Feline concerns

My parents have three cats. Molly and Monty, who are a couple of years old, and a tortoiseshell they have had since I was a teenager. I remember when Dad brought her home - it was a surprise, particularly as he is not that fond of cats generally. We already had Zoom, my beautiful black girl, and maybe Tiger or Sparkie had not long passed away. We called the tortoishell Gina because we liked the barmaid in BBC's "Heartbeat". DD calls her "Gines", which is our "pet" name for her.

Molly and Monty seem huge now, and a little strange-looking since I adopted a pair of tabby kittens a couple of months ago. I would like to say that these kittens are the first cats I've had since leaving home, but I can't. Mr Bojangles was a dear little guy who my husband brought home for me shortly after we moved in together even though, like my Dad, he is not particularly fond of cats. I didn't have him neutered and should have. I didn't have enough time to play with him and cuddle him and pat him and should have made the time. When I surrendered him to the RSPCA I took all his things with him, including the washing basket with it's pillow that he slept in in the laundry, and bawled the whole time. It wasn't his fault but he copped the consequences. What were the chances that they would find him a home, really? They must have put him down. So I realised these two full time professional, childless people were not the right people to "own" a cat, and decided I wouldn't commit myself to it again until I had children to play with them and cuddle them and pat them. Sorry, Mr Bojangles.

Peter Pan and Wendy are happy little kittens now they have settled in and can run around outside. When they come inside they want food and cuddles. DD is always happy to provide cuddles and Wendy is pretty good at dodging them, whereas Peter is so gentle and friendly that he instantly starts purring even when a toddler is holding him awkwardly across the middle and patting his fur in the wrong direction. They usually curl up together to sleep at night, which I love to see, and it's delightful to watch them chase each other around the garden, bouncing after butterflies or bees or moths. They are very cheeky and each will take the opportunity to line the other up just when they are trying to wee, then pounce on them before they are finished. They rush out to the car when I come home, and watch from the outside of the kitchen windowsill while I prepare dinner.

Gina wont make it to the end of the week. I held her last night and she is skin and bones. She laid on the grass letting mosquitoes land on her nose. I was afraid I would hurt her when I cuddled her and heard her joints crack, but she was purring. I asked her to say hello to Zoom for me.