It's estimated that there are upwards of 70 million stray cats in America. Kitties are known for their independence and their ability to thrive in the wild, but my heart still breaks when I see babies struggling on the street. I ran across a tiny crying kitten and my heart just burst. She was only about 2 pounds, covered in fleas and her little bones stuck out of her flesh.
I took her home intending to clean her up, get her healthy and find a great home for her. It turned out that she was even more sick than she looked, infected with Giardia and worms. It took weeks of trips to the vet, fluids, scans, etc. to get her diagnosed, healthy and eating. After all of the love and vet bills, I couldn't stand to give her up. She's now basking in a life of luxury with lots of purring, massages and tender loving care.