My favorite Christmas movie is so old I don't even remember the name of it. It was a made-for-TV movie, and it only showed a couple of times, it would have been somehwere around 1970 (I know, I know, some of the Pet Talkers weren't even BORN yet!)

It was about a little boy who lived in the inner city. He was so poor and had such a bad home life that he didn't have much hope and didn't really care about anything. He was headed to a life of crime and drugs.

But one day, he found a little kitten in an abandoned refrigerator. He knew he couldn't bring it home, so he snuck blankets and food to him. When his mom realized how much tuna was going missing from the pantry she confronted him, and he admitted he was feeding the kitten. She told him to stop. He then started doing odd jobs to buy the kitty food. We saw how suddenly he was a different little boy when he had something to love and care for and something to love him back.

But this was the inner city, and the little kitty was killed in traffic.

The boy was devastated, but soon began to realize all the lessons the little kitty had taught him - that through love, understanding and compassion there is hope and a reason to live.

Since it was set during Christmas, I assume it has an allegory about the birth of Christ.

Sorry this is so long, but after all these years I still remember that movie.