Cat vacancy filled

[GrantP]

I remember in one of Dereks books where he mentions a lady telling him that the vacancy left by the death of one of his cats will be filled as cats know when there is a vacant spot (can't remember the exact words she used) and how Derek rubbished the idea at the time.

I lost a cat (my beloved 2 year old Phoenix aka Tinkerbelle) back in March after she was struck by a car. My family have been encouraging me to get another cat or kitten but I just couldn't bring myself to get one (how can you replace a loved one ?). I kept saying that if I am meant to have another cat one will turn up of its own accord and we won't be able to trace where she came from (note the two restrictions - untraceable and a she).

You guessed it - she turned up !! About 8 weeks ago this white (with a few spots) cat kept appearing everytime I put bread or scraps out for the birds, though whenever I tried to approach her she ran away. 6 weeks ago our 2 year old Grandson Tyler was staying and he saw the cat, walked up to her and started to pat her. She then moved in, attached herself to me and has taken over my bed.

We have named her Missy. She is not a lap cat and doesn't like to be picked up but is very talkative, loves human company and loves to be stroked. For the first week she hardly stopped eating - she was very skinny. As she filled out we realised that she was pregnant and she just kept getting bigger - she actually got so rotund that her belly reminded me of a donkey !!

New Years eve she became very restless, got onto my bed and between 6pm and 8pm she gave birth to four beautiful kittens. She and her babies remained on the bed so I ended up sleeping on the floor for the night but thankfully she has moved her family into a large, lowsided plastic box under my bed.

The cat vacancy has been well and truely filled and my family say I am now like a clucky old hen.

Grant.

ps I will be posting some photos next day or two.

[Barbara]

So happy for you, Grant.
We all know what beautiful Phoenix meant to you and how sad you were at her loss.
Sometimes it's almost impossible to imagine you will be able to get over such a loss, but as time heals and life moves on there is usually someone waiting to come into your life. I went through a very similar loss in September 2008. Our beloved little Gus Gus was run over. I couldn't even think about another cat for along time. Then slowly but surely we began to talk about having another one. We eventually adopted a little black and white kitten from 2000 miles away. It was all quite exciting on the day as she was first flown then driven in a pet taxi to our house - and yes, we love her very much and couldn't imagine life without her.
Can't wait to see the pictures of your new family - Missy and her babies.

[jane jackson]

How lovely Grant and now you have more than the one cat ~ how many will you keep? Hope it wasn't too uncomfortable sleeping on the floor ~ true devotion. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos.

Two of our cats had their kittens in our bedroom but luckily not on the bed. Kips had hers on top of some of my jumpers on a clothes shelf so when Gheera (one of those kittens) was near to having hers I made a comfortable nest for her on the same shelf but not with my good clothing. she must have liked the spot as she obligingly had her kittens there too.

Enjoy your new family.

[gloria townsin]

This has the makings of a 'Wavelength' story Grant........plus I seem to remember someone else dear to us making restrictions about how and if he would welcome a new cat into the home.

Look forward to the pics arriving. Lucky little Missy finding a nice place to have her family.

[Janet Swan]

The cat vacancy has been well and truely filled and my family say I am now like a clucky old hen.

Grant.

Grant, this is such a lovely story, and Missy and her kittens are just so lucky to have found YOU.

It is so true that cats just turn up. Five years ago, I still had Sophie, who was fast approaching 20, and I said I wouldn't have another cat after her as I wanted to move house and take more holidays in the future. Then Tia appeared in my garden, and, like Missy, she just kind of moved in. Sophie hated Tia and spent the last year of so of her life (quite comfortably) in the spare bedroom, while Tia took over the rest of the house. Now I just love Tia, which is why a) I haven't moved house and b) I only ever go away for max. 4 nights, because my good neighbours who care for her when I'm not here tell me how miserable she is without me!!!

Do keep posting more news of Missy and her family.

Janet

[adesmith]

What a lovely and heart warming story! The lady just up the road from us has a cat which turned up at her door and which turned out to be pregnant. One of them is a beautiful colour, a very pale ginger colour and almost beige. We couldnt describe the colour and he is so beautiful and I said that he is a peach colour. That still doesnt convey the colour but he is now called the Peach Cat by Rupert!

[tarn]

That's a lovely story, will you keep one or maybe two? I remember you said you liked Merlin who I am trying to rehome from his photo ,well this is definately a wavelength thing as about 30 minutes ago my neighbours son and his wife knocked at my door interested in giving Merlin a home!
Look forward to seeing some photos of them all.

[Linda]

New Years eve she became very restless, got onto my bed and between 6pm and 8pm she gave birth to four beautiful kittens. She and her babies remained on the bed so I ended up sleeping on the floor for the night but thankfully she has moved her family into a large, lowsided plastic box under my bed.

The cat vacancy has been well and truely filled and my family say I am now like a clucky old hen.

Grant.

ps I will be posting some photos next day or two.

now this is a true 'cat person'...love you Grant...!!! what a lucky lucky cat...she knew it though....a vacancy is sent out on the 'wire' and the most suitable cat is 'given' the position...note I say position...after all you are 'her' servant....

I for one will really look forward to these photos...oh! if only there was some way of us taking some of them...

Lovely Grant!

[GrantP]

Not sure yet how many of the kittens we will keep - I am tempted to keep them all but we will have to wait and see. Have had lots of offers for them.

Will be lovely to have a new home for Merlin - do hope it all works out.

Grant.

That's a lovely story, will you keep one or maybe two? I remember you said you liked Merlin who I am trying to rehome from his photo ,well this is definately a wavelength thing as about 30 minutes ago my neighbours son and his wife knocked at my door interested in giving Merlin a home!
Look forward to seeing some photos of them all.

[GrantP]

I have posted some photos of Missy and her babies in a new album. "Grant Pendergrasts Missy Album" Some aren't all that clear as I have been avoiding using the flash.

Haven't named the kittens yet as we want to wait till they are a bit older.

Grant.