By Colleen Schlieman
For many lonely stray cats on the streets of Philadelphia, they scrounge and scrape for every meal. They live hard lives in the cold, unfeeling streets. Yet, every once and a while, some kind and loving human scoops them up and takes them home. Their lives of fear on the streets are over. One lucky day for a stray tabby cat, now known as Budweiser, his life changed in a way just like this. His owner had never really been privy to his early life without her
Here are some photos of the little guy in question
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One brisk September evening, I was politely strolling around garbage-lined streets to find my next meal. Hopefully some human threw out a pizza crust, or even a can of tuna with some scraps left. Anything to eat at all would be sublime, just something to make my stomach stop growling a harsh tone. I then came upon a beautiful sight. There it was. Like a beacon of hope for my poor cat soul. A chicken wing right on the ground. It beckoned to me like it was just waiting for me. As I took my next several steps cautiously, my hopes of my next meal were crushed. This large, fat creature with a long, gangly tail and sharp, yellowed teeth scurried its way over to me. I took a step back as it snarled in my face.
“What do you think you’re doing here,” barked the Rat.
“Just looking for food,” I said meekly as my eyes darted to the ground.
“Get moving buddy, this is my street, my turf, and my food,”
the Rat’s tone became sharper and I knew if I did anything else, I would find a fight. As scared as I was, my hunger was a much stronger force than fear. As the rat looked on to me, I walked closer to the best meal I have seen in weeks.
“Look, I don’t want to fight you, but I will if I have to,” I told him, “my claws are long, I-I-‘ll scratch you”.
He scoffed at my remark, but before he could clench his jaw back together again, I was already ready and pouncing. I scratched and bit and clawed with all my might until a bloodied mess, formerly known as a rat, hurried off. I hoped that he told all his rat friends how scary I was. I don’t want to hurt anyone else, but I have to keep living. There has to be something else out there for me. Until then, I will roam these cold and unforgiving streets until something or someone else comes for me.
Until next time, love Budweiser
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Shivering and shaking with chattering teeth was all I could muster to do with myself on a freezing November evening. I longed for the warm embrace of a home, blankets, and consistent meals.
As the days got shorter and the nights got longer, I spent more and more time hiding in shadows observing the people around me. I saw into their homes and all the love these humans shared with each other. I wonder if I’ll ever get that same kind of love.
On this fateful night, it started to rain. The icy droplets hit my fur with such fervor. As I lapped up puddles of water, trying to find a positive in this situation. What a long night that was. I don’t even think I slept. I climbed under a bush and tried my best to stay dry and warm.
It was a tough battle with the natural world, but I made it out alive. Brighter, sunnier days will hopefully be ahead, I just hope to make it out of the winter alive. I just hope I won’t spend it being this wet and soggy. My fur gets too heavy when its wet and I don’t like it. Anyways, this was a hard day for me, but I made it through it. At least I can be proud of myself for something.
Until next time, love Budweiser
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One sweltering summer day I wanted to explore the city I have found myself in. I spent many days in the heat, walking on sweltering sidewalks and hoping for some sort of respite. I decided to pilgrimage to a new part of the city I have never been to. I see all of these people every day walk down into the earth, down stairs. The stairs have a little archway and name plate in front of them, and it says Southbound and train? I didn’t know what a Septa was either, but I found that out fast.
I trekked down the stairs into a dank, damp, and fluorescently lit cave. People would wait for the underground tube, but I think the humans call that the train. The train is so loud I don’t like it, but I walked right to the platform and patiently waited for my ride.
It was really scary, I can’t lie, there is a big cliff next to the yellow line at the platform. I tried to stay far away from that, I don’t wanna fall off! Anyway, the loud tube came to pick all of us up, and all of us got on. Every time the train stopped, more people would get on and off. I got nervous and I didn’t know when to get off, but City Hall seemed like a fun place to be, so I got off there. I was very careful to not fall into the cliff again when I got off the train, but that was scary too. I walked up all the stairs with the rest of the people that got off.
There are so many big buildings here! I saw so many parks, animals, and people! It was so fun! I overheard a family talking about a fountain nearby, and I was thirsty. I also thought maybe if I followed them long enough, they would let me go home with them!
It was a very long walk to that fountain. The walk was scary too! There were a lot of loud cars and they were driving fast. I had to run so none of them would hit me! I followed this family all the way there. The big lady gave the small person she was holding snacks while they were looking at the fountain. The small person kept crying and being loud, and it made me so sad. I tried to go make it feel better by trying to come and cuddle the small one. The big lady got mad at that though.
“Shoo! Shoo! Go away Cat!” Screeched the lady, clutching the small one in her arm, close to her chest. With her other hand she swiped me away. This made me even more sad as I walked away. I don’t know why they didn’t like me, I just wanted to help and be nice.
I walked through the fountain to cool off, and then I kept walking. I saw a cool building in the distance, before a really long road. I saw a bunch of cool fabrics hung up in the air all down the road as I walked.
