Back in early 1996 I was in line for a job that would have meant working in US for a while and i was very excited about it. I didnt get the job in the end despite 3 interviews and i was gutted. That weekend I went out by myself with the intention of some retail therapy to cheer myself up and found myself sitting in a cafe reading a local paper. I spotted an ad for kittens for sale, and decided there and then that was what i needed.
I would like to say at this point that being dissapointed in the job market is NOT a good reason to get a pet. And neither is it a good reason to get a pet when your hubby has specifically stated he doesnt want pets. Just thought i would mention that.
Anyway, I took off there and then in search of a kitten, I even armed myself with a cat basket, as I knew at that point I wouldnt be going home without one.
I think i followed up about 5 or 6 ads that day looking for the purrfect kitty, and finally ended up in a village not too far from me, actually the last one on my list, for a kitten advertised as 'part persian, part scruffy tom who had no right to be sniffing round my prize Cleo'.
When i got there, there were 2 kittens left from a litter of 6, aged 12 weeks. I walked in to this house, and was immediately met with 2 of the most beautiful tabby kittys I had ever seen, identical like peas in a pod. Softest fur you could imagine, and such bright little eyes. They were playing with each other chasing up and down the stairs. I knew at that moment that I could never have just one, how i could part them?
On the way home I decided that their names were Sophie and Rose. So i got home and walked in the house with this cat basket, and hubby said 'what have you got there'. He didnt say much else all day, but that evening as we were going up to bed, hubby said, 'I suppose you should bring them up to bed with us'.
And that is where they have mostly slept ever since.
Despite being identical apart from the fact that Rose has 2 white toes and Sophie has 3 white toes (the only way we could tell them apart for a long time), they have totally different personalities. Sophie is ultra loving, always purring, and totally besotted with my son Rob, who is likewise besotted with her. Rose will turn her back on you as soon as look at you, and really couldnt give a damn, but she has the most amazing character and has become my soul mate.
Rose went on to have a litter of kittens, as I hadnt got them spayed quickly enough (that was soon sorted out!) and she had 6 kittens, one of whom was the brightest little button you could imagine. He looks black but when you get him in the sunshine his fur is the colour of Coca Cola. I called him Freddy after Feddy Mercury, as he was obviously destined to be a super star, but hubby named him Fats, after Fats Domino, so Fats he has remained.
Sophie and Rose are now 14 and half and Fats is 13 and half. Fats is quite a big cat, but totally soppy and lazy, Rose is the smallest and the one in charge and she will think nothing of cuffing Fats round the ear for no other reason than he probably looked at her wrong. Sophie on the other hand loves Fats and will spend ages grooming him.
On Saturday, I found Sophie lying on the kitchen floor unable to stand. It seems that she has had a small stroke or some neurological problem, and now her left legs are partly paralysed. We have taken her to the vets twice since then, and she is slightly improving. She could only lie on her side on Saturday, but now can can stand up, although very unsteadily. She isnt in any pain, but is just confused by what has happened to her. Im heartbroken of course, Ive no idea where this is going, how much she is likely to improve or what her quality of life is going to be.
Having talked it over with the vet we are just going to see how she progresses over the next week or 2.
She is just as loving, just as purry as she always has been, and the highlight of her day is when my son gets home from work. She will even try to get out of her basket to go to him.
Its brought home to me how lucky we are to have our cats, each different in their own way and each an essential part of our family. I know they are all getting on now, but I cannot imagine life without them, and hubby loves them just as much as I do. I dont know how much longer we will have Sophie, and what has happened to her could happen to any of them. I just treasure each day that they are with us.
