February 16, 2010
Kim says: I’d actually never intended to own a cat, but saw her crawling along the side of the road and shrieking in the rain and picked her up without thinking. Then got back to my apartment and panicked; I had no idea what to do with a kitten. Luckily she ate some solid food and didn’t seem to be injured (although fairly traumatised). I bought some expensive flea remedy at the vet and knocked up a Web site hoping to find someone to adopt her with cute photos. I found a potential adopter within a couple of weeks, but by then of course it was too late -- I couldn’t let her go! Fortunately my stay in Shanghai, which had been scheduled to end a few weeks after I found her, has been extended indefinitely. Utopia and I will be here together for the foreseeable future.
Since then the Web site has gone viral and I get fairly regular e-mails about her. Most people seem to assume she was abandoned by someone, but I expect she never had a home and somehow became separated from her mother (not that there were any obvious candidates in sight). There are lots of strays in Shanghai; you often see them being fed by elderly Chinese women.
These days Utopia busies herself with making sure all my possessions are on the floor where they can be comfortably chewed.
All Photos Courtesy of and ©: Kim Laughton
Kim is a professional artist and owner of Kim Laughton Photography in Shanghai; please visit his Web site to see more of his amazing work
Comments and LOLs:
Jin
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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WOW!!! I can see why she stole your heart!!
zuli
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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5 points
OMG those freckles! What a beauty!
Auriga
- 14 years, 2 months ago
104 points
SQWEEEEEEE! She's adorable!!
Wayne
- 14 years, 2 months ago
Thank goodness you came along for this precious baby. She will give you a lifetime of joy and love.
Vito Raliffe
- 14 years, 2 months ago
Thank you rescuing this wonderful kitty! Glad she has a happy home now.
mld1979
- 14 years, 2 months ago
26 points
Oh my goodness, that poor little baby! I'm glad you found her! :D
Smooch
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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736 points
How could you resist such a waif? Crying for help, she made sure she found a good caregiver! I'd find it hard to let her go too! And that tail - it is GORGEOUS! And those big eyes - love at first sight!
wokkawokka
- 14 years, 2 months ago
229 points
Oh my God! I am so glad you spotted her, she's PERFECT!
kingarthyr
- 14 years, 2 months ago
Tweet This LOL
31 points
Laura
- 14 years, 2 months ago
I'm so glad she stays with you... she is so adorable! <3
Krazy_cat
- 14 years, 2 months ago
One of the lucky ones...
Kephara
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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289 points
She's a little angel baby! How lucky for both of you that you happened along when you did.
Kayli
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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307 points
Peekaboo!
She is precious. Kitties are so wonderful. Take her with you, wherever you go :)
She is precious. Kitties are so wonderful. Take her with you, wherever you go :)
wokkawokka
- 14 years, 2 months ago
229 points
Those giant eyes! I can't stop looking at her, I want her for myself!
paulajeanne
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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629 points
poor little baby. So glad she has a good home with you.
mma
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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1405 points
I love Utopia's story; thank you, thank you for your kind heart. She's impossible to resist.
chocoluv
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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213 points
She's adorable with her brown and black tail!
boodie
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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111 points
OMG what a precious little babyboo she is, I love the tail, the tail is spectacular.
patboridout
- 14 years, 2 months ago
211 points
patboridout
- 14 years, 2 months ago
211 points
What a cutie!
GG
- 14 years, 2 months ago
28 points
I love to hear stories like this! what a great story! :) You saved little Utopia's life and in return she gave you the love you never knew you could have from such a small creature :)
Morgan
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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you knowm her markings almost look like chinese calligraphy! Perhaps it's the lighting in this shot, but it looks like that to me.
docsquid
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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642 points
She is absolutely adorable. She has the most wonderful little face and such unusual and beautiful colouring. How lucky she is that you found her and I can see how she stole your heart.
MissMyKitty
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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23 points
I love the spot on the back of her head. Perfect target for kisses! What a sweetie!
Natthecat
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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∞ points
Dear Kim--She's just beautiful. Her eyes look into your heart. You didn't stand a chance! Best wishes on much happiness together. The photos are winning.
Judith
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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19 points
You want me to eat what!!!
bono
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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181 points
Utopia has a really cool name, a really cool human and a most important life now. I would not be able to give her up, either. Your big heart will be rewarded tenfold!!
bono
- 14 years, 2 months ago
181 points
Alice
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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44 points
She's positivley adorable! It seems like you've made her a healthy happy kitten =)
BirmanMama
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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951 points
She looks so much like my kitty "Buttons". A friend of my parents gave her to me when I was three, so I don't remember what she looked like as a kitten. Your photos brought back wonderful memories of my "sister" who was with me until I was almost 17. Cute photos, great story and I'm glad you kept her. May you give each other as much joy as Buttons and I gave each other.
Judymack
- 14 years, 2 months ago
I foster kittens and all I can say is God Bless you for taking in this little pitiful waif and saving her life! She is very beautiful and unusual in her markings. If I had fostered her I might have had to keep her!
TigaMom
- 14 years, 2 months ago
1 points
Where is Dee from Tampa, and Instinct, and all the other old guys? Hi newbies, when is breakfast?
ksilver
- 14 years, 2 months ago
155 points
ksilver
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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155 points
I love her tail!