At this big building, there were so many steps. They were very hard to walk up. There were so many of them. One after they other, they just keep stacking up. I had no idea why anyone would make a building with this many steps. I am a pretty fast cat, so I ran up all of the stairs. I haven’t been so tired in a very long time. There were so many and I was so tired, but looking at the city after I made it all the way up was amazing. The skyline is so beautiful to see! The views are so amazing. Every giant building looks so tiny from far away! I wonder how small I look from that far away.
I chased a lot of birds while I was walking through the city. It was amazing. This is basically my dream! I wish I could share these birds with other people. Life is getting kind of lonely being all by myself. I sat in the park with the fountain for the rest of the day and watched all the humans live their lives. I wish I could have a family like that. Hey, maybe if I go home and end up back where I was before, someone will find me and I’ll get loved like I want!
I am hopeful for the future to see what could happen in the future. I hope there is a family and a lot of birds in it. As for now, I’ll take that loud, scary tube home again. I think things can only get better for me.
Until next time, Love Budweiser
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I began tonight, like I would any other night. I spent most of it on foot, looking for a nice, safe, and warm place to stay for the night. Maybe even some food if I can find it. Then I came upon an old friend! Well, I had hoped he would be a friend… it was that pesky rat from before!
But then something happened. He waved at me? His husky, dark voice was now a meek whisper of what it once was.
“Hello again cat” his words echoed with a grave sadness in his voice.
“Rat!” I snapped back, “for such a mean guy like you, why are you acting so nice now?”
“I’ve been trying to find you, you see, I feel bad for what I did to you. Such a tiny little guy like you didn’t deserve that. I’m a big mean rat man and I’m sorry,” as the words left his little rat mouth he began to cry rat tears out of his rat eyes. I don’t like rats. Why are they so big! And mean! I don’t understand. I try to be nice to everyone. And these rats come along and ruin everything. All of it. Boy howdy do I sure not like those guys. You know what, I haven’t seen any mice though. Are you supposed to see mice in a big city like this? I’m not sure I’m just a cat.
I did not feel bad for this big, sad rat. I lost my dinner to him. That wasn’t cool.
“Okay Mr. Rat man, I’ve heard enough”, I sighed, “I know you’re sorry, it hurt my feelings when you took my food and said all those mean things to me, it really scared me! I accept your apology, but don’t do that again! Especially to other kitties!” As the last words left my mouth, I scurried off in the other direction away from the rat. I hope not to see him again.
Once I slowed down to catch my breath after a very long run away from the worst rat ever, I came upon a beautiful sight. Food! A bunch of chicken wings just for this car. How amazing. I guess I needed that rat to find me, so I could run away, and then find the food.
What a day have I had. Phew, I am hoping for greener pastures in the future. Actually I’m just hoping for love I guess. Hey if that rat can apologize, maybe this means people can change! Someone will want me, maybe I’ll find the fountain lady again.
Until next time, Love Budweiser
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One night I was taking a nap next to my favorite house. It has a sign that says Montgomery Beer. I think it looks pretty cool. I love this house because it has a big alley next to it. The alley is filled with plants and other greenery. It even has a couple trees! Those are the best. I love to sit under trees in the shade in the summer.
One night I was in my favorite spot, and I heard a bunch of ladies! I was kind of confused and scared at first because I didn’t know what they wanted from me.
They tried to feed me, but I was so overwhelmed that I ran away in fear. They left some food out for me though, and walked away. I thought they had left me forever, but they were just behind a corner where I couldn’t see them.
Slowly but surely, as I ate, they gave me more food. They gave me more and more dry food and I got more comfortable with them. They gave me a can of wet food, and I ate so much of it. It was so nice to have so much food. They were such nice ladies.
One of them picked me up, and the others followed us. Another one of the ladies pet me and fed me more wet food. We walked into a house, and up a flight up stairs. They gave me more food! I was so happy to be in a home with my new family. They were so nice to me.
But then they gave me a bath. I hate the bath. I hate the water. They said I was all dirty, so I needed a bath, but they are the worst. I feel bad, but I did scratch them a lot.
After the horrible bath, they gave me a nice warm towel and I was starting to get all cozy in my new home. Then they gave me my name!
”Well what should we call him?” Said one of the ladies, she was the one who started feeding me first.
“Fat Tire? Like the beer? Since we found him next to the beer store?” Asked another lady.
“Budweiser,” the perfect name for me. It was proclaimed by the one who gave me the bath. I scratched her the most, but now she’s my favorite.
Everyone agreed on Budweiser as the perfect name for me. I think it’s pretty great. I am so happy to finally be with people who love me just as much as I love them. I’m in the warm, lit houses that I used to see when I lived outside without them.
After a long night of eating and exploring my new home, I fell asleep in a cozy bed with my new best friend, the lady who gave me a bath. Her name is Colleen, I think she’s pretty cool. She is pretty cool because she feeds me and takes care of me, but she is pretty nice.
This was the best day ever!!!
Until next time, Love Budweiser
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