The Adventures of Raisin – The Trek

It was love at first sight.

From the moment I crouched in the gravel parking lot in downtown Damascus, dirtying the knees of my pink pants borrowed from the local shelter, and looked into the dark wheel well of a truck outside the restaurant, I saw his furry little face, full of fear, and I knew. Its round, gray-green eyes looked up at me from under the truck, wide with desperation as I shone my flashlight to see where the meow was coming from. I would do anything to protect this little kitten and make him feel safe.

Her anguished little meow was barely audible. I had just had a big breakfast at the restaurant (egg sandwich, hash browns, pancakes loaded with butter and fake maple syrup, and coffee with way too much sugar: a hiker’s delight) and I had no idea that my day and my life were about to change. Instead of walking to Tennessee as planned, I would spend the next few hours walking with a small, black, furry, adorable kitten, trying to figure out what to do with such a sweet, innocent creature. I also had no idea that as the day progressed, I would become completely attached to it, give it a name, and eventually decide that I couldn’t give it up. I had to keep it. I was committed. And that I would somehow get him a ride from southern Virginia to western Massachusetts, to my mother’s house, where he would be waiting for me when I got home from my AT hike.

Recovering the kitten

I called him Raisin. Raisin is as cute as cats can be, and appropriately, he looks like a raisin. Perfectly round face. The softest black fur you’ve ever felt. Large ears, very disproportionate to the rest of him. Its tail is a short tuft of fluff and every time it sees it, it tries to pounce on it. He has little white touches of fur scattered all over his half-kilo body, which adds some character.

sleepy kitten

Things wouldn’t have gone well for him where he was, deep in the inner workings of the underside of a pickup truck. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen if the owner of the truck got out, started the vehicle, and drove off with Raisin still there. I couldn’t leave him there with a clear conscience.

I reached under the car and reached out to gently grab the cat by the scruff of the neck, and was able to retrieve it. I first brought him back to the hostel. I cradled him in my arms like a baby and began to think of him that way. His little paws gathered together like a bouquet next to this belly and he looked at me as if I were his mother. I looked back into his eyes, amazed by his adorableness, almost crying when I thought about what could have happened to him. He looked at me as if trying to determine if he could feel safe or not, leaning toward yes. Once he was in my arms, he calmed down and stopped meowing. I was surprised by how calm he was and how much he liked to be held.

Carrying this ball of fluff around town

Become attached

I tried not to let the thought of keeping this little one get into my head, it wasn’t practical. I had over 400 miles left to go. But I couldn’t help it. When I asked at the shelter, they didn’t want it. The person who runs the place said there is a stray cat problem in the city and he receives many requests to save them. This didn’t change the fact that I had an adorable, helpless, purring kitten in my arms right at that moment. I considered trying to end my hike with Raisin, but ultimately decided it would be too risky for her well-being and my stress levels.

I packed my things and walked with Raisin in my arms to the supplier to see if they had any idea what to do. A kind vendor employee and I spent hours trying to find Raisin a home. In the end, I called off the search. I realized that I wanted to stay with Raisin. I had fallen in love with him all day. Since he no longer had a cat family, I thought I could be his new family.

Hanging on the owner

As Raisin ate more and gained energy during the day, he became more and more playful, although he was still quite sleepy. He loved to snuggle into my neck and purr. He tossed and turned in his sleep. Learning all his little gestures made me grow fonder of him and I realized that he was completely comfortable with me. I took him to the vet and they told me he was healthy and gave him a precautionary dewormer.

Bring raisins home

I can’t believe my luck, as I excitedly tried to find a way to get Raisin from here to my home in the north. I called my hiking friend, who lives nearby, and it turned out that she was planning a trip to Massachusetts, near my mother’s house, that same week. I am so grateful that you accepted the task of taking a five-week-old kitten with me on his long trip up the East Coast. My mom happily agreed to take care of Raisin too until I got home from my walk.

Saying goodbye to Raisin for the next two weeks was difficult. I feel like he’s my son, even though I’ve only spent a day and a night with him. I texted my mom, joking, “Is this what it feels like to drop your kid off at preschool for the first time?” She replied, «No, that’s what it feels like to leave your daughter alone at the beginning of her walk.» I chuckled.

Something must have aligned in the stars to allow Raisin and me to meet that random morning in the middle of my walk. I am so grateful to have a sweet, furry new being in my life and I can’t wait to come home and see him. This experience has given a huge boost to my steps for the rest of my hike. And the impromptu day off for Raisin was worth it.

I say goodbye to my little friend for the next few weeks.

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