Several years ago, our family was visited by the most beautiful cat we had ever seen. She was like a chocolate, toffee and vanilla ice cream. Her long hair swirled into the most adorable tufts, we fell instantly in love! Not only did she look gorgeous but she had the most amazing, gentle personality.
It was quite obvious that no one cared for her, her hair was mattered (soon remedied after buying a brush!), she was constantly hungry and CRAVED attention. After some weeks, she put on weight and I noticed a little bump growing in her tummy!
We were caring for a stray, pregnant cat, I'm not sure I wanted kittens! I rang the local animal authorities with my concerns, did I know she was a stray? No! Please find out before you ring us, unless you have evidence she's being neglected! Not very helpful!
Anyway, out came the magnifying glass and off I went to find out. A trail led me to Mr Not-Very- Nice-To-Cats Man, or NVNTCM, it's too long to type! I explained my concerns, he's only little so didn't feel too scared!
He said he though 'it' was pregnant, he'll keep 'it' in! I asked what her name was, Minnie, well at least she had a name! My girls were so upset that she had an owner, please could I go back and ask for her!
I couldn't. Mr NVNTCM, had a 5 year old son, we can't take someone's cat from them, can we? We didn't see Minnie for a week or so, then heard she'd had her kittens. She then turned up at our back door, looking awful, her fur was mattered with afterbirth from the kittens, she was hungry and looked sad. We gave her a cuddle, something to eat, then closed the door.
I explained to the girls not to go to the windows or door, she now had kittens to look after, if we encourage her, she will abandon them. It was horrible listening to her meows but after a while she disappeared. The next day we were told she had died, complications after the birth. There were lots of tears. I still feel guilty that I didn't keep her and fetch the kittens.
Now fast forward two years, and this little minx turned up on our garden! She was a tiny kitten, not very old. We were clearing up some branches and she had great fun diving on them as we dragged them up the garden?
Over the weeks she visited us more and more, and yes, we fell hook line and sinker! Again, it was obvious she was being neglected, I just knew where she was from! I went to see Mr NVNTCM, yes 'it' belonged to them. However, before I'd even asked the question, he asked if I wanted her! She's been with us ever since. What shall we name her? Minnie of course. We love her. Mr NVNTCM, hasn't had a cat since, I keep my eye on him!
Minnie was soooo grateful to us for taking her in, that she gave us a pressie. Well lots actually, they were only small, so didn't take up too much room! Not having looked after a cat before, I hadn't given fleas a second thought! We've told Little Bea that she just had heat lumps!
She's a much loved, well looked after cat, who's regularly given flea treatment, not going back there again! She's never far away, often by my side or on my lap, and she's almost stopped diving on our feet and digging her sharp teeth into our flesh!
Her favourite spot is in the sunny conservatory!
What I love about cats is that you never own them, they own you! At any point, if she's not happy, she could just up and leave, but for now, she chooses to stay! She's got a good life!
Ada :) x