When the rav of Kovna, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, zatzal, went to
a village across the river during the summer to enjoy some fresh air,
he forgot something. This is why he was on the main street of the
village early in the morning looking for someone to deliver a message
to his home.
One young man agreed to take a letter from Rav Spektor across the
river. He could not, however, resist the temptation to read the letter
and learn what urgent matter prompted his mission.
To his great surprise he discovered that the rabbi wrote that there was
a cat that always visited the yard of his home, and he was in the
practice of providing a dish of milk for its consumption. Since he was
away he asked that someone take over this responsibility.