Meet XL and XS: The 'not so stray cats'

When I first found her outside my house on a cold night, seeking shelter from stray dogs, she fit in my palms. She had the most frightened look on her face, desperate for refuge from danger. The day I found her, she could literally fit in my palms.

During that time, I was already looking after a stray puppy who had the exact same situation. I found him two weeks before I found XL. Since we're not allowed to keep dogs in our house, I took it upon myself to feed and take care of the dog. Of course, it's not me who feeds these animals; instead, it's God. I'm just the means to get food to them. Anyway, XL and the puppy bonded together.

They started to recognize the sound of my slippers, the sound of my car, and bike as well. I saw these two friends grow in front of me. Every day, it was routine to feed them chicken and the leftovers from dinner or lunch. I used to buy chicken specifically for them daily, and the butcher started to recognize me; before I even approached the shop, he used to have my order ready.

Then... one day, it all changed. The puppy got run over by a car, and his face fractured. I cried a lot that day. He bled a lot, and while bleeding and limping, he walked out of our street and took refuge somewhere far away from us, as if he had lost hope in us, as if he was scared of us. I followed him and called a veterinarian doctor for him. Got his treatment done but after that he was never seen again outside my house.

Both XL and I got extremely depressed. She had lost a friend, and I had lost my son. Days and days went by until God sent me another gift: XS.

She appeared out of nowhere. Before I move on with the story, let me tell you why I have named them XL and XS. It's because XL is phenomenally big according to her age. She's only 3.5 months old, while on the other hand, XS is very small and cute compared to XS.

XL: Extra large
XS: Extra Small

This is where things got interesting and funny. XL wasn't very welcoming of XS at the start. As XL was already my friend, she'd wait for me outside the house for hours, hoping for me to come out, and she'd follow me in the hope of food. If there's one thing that you need to know about cats, it's that they're sort of selfish animals. You feed them, they get their stomachs full, and they'll forget you like you never even existed. So anyway, XS started to notice that I feed XL on a daily basis, and that's when she mustered up her courage.

It's been a couple of months now, and they both wait for me outside the house all day long. Life on the streets is tough. Every other day, a male cat comes into the area, fights off the existing male cat, and becomes the alpha. All the females have to succumb to his superiority. It sucks, but it is what it is.

But one thing that I love about XL and XS is that they know how to get going. They don't care who the alpha male of the area is, as long as they both are getting fed. You see what I mean? Minding their own business and getting their shit done.

I hope you had a good read knowing about XS and XL.