From Dambo to Little Boy: how one kitten became Liepāja's pride and mouse exterminator

When cat Mozart passed away in Lelde Vīksne's family, the house became quieter than Rose Square after a concert. A new four-legged family member was needed, and fate sent one from the Liepāja Cynological Society shelter.

The kitten was then called Dambo, which sounds like the name of some Riga café drink variety. But already at the first meeting it became clear - this little rascal would be the one. True, he didn't get home immediately, as he first had to be treated for enteritis. But even then it was clear to the veterinarian - this kitten was different. He didn't cower in fear, but licked the doctor's hands, as if understanding that he was being helped.

Today, five years later, former Dambo has become Bārnijs - lovingly called Little Boy at home. He has proven that shelter cats can be not only sweet, but also practical. Mice don't show up near the house, as the territory is under strict Little Boy surveillance. That's a better result than some Riga pest control services.

The most interesting thing is that Bārnijs has become a true Liepāja cat - he often waits for his owner near the bus stop when she returns from work. As the family says: "He's been our little boy for five years now." And that's good proof that adoption is a better choice than buying from an ad, where you might get a cat with a character as unpredictable as January weather in Liepāja.