The narrative begins with a friend of the mother, Aunt Luda, finding a small, beautiful kitten on her apartment threshold. Due to family circumstances, Aunt Luda couldn't keep the kitten, so she and the mother decided to find the kitten an owner. The story takes an unexpected turn when the kitten, named Vaska, is found living in the entrance of Aunt Luda's apartment due to severe frost outside. The kitten is well-groomed, clean, and litter-trained, indicating it was once a pet. The kitten is given a tray with food and water, and the entrance is inspected daily to prevent the kitten from causing inconvenience.
Despite the kitten's well-being, the chairman of the cooperative gives the kitten three days to find a new home, or else she will call animal control to take the kitten to an unpleasant place. The kitten is then taken home and thoroughly washed, and the family's other pets are introduced to him. Vaska becomes friendly with the other pets, and the family decides to make an announcement to find him a new home.
The announcement attracts responses, some of which are strange or suspicious. The family receives calls from people who don't inspire confidence, including a drunk woman who tries to convince the family to give her the kitten. The family refuses, insisting on knowing where the kitten will live and with whom.
Finally, the family finds a suitable home for Vaska with a family that has many children. The family is initially worried about the presence of small children, but they are reassured when the family shows their previous cats. The family leaves Vaska with the new family, but they feel a strong desire to go back and pick up the kitten.
The narrative ends with the family returning to pick up Vaska, and the family expresses hope that the new family will soon have a furry friend.
1. This story begins a month before the New Year.
2. Aunt Luda found a small, incredibly beautiful kitten on the threshold of her apartment.
3. Aunt Luda, a kind person, felt sorry for the kitten but could not take it due to family circumstances.
4. Aunt Luda and the mother of the speaker decided to find the kitten's owner.
5. The kitten lived in the entrance of Aunt Luda's apartment for several days due to severe frost outside.
6. The kitten was well-groomed, clean, and litter trained, suggesting it was once a pet.
7. The kitten was well-behaved and did not harm anyone.
8. The chairman of the cooperative gave the kitten three days to leave, otherwise, the animal service would be called to take the kitten away.
9. The kitten was taken, played with, and thrown away like a used tea bag by some people.
10. The kitten was brought home and thoroughly washed from the dirt and entrance aromas.
11. The kitten was friendly with all the other pets in the house.
12. The kitten was cleaned and dried after a bath.
13. The kitten was described in an advertisement as a handsome, affectionate, and trained cat.
14. The kitten received many calls from people who were not inspiring confidence.
15. The kitten was given to a family with many children.
16. The speaker felt a strong desire to go back and pick up the kitten after leaving it with the new family.
17. The speaker was worried about the presence of small children in the family where the kitten was placed.