GATES MILLS, Ohio -- On Christmas Eve a few years ago, my husband, John, and our son, Jack, along with John's parents, went to visit John's sister Julie.  They left her house to make the 35-mile drive to church.  After church they drove to John's parents' house, an additional 10-mile drive.  When they got there, John noticed a gray-and-white tuxedo kitten in the wheel well of his car, meowing to get attention.

  It couldn't have been more than a few months old.  They put the kitten in the garage and gave it some food, water and a warm bed.  The next morning John's parents mentioned to Julie that they had found a small gray-and-white tuxedo kitten and had taken it in.  She said, "Oh my gosh that is one of mine.  When I fed the cats this morning that one didn't show up to eat." 

They figured out that the kitten must have crawled up onto the warm engine block of the car while they were at Julie's house, and that is where he rode for his 45-plus mile journey on Christmas Eve. 

Jack had become attached to the kitten and John agreed to let him keep him.  And Jack named him Kiki.  Today, Kiki lives a happy life with two other rescue cats, Cody and Jesse.

Jen Meier Yirga
Gates Mills

Have you rescued a companion animal that is now part of your family? We'd like to hear from you. Tell us something about your pet - all species are welcome - and send along a photo of the two of you. Be sure to tell us which community you live in. Send everything to Linda Kinsey at lkinsey@cleveland.com.

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