2. Mama Mia
Mia when she was a stray (probably pregnant!)
Mia once she'd moved in and had kittens
Mia was a stray who kept turning up at my
house. One of the neighbours put a note
through my door asking if she belonged to
anyone as she was concerned.
I phoned the
number listed
on the leaflet
and told the
lady she had
been coming
into me too
The lady told me she belonged to a neighbour down the
road but wasn't being fed enough.
Then a few months later Mia arrived again and delivered
a litter of kittens in my home. I rang the lady again and
explained I was going to take her in.
Mia was so poorly I wasn't sure her kittens would live for
very long it was an anxious few days
3. Mia and her kittens
But I gave Mia lots of protein and some of
the other neighbours she befriended
dropped by to see the kittens and brought
her fresh fish.
Eventually she grew stronger and the
kittens grew and I began searching for new
homes
A friend of mine took 2 in and friends of my
little sister took another.
I decided to keep 2 myself who were a little
poorly compared to the others.
Merlin had some breathing problems and
Marley was a little smaller than the others.
Unfortunately ALL the kittens then got cat flu
which can be fatal in cats …..
4. Mia's Kittens
Thankfully all the kittens survived the cat
flu but two have been left with a few
problems.
Merlin sitting here with his brother Marley,
is prone to getting colds. Everytime the
season changes he gets hayfever like
symptoms. When he was younger he
used to really cry he doesn't like feeling
poorly. Angel (his sister) needs special
food as she has a poorly tummy as a
result of the virus.
Merlin does have a habit of getting into trouble. He is much larger (taller) than the others
and is quite clumsy for a cat. As a result he has enormous claws but still regularly falls off
the sofa and walls!
When he was just a few weeks old I came home to find he wouldn't put any weight on his
back leg. I took him to the vet who said there's nothing wrong with him, it's possible he
hurt it and now won't put weight on it. This was a sign of things to come he's a typical male
and feels very sorry for himself when things are not right!
5. All Grown Up
Angel, Mia's only little girl
looks so much like her mum
though
Very intelligent, bright and
active cat
Ziggy (in front) and Billy
Tabby and similar
except one has bright
yellow eyes like his
mum (Billy)
Merlin (black) and Marley
Merlin was named for his secret
magic stripes that you see only in
certain lights. Marley was because
a good friend of mine wanted to call
one “Bob” so we settled on Bob
Marley lol
6. Billy and Ziggy
Billy wanting to know where his
dinner is !
Ziggy stretched out after a belly rub
As Billy and Ziggy went to near by friends I
have been able to watch them grow up. When
the family goes away on holidays I go and look
after them.
Such a privilege to watch them grow. They
both know me well. Which is fantastic and I
love looking after them. I am grateful that they
survived such difficult beginnings
7. Marley and Merlin
Marley sitting on knitted blanket I made for him
Merlin stealing unfinished crochet blanket
Marley and Merlin do cuddle up together in
the winter and sometimes call for each
other and play together.
Marley stays close to my side he's like my
shadow and never far from home. I do
however frequently find him walking behind
me when I go out and have to chase him
home!
Merlin despite his trips to the vets is
happy and content. He's incredibly
talkative and loud about it! He talks to
everyone and anyone.
He loves my mum and it's quite funny
when she comes to stay as he shows off
in front of her. He makes out like he's the
big boss when he really isn't at all. Most
of the time he's a scaredy cat! Lol
8. Mia
So that's the story of Mia and her kittens
Mia still spends most of her summer outside
but does come in every day for food. She still
goes and visits the neighbours who took care
of her when she was a stray.
She definitely chose me. I had to go away once
for work and my mum came to stay. She told
me that Mia was okay for the first few days.
Then she sat on the arm of the chair by the
front door for 3 days only coming down for
food. Before eventually realising I was away for
a while.
It took ages for her to find her voice. She never
mewed at me at all. I often wondered if she
would ever cry for anything again.
Then one day suddenly out of the blue she spoke. It was a long time before she
would sit on my lap too. She wanted to but just couldn't find the trust. But we got
there in the end. She does the most adorable thing where she puts her poor softly
on my cheek as if to say “I love you and thank you” melts my heart every time
