Hi, I’m Viktoria, and animals have always been an important part of my life. From a very young age, I felt a connection to them and a strong sense of empathy toward animals in need. Over time, this love grew into action, especially when it came to helping stray cats. I created Whiskers & Wishes to share my experiences, raise awareness about animal welfare, and show that helping animals is something anyone can be part of.
Growing Up With Pets
I grew up in a household where animals were never just “pets”, but family members. Throughout my childhood, my family and I cared for many different animals, including fish, turtles, hamsters, a bunny, a guinea pig, a dog, and many cats. Each one came with responsibility, routines, and emotional attachment, and through them I learned how much care and attention animals truly need.
Having animals around taught me important values such as patience, responsibility, and kindness. It also helped me understand that animals communicate in their own ways and depend completely on humans for safety and love. These early experiences shaped how I see animals today and influenced my desire to always protect them.
When Animals Started to Matter Beyond My Home
My love for animals was not limited to the ones living in our home. As a child, I spent hours watching documentaries about wildlife and reading animal encyclopedias, fascinated by different species and their environments. I also had a phase where I wanted to become a vet! Learning about animals made me more aware of how vulnerable they can be. Over time, I began to understand that animals experience fear, pain, trust, and affection just like we do. For me, animals were no longer just something I loved, but something I felt I needed to protect.
How My Family and I Started Helping Stray Cats
As I grew older, I became more aware of the number of stray cats around me. At first, helping meant leaving food and water outside our apartment building. Then, it slowly turned into something more serious like taking them to the vet to get checked or sterilized, my dad building a big wooden house for them to hide when it rained, and searching for people willing to adopt small kittens who still didn’t know how to survive outside.
My family has always supported this journey, and together we have helped more than fifteen cats over the years. Some needed medical care, some needed time to trust humans again, and all of them needed a safe place. Our home often became a temporary shelter, and seeing these cats improve reminded me how powerful compassion can be.
My Life With Rescued Pets Today
Today, my home is still full of animals, each with its own story. I share my life with my nine-year-old dog Lina, a Yorkshire Terrier, and several rescued cats. Antonio has been with us for eight years after being found in a box next to a trash bin outside our apartment building. Mark came from the block next to our home almost blind but now he lives happily despite being completely toothless, after his gums became infected. Evdokia, who is missing two fingers on her paw because a car ran over her and who also has only one kidney, is a daily reminder of how resilient animals can be. Most recently, we are temporarily caring for a blind cat, Miranda, until we find her a safe and loving family.
Why I Created Whiskers & Wishes
I started Whiskers & Wishes because I wanted a space to share real stories about rescue, care, and hope. This blog is not only about happy endings but also about the challenges, emotions, and responsibilities that come with helping animals. My goal is to raise awareness about stray cats and encourage others to get involved, even in small ways.
Through this blog, I hope to show that helping animals doesn’t require perfection or expertise, but only empathy and willingness. Every shared story, photo, or tip is meant to inspire kindness and action.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. This blog is just the beginning, and I look forward to sharing more experiences, updates, and advice in future posts!!!
- What was your first pet? 🐾
I’d love to hear your story in the comments.