright and expressive, had dulled from pain and suffering.
«Now the main thing is not to scare her,» Natasha thought, slowly extending her hand to the cat.
Muska froze. Memories of beatings and kicks surfaced, but something in this girl’s eyes was different. She didn’t radiate a threat, only warmth.
Natasha carefully scratched the cat behind the ear, in the one place where the fur still remained soft. And then a real miracle happened – a quiet, barely audible purring escaped from Muska’s chest.
«Well, now we’ve met,» Natasha smiled. «Now we need to treat you…»
Catching the sick cat was not easy. It took several more days for Muska to finally trust Natasha. And when the girl finally cautiously picked her up, something unexpected happened – the tormented cat pressed against her rescuer’s chest and cried. But these were no longer tears of despair, but of hope.
At that moment, a rough male voice sounded nearby:
«Ah, Muska, not dead yet? Tough creature…»
Natasha looked up. In front of her stood a burly man in his fifties, with a disdainful smirk looking at the cat. Hearing his voice, Muska shrank into the ground and trembled.
«Is this your cat?» Natasha asked quietly, feeling anger boiling inside but trying to speak calmly.
«It was mine. But the new wife didn’t like it, had to throw it out,» the man shrugged indifferently. «And it’s of no use… Just fur everywhere.»
He turned and walked away, not even glancing at the animal cowering in fear. Natasha watched him go, feeling a lump rise in her throat.
«Muska,» she whispered, wrapping the trembling body in a warm blanket. «I promise that no one will ever hurt you again. We’ll show him that you deserve the best life.»
The road to the clinic was a real trial for the poor creature. Every noise made her flinch, every movement scared her. But the warmth of Natasha’s hands and her quiet, soothing voice gave her strength to endure.
«We have a long way to go,» Natasha said, examining her new charge already in the clinic. «But we’ll manage. We must…»
And Muska, for the first time in a long time, allowed herself to believe – maybe not all people bring pain. Maybe miracles do happen…
Saved Soul The first weeks in the clinic were not easy. Natasha spent hours next to Muska, patiently treating her inflamed skin and carefully trimming the mats. Each procedure required special care – the cat still flinched at any touch.
«Quiet, baby, quiet,» Natasha whispered when Muska started shaking during another treatment. «I know it hurts, but it’s only for a short time.»
Gradually, day by day, Muska began to change. First, there were barely noticeable changes – she began to hold her gaze on Natasha longer, started responding to her name. Then came timid purring during the procedures – not from fear, but from pleasure.
«Look,» Natasha rejoiced, showing her colleagues the first bald patches where new, healthy fur was beginning to emerge. «Our girl is coming back to life!»
A month later, Natasha took Muska home with her. The cat, stepping over the threshold of the apartment for the first time, froze in hesitation. So much space, so many new smells… And nowhere did it smell of malice or pain.
«This is your new home,» Natasha smiled, showing Muska a soft bed by the radiator. «Now you’re the mistress here.»
The first week, Muska hid under the sofa, coming out only at night to the bowl. But Natasha’s patience and love did their work. One morning, she woke up from a strange feeling – for the first time, Muska had climbed onto her bed and curled up next to her pillow.
Time passed, and the transformation became more and more noticeable. Her fur grew back and shone with a ginger glow, her eyes once again became bright and curious, and they had that special sparkle that only happy cats have. Muska learned to play – chasing a paper ball like a kitten, and even grew to love having her belly scratched, a gesture of the utmost trust for a cat.
Everyone Deserves Love They say that time heals all wounds. But in reality, it’s not time, but love that heals. Two years have passed since Muska found a new home, and now she’s a completely different cat.
Every morning she greets Natasha by the bed, every evening she falls asleep next to her, purring her special song of gratitude. And when guests come and marvel at how beautiful and affectionate the cat is, Natasha proudly tells their story.
«You know,» she says, «Muska taught me the most important thing: it doesn’t matter what happened in the past, every living being deserves love and happiness. Just because someone once failed to appreciate your loyalty doesn’t make you any less worthy. Sometimes you just have to wait for someone who sees the real treasure in you.»
And as if to confirm these words, Muska herself has become a savior for others. When stray kittens or cats appear in the yard, she’s the first to notice them and call Natasha. Thanks to her, five homeless animals have found their homes and loving owners.
«See,» Natasha sometimes whispers, scratching Muska behind the ear, «you didn’t just survive. You learned to turn your pain into love and help for others. And that makes you special.»
In those moments, Muska purrs especially loudly, as if telling everyone who has ever been abandoned or betrayed: don’t give up, your happiness will definitely find you. Because each of us, regardless of our past, deserves a second chance. You just have to believe and not close your heart to love.
And every evening, falling asleep in a warm home, Muska seems to whisper to all lonely souls: «Don’t despair! Your happiness is already on its way. Because if such a miracle happened to me, it will surely happen to you. You just have to wait a little longer…»
After all, isn’t that the real secret to happiness – knowing that you are loved simply for being you? And no matter how many obstacles had to be overcome on the way to this happiness – it was always worth it. Always.
