Paataali's Journey Home
Paataali was barely two months old when she was found crying in a society parking lot in Pune. A rescuer took her in and posted about her on a cat adoption group. That's where Avantika found her.
Here's Avantika's journey with Paataali, in her own words:
She came into my life at a time when I was recovering from a long illness and struggling to find my footing again. From the moment I met her, I knew she was meant to be mine — a four-month-old kitten, full of energy, curiosity, and endless mischief.
Caring for her gave me something I had been missing for a long time: purpose. A reason to wake up every morning, build a routine, and start looking forward to the future again. While medicine helped my recovery, Paataali brought joy and motivation back into my life.
Her name was chosen by my Bengali husband. Paataali means date palm jaggery, one of my favourite treats. The name suits her beautiful brown, black, and orange coat, although she is much more mischievous than sweet — incredibly talkative, full of opinions, and always finding creative ways to get into trouble.
Two years later, when I decided to move from India to the UK for higher education, there was never any question about leaving her behind. The journey involved extensive paperwork and a layover in Paris, during which Paataali made sure everyone heard her thoughts, loudly and frequently. But she won hearts everywhere she went.
Today, she is thriving in her new home in the UK — a house full of people who adore her, endless attention and treats, and every corner explored.
