CATS
I've added the cats to my website because they are such an important part of my life. All rescued, they are my family, and spend a lot of their time sleeping on, under and around my desk, and help with my writing and plotting - and definitely with my characters. I've used all the cats' names as names of characters in my books - some more than others. With so many, I couldn't include photos of all of them - we had to draw straws as it was! - but these are some of my favourites - photos, that is, not cats.
* * *
Sadly, since this site was set up four years ago, several of our cats
featured here have died. Despite their awful starts, they had the best
of the rest of their lives with us, being spoiled rotten and we will never
forget them. I’ve decided to leave their photos on here for ever and ever
as a memorial because I loved them very much and always will. The ferals,
Jimmy-Floyd, Carlo,
Damian and Wayne,
who adopted us last year, are still with us, living in the lean-to and
still proving to be something of a challenge. We live in hope that one
day they might learn some social skills...
And I thought this picture of our bed may amuse you... Well, "our bed"
seems slightly optimistic. The furry blobs pictured here are Claudia,
Jonah, Luca,
Alexia and Otis.
Sometimes, if we're really lucky, we get to share with Dennis, Maddy and
Emily, too...
[Click on the picture for a bigger version]
Gus - an abandoned tom who lived rough for two years, being kicked and chased and generally abused, he came to us as a messy, terrified, antisocial animal that even the CPL couldn't handle. They'd failed to rehome him, and we took him in as a last resort. It has taken 3 years of TLC to nurture him into a fat and happy, playful and confident cat. One of our most difficult challenges - but one of the most rewarding.
Luca and Flo - feral brother and sister, their mother was caught and spayed by the CPL and immediately rejected them. There is apparently a possibility that their father was a fox - as they have far more canine characteristics than feline ones. When we took them in (and this photo was taken) they had cat flu and enteritis and were hissing spitting scratching balls of venom. 2 years on and they are affectionate, loving and very funny cats - still inseparable, they have adopted Gus as their substitute mum.
Frankie - we rescued Frankie 10 years ago from a house where she was being regularly tumble-dried for fun. She is still nervous, highly-strung, and a total prima donna - as goes with the tortoiseshell territory. Aloof and independent, she loves us - hates the other cats.
Clyde, Maddy and Ruud - an unholy trinity! Clyde has no teeth and a heart murmur; Maddy has only one functioning eye and one tooth; and Ruud was thrown out of a car on the bypass and hit by about six others. She came to us with her legs in splints and her mouth wired up - but has recovered really well. All spoiled rotten...