Kats & Kits

Bob

Bob appeared a year or two after Liquorice to whom he has a striking resemblance.

Neighbours came to ask me if I could do anything about a stray cat that was terrorizing their cats. We set a trap and after a few attempts managed to catch him. Cat traps are not cruel, they work by the cat stepping on a plate when he goes in after food, and this closes the door. When I looked at him I could see he looked just like Liquorice, same shape and size and same speckled coat.

Bob has proved to be a character cat in every way and still lives with us at K&Ks. He is very popular with the ladies and usually has a harem trailing after him. The picture shows him going for supper with two of his girls.

We have never been able to establish if Liquorice and Bob were related but if another speckled black cat turns up, we will be very suspicious.

Fred

Freddie is an Abyssinian cross, thirteen years of age, very handsome but rather plump. He can be timid with strangers, and has a bolt hole behind the sofa to which he goes every time the door bell rings. (We need a new sofa, but have yet to find one that leaves a big enough space behind for Fred!)

He does however love his family, talking constantly, meows to humans and little sighing grunts to the other cats. He would never pass any of us without a greeting. His other great love is food, he can hear a packet or a tin being opened at several hundred yards and skids to a halt behind your legs in seconds. He has been known to have a quick whip around Thomas’ plate before starting on his own.

Probably because of this, six years ago Freddie developed diabetes. He is such a laid back cat that he has taken it in his stride, even reminding me when he thinks it is time for his injection, because injection means food. This of course has restricted both him and me , twice daily injections, following strictly, rules regarding food, and treating illness and infections quickly. So it is not to be recommended. However Fred seems very happy and makes us laugh every day.

What more can we ask?

Liquorice

Liquorice came into our lives several years ago through my cat flap.

One evening I heard a loud bang, went to the kitchen, to find a large black cat sitting in the middle of the floor. I have never been sure if he came on his own or if someone pushed him through the flap because they knew I worked for the rescue. He was very large with a strange speckled black coat, a typical entire tom.

After several attempts to put him back outside I realised he wasn‘t going anywhere, so I decided to ask the neighbours and see if anyone knew him. He followed me up and down the garden paths like a dog and, when we had no luck, followed me home again. He spent the night in the shed, and when I got up the next morning he was washing in the sun waiting for his breakfast.

As you will have gathered he was a very good natured cat but quite determined to stay. While we made more enquires he came to K&Ks and was very happy with us. After several weeks, no one had come forward and he was neutered and rehomed at the local village pub, where he was a great favourite with the customers.

We have always suspected he is related to Bob but have never had any proof.

Thomas

Thomas is a ginger tabby, same age as Freddie, thirteen years old. He is a lean mean hunting machine. My neighbour’s garden overlooks a railway embankment that hasn’t been used for years and is wild and overgrown, this is Thomas’ territory and woe betide any other cat that enters.

Not only has he taken over the garden but the humans as well, demanding to be let in if it rains and he needs to shelter, bringing them mice, rats and birds as a thank you. Luckily they are cat lovers and enjoy his visits. Because of his lifestyle, frequent worming and flea treatments are needed to keep him well and healthy.

Thomas is the only cat I have owned that can open the cat flap even when it is locked, so if he is late in at night I try to stay awake to block it off and keep him in, which can sometimes prove difficult, as he would rather be in and out all night sleeping on your head for an hour or two, having a quick snack of tuna and chicken, then off out to check his territory again.

When Thomas deigns to give you his attention he can be very affectionate, but he is just as likely to stalk by and with a flick of his tail ignore you completely. Do we love him? Of course we do.