by J A Wright

Created on: August 30, 2009

There have been cats around me for most of my life and I like it that way. A house becomes a home with a cat for me.
We've had some characters over the years, each with their own personalities and traits.

Samson
My parents cat when I was very small was a black and rugged tom who was prone to extended holidays in a typically tom cattish way. As a result when he did come home I used to shut him in my dolls house to play with him and to keep him in, either that or the holidays were a result of the dolls house.

I remember wishing he was around more but as a toddler I don't think I was very nice to him. Still, he was tolerant and didn't hurt me.
He was on one of his holidays when we moved house and despite my parents efforts, we never saw him again. The house backed onto woodland though and I expect it was some small relief to go about his normal life without having to make obligatory trips to see the humans and their awful daughter.
Samson is a great example of tolerance. They might have claws and tempers but cats can be amazingly tolerant of young children, as my current pets and toddlers can testify.
My memories of Samson are the first I have of pets. To me he was a loveable live toy but on reflection he was a very loyal and gentle creature and he began my love of cats as pets.

Dinky
We had another cat soon after we knew Samson wasn't to be found, a petite black and white female who soon became pregnant and gave birth to a litter whilst I was on holiday with my grandparents. I was most upset about that. I had been desperate to see all these tiny kittens I just knew I'd adore.
The queen died soon after giving birth, along with one of the kittens, so we kept Dinky out of the litter when they were old enough to go their separate ways. She was a very affectionate black and white cat.

My strongest memory is of her making mess on top of my board games when shut in the lounge one day and me shoving them away from her bottom at a rate of knots.... the first time I'd encountered a cat doing something I didn't like.
Dinky demonstrates the fact that cats have things they'll do around your house, regardless of your thoughts or feelings.

She-vac
Dinky went missing when we moved house, one day she was sunbathing on the drive, the next she was gone and we never saw her again.
One of my Mums workmates needed to rehome her somewhat aged tabby and we got She-vac, which is Polish for silver if I remember correctly. She was a tiny little thing who, despite advancing

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