A female netizen captured a photo of a familiar stray cat near her home, a cat known for being affectionate towards people. The cat was leisurely lying on the lawn, basking in the sunlight. However, after taking the photo, the woman was overwhelmed with sadness. She cried for an hour, unable to compose herself. The reason for her deep sorrow was the harsh reality of stray cats' lives. Many strays she sees today might not survive until tomorrow. Filled with empathy, she felt great pity for the plight of these stray cats but was also helpless because she lacked the ability to adopt more of them.
On the social media platform Xiaohongshu, a user named "Peeking Cat" recently posted a photo of a stray cat sunbathing near their home. Although it was a heartwarming image, the original poster (OP) cried for an hour after returning home and looking at the photo. The OP explained that life for stray cats is very difficult. Only a few strays near their home manage to survive well. Several cats that were lively and active days ago have since disappeared, likely poisoned or mistreated by malicious people. The orange-and-white cat in the photo is one of the few surviving strays. However, since the OP already has pet cats at home, there is no space to take in another cat. She felt sad about the stray cats' situation and lamented her inability to rescue more of them.
This simple photo resonated with many netizens online. Comments included sentiments such as, "Don't feel guilty about the cats. By taking photos and sharing them online, you attract more people to adopt them, which is a good thing." Others shared their experiences, saying, "Stray cats don't really care about freedom. The stray cat I adopted used to attract many stray male cats when it was in heat, but it never approached the window and would hide in its nest when I carried it to the door. The pain from being stray is something cats never forget." Another comment read, "My cat was also a stray I picked up, and now it refuses to leave the house." Many agreed that the happiness of stray cats is simple: having a home that shelters them from the elements and an owner who loves them. One user praised the OP's empathy, saying, "Every stray cat less on the streets is one less stray cat suffering."
