Yes, I'm aware that Suzy wasn't a dog, but somehow it wouldn't be fair to leave her out, she was just as much a part of the family as the dogs are....
We found Suzy one day in our kitchen staring at the fridge. She had appeared from nowhere and to this day we have no idea how she got in!
After feeding her some ham, she returned every day to be fed.
It wasn't long before she had moved in and we had bought her a lovely cat bed, a collar, some feeding bowls and various cat toys.
We even had a special panel in our newly built conservatory for a catflap to be fitted so that she could come and go as she pleased.
It was over 12 months before we discovered that she actually lived next door! The neighbour (Who had just moved in when Suzy started visiting us) came round asking me if I would mind looking after her cat whilst they went away on holiday adding, "I think you have already been feeding her" !!
The best part about those 2 weeks is that we didn't have to pay for her food, because her 'real' owner supplied it for us whilst she was away.....We might not have owned Suzy, but she had decided that she owned us! lol
A couple of years later the neighbours moved leaving their (our?) beloved cat with us, saying that it was clear that she much preferred our home to theirs.
She spent the first few years with us drifting in and out of the house when she felt like it, bringing in delightful daily treats for us through her catflap.....a mouse one day, a frog, a bird the next!
Such a generous soul!!
I lost count of the number of times we spent chasing some poor Field-mouse around the house until we could catch it and release it back into the wild! Or return home only to find a bird dive bombing us as we walked in. Oh no! She didn't kill them...she was thoughtful like that!
Then old age started to kick in (It happens to us all!).....She no longer wanted to pee and poo outside, she much preferred the bath or the kitchen sink!
So we bought her a litter tray :)
During her last couple of years with us she didn't go out much at all. She spent most of her time lying next to me, either on my feet or sat as close to me as she possibly could staring at me and constantly tapping me with her paw for attention...I think living with 2 dogs finally got to her! Now and again she would climb on my knee and allow me to fuss her...until she decided she'd had enough, then she would bite me lol.
She LOVED being brushed in her last few years and I would brush her most nights.
She was always very vocal, but got more so towards the end...She would meow for no apparent reason, but also meow every morning to greet me when I got up, the same when I came back home from being out......Sometimes I found her meowing for no apparent reason amusing, many times I found it irritating (which I regret now with all my heart) because I didn't understand what she wanted and nothing I did would stop her doing it (Dementia had clearly set in)
During her last couple of years with us she didn't go out much at all. She spent most of her time lying next to me, either on my feet or sat as close to me as she possibly could staring at me and constantly tapping me with her paw for attention...I think living with 2 dogs finally got to her! Now and again she would climb on my knee and allow me to fuss her...until she decided she'd had enough, then she would bite me lol.
She LOVED being brushed in her last few years and I would brush her most nights.
She was always very vocal, but got more so towards the end...She would meow for no apparent reason, but also meow every morning to greet me when I got up, the same when I came back home from being out......Sometimes I found her meowing for no apparent reason amusing, many times I found it irritating (which I regret now with all my heart) because I didn't understand what she wanted and nothing I did would stop her doing it (Dementia had clearly set in)
I did try to encourage her to go outside, to get some fresh air and exercise, but being a very vocal cat, she would just at the door looking all pitiful making the most horrendous howling noises, to the point that once a lady called round saying she was very concerned because she could hear a cat in great distress. I had to explain to the lady that this was the noise she always made when she wanted a door opening...the most joyous time for her to do this was at 3 oclock in the morning when she wanted to come into our bedroom!
....but I would do anything now to hear her meowing :'(
Sadly at the age of 19 we had to have Suzy put to sleep....She was a grumpy old thing, but I miss her deeply.
I miss you Suzy :'( More than I ever thought possible...You were always there, you were such a character and I loved you ♥
Thank you for turning up at my fridge that day.....
