A ONCE sickly, stray kitten is spending her first Christmas in a warm, loving home thanks to her wandering through a cat flap in search of shelter.
Kate Dworak, of Northolt, a nurse for one of the Blue Cross's animal hospitals, fell in love with the tiny animal soon after she was brought to her.
Maya, was just eight weeks old when she arrived through the door of a family who were settling down for their Christmas dinner. They took her to the animal hospital in Victoria, near where they lived.
Ms Dworak, 36, said: "Little Maya was very poorly, underweight and dehydrated when she arrived on Christmas Day. She was a scrawny kitten, barely old enough to be separated from her mum. She would never have survived on the streets on her own.
"Everyone was warning me not to get too attached to her because we weren't sure if she was going to make it. But when she sat on my lap and started purring, I couldn't help it."
Staff cared for her for a month until she was strong enough to be rehomed. By this time Ms Dworak and fallen in love with the kitten.
She added: "My cat Felix, who I also adopted from the Blue Cross, had to be put to sleep a month before Maya arrived which was very emotional. Initially I took her home to foster while she gained strength but I knew I would keep her. It was the best decision I have ever made and helped me get over the loss of Felix.
"If she'd not wandered through that cat flap she probably she probably wouldn't have survived another year, she's my Christmas miracle."
Both have now been given one of the best Christmas presents they could wish for as they will be spending this one together. Visit www.bluecross.org.uk to find out more about the Blue Cross charity.