Kirsten
- 14 years, 2 months ago
What a cutie! FYI if you're from the U.S. and end up moving back, it's actually not that difficult to import pets. I adopted two stray kittens while living in Japan and was able to bring them back with me after jumping through just a few administrative hoops. Since we have rabies, etc here there's no quarantine period (as long as you aren't moving to Hawaii).
Cris
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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She's one lucky kitty to have crawled into your path. Take good care of her and she'll give you much love in return. She's a cutie, and I love that tail!!
navekitty
- 14 years, 2 months ago
Love her little 'kissy' lips!
kibblegirl
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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1057 points
Utopia finally looks relaxed and at home, after the heartbreaking start to her journey to you Kim.
She is so beautiful. Thank you for making her a keeper.
She is so beautiful. Thank you for making her a keeper.
brookepenn
- 14 years, 2 months ago
Thanks for saving her~ she's beautiful:)
catiam
- 14 years, 2 months ago
220 points
I wouldn't be able to give her up either. she is precious.
Shelley
- 14 years, 2 months ago
455 points
Shelley
- 14 years, 2 months ago
455 points
Shelley
- 14 years, 2 months ago
455 points
Shelley
- 14 years, 2 months ago
455 points
Tracee
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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115 points
What an adorable baby! Same thing happened to me when I rescued 2 feral kittens last Spring. Thought I would find homes for them - they captured my heart! Cats have a funny way of doing that =)
Shane
- 14 years, 2 months ago
it took me 2 seconds for my heart to me stolen too.
Jackie
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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91 points
Peek a boo. What a cute photo. Glad she found a happy home.
Peggy Robey
- 14 years, 2 months ago
I am so glad you saved her life,which is exactly what you did for her.She is beautiful and I hope you two have many years together.
LeCrosse
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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67 points
She is simply gorgeous, and YOU are an angel! Bless you both!
slpipal
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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13 points
Such a pretty kitten! You're so wonderful for taking her in and caring for her, she'll make such a wonderful impact on your life. She knows you saved her.
BooksandCats
- 14 years, 2 months ago
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502 points
Bless you for rescuing this sweet baby. Happy cat!
BooksandCats
- 14 years, 2 months ago
502 points
MoreKittens4Me
- 14 years, 1 month ago
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131 points
Ohh, poor thing. Definitely had a rough start at life. You're an angel to take her in and give her some love (and who wouldn't??)
Interesting coloring. I bet at first you thought she just had a dirty face. :-D
Interesting coloring. I bet at first you thought she just had a dirty face. :-D
smokey demon
- 14 years, 1 month ago
you don't choose a cat: a cat chooses you
Sambo'sMom
- 14 years, 1 month ago
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20 points
Wow! those first pictures are ??
well it's a wonder you took her in
but she sure turned out to be a Beauty, look at that little red top, she wears a hat at all times like a real little lady.
well it's a wonder you took her in
but she sure turned out to be a Beauty, look at that little red top, she wears a hat at all times like a real little lady.
Rattler
- 14 years, 1 month ago
244 points
Rattler
- 14 years, 1 month ago
244 points
What a beautiful kitten! I love calico cats!
callieisspooky
- 14 years, 1 month ago
She's a lucky cat - 4 white legs! According to the Chinese.
sara
- 14 years, 1 month ago
69 points
they are cute
sara
- 14 years, 1 month ago
69 points
my cat has ran away her name is kitty and she is very sweet she isnt to fond of men though
to see a pic come to my profile and check her out i appreaceate youre time
sorry im not a good speller
to see a pic come to my profile and check her out i appreaceate youre time
sorry im not a good speller
MissyofMissylandia
- 13 years, 11 months ago
780 points
Utopia is cute. I hope you and her will be together forever.
mrsjones
- 13 years, 11 months ago
5 points
Cece
- 13 years, 9 months ago
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3 points
She is so stately and lovely! How dare she be left on the side of the road! I'm so glad you rescued her!!!
awwwww
- 13 years, 6 months ago
wonderful! greetings from Holland
JennyDeOx
- 13 years, 6 months ago
What a beautiful little soul. There is both gratuity and profound sadness in her eyes. What a beautiful story.
Cloanka3
- 13 years, 4 months ago
47 points
Cloanka3
- 13 years, 4 months ago
47 points
Suzanne Major
- 11 years, 3 months ago
Thanks for saving Utopia's life. What a beautiful cat.
MsKabibble
- 11 years, 3 months ago
417 points
Glad I read the original story here. She is wonderful, as are you for rescuing her! I like her new pics from 2012.
giovannaciurli
- 11 years, 3 months ago
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∞ points
=^.^=***** I came here 'to see these first photos of small Utopia!
She 'a Nice little Tresaure!!!!!!!!
Thanks for saving her,and love her forever,and she 'Deliciously Sweet!
She 'a Nice little Tresaure!!!!!!!!
Thanks for saving her,and love her forever,and she 'Deliciously Sweet!
giovannaciurli
- 11 years, 3 months ago
∞ points
Sinamon
- 10 years, 9 months ago
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and this begins the lifetime love affair with boxes
amycats
- 8 years, 7 months ago
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-3.jpg)
641 points
What could I write (or say) that hasn't already been commented on...! Please don't ever give her up (and for heavens sake, never, never ever turn her loose in China ... if you ever consider giving her up, I'll fly to Shanghai to get her!
9or say)
9or say)
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