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I know it may seem like an odd name, but she chose it.

I was in college in 1999 when one of my classmates told me he needed to find a home for a female kitten who had been rejected by her mother at just one month old.

Photo: Andrea Herrera

I took her in, and she was nothing but skin and bones. At first, I had to help her eat, but little by little, she started to grow stronger.

Before long, we became best friends. She is unlike any other cat I’ve ever known—very quiet, but deeply loving. It often feels like she listens and understands everything we say to her.

I remember one particular time when my mom decided to care for a chicken and her six eggs, which soon hatched. I spoke to her like a person: “Nicanora, please don’t eat them! Mom would freak!”

To my surprise, she didn’t touch the chicks at all—even though she loved hunting birds.

Two years ago, she became very sick and went missing for two weeks. We thought she had died and began to mourn her. Then, suddenly, she came back—thin and fragile, but ready to recover.

She is fifteen now and still the very best. She loves my five-year-old and continues to live a happy, peaceful life.

I am so grateful to have her as part of my family.

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Story submitted by Andrea Herrera from Heredia.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!