A Cat A Day: 349/365

December 17, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

One of my great pleasures this year was to have a house-guest for the first time since we moved in in 2001. I guess it’s a combination of mostly having friends who live nearby and not having had any space before. However, in September, Amanda Salt came over from Northern Ireland for a languages event in my area and she stayed with us for one night. We loved it !

Amanda shared today’s cat with us – his name is Oscar and he is a rescue cat. He seems very fond of this minature Christmas village (can you see the unexpected characters living there?).

A Cat A Day: 333/365

November 29, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

Thank you again to Emilie Burguin for the French cat pictures. I’m very tired and it’s great to have lots of lovely photos in my computer’s memory to choose from.

Today’s photograph shows Zaza and Mickette enjoying a sneaky snooze on a bed at Easter time in France earlier this year. I wonder which one is which?

A Cat A Day: 331/365

November 27, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

Many kind people have contributed pictures to this blog. Emilie Burguin sent me today’s beautiful feline and I have a few more saved up in my computer’s memory to bring you over the next few days. I’m not sure if this is her name, but Emilie tells me this is ‘Petite Noire’ relaxing in a baby’s paddling pool in France in July of this year.

A Cat A Day: 327/365

November 23, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

A month ago, Helen Daykin rescued a beatiful female Siamese and her 5 kittens from dreadful neglect. Luna and her babies have put Helen and her husband Chris through the emotional mill, used acres of newspaper in floor protection and cost all the Christmas shopping money in vet’s bills. However, after the most recent health scare, when things looked very black, the vet prescribed some last-ditch antibiotics to combat an infection which threatened the lives of the kittens and perhaps even take Luna.

Happily, the latest news from Helen (see her blog here) is that all cats have responded well to the medication, but it’s a nightmare administering it. Any self-respecting cat will scratch, bite and struggle if you try to medicate it, so Helen and Chris have adopted the tight-towel-wrapping approach. This is Raffa (a little female), bound up and helpless.

Chris and Helen, you are devoted and kind animal lovers; Luna and babies are very lucky indeed.

A Cat A Day: 294/365

October 21, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

Kind-hearted cat lover Helen has rescued this beautiful lilac female and her moggie kittens. There is a mysterious but sad back-story and the cats have arrived with various ailments, including cat flu and fleas. The new addition to Helen’s home is called Luna. I love her pretty name. Soon, the babies will need homes.

You are a generous hero for taking action today, Helen.

A Cat A Day: 286/365

October 13, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

It’s Wiiiiinnstonn!! Helen Daykin’s gorgeous apricot-point siamese hiding his furry face.

We are Winston’s No.1 fans in our house.

A Cat A Day: 258/365

September 15, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

Time for another Skimbleshanks photograph. Here we see him helping Alex with his work in the garden. Cats can assist with many tasks; school work, knitting, sewing, cooking and gardening, to name just a few.

A Cat A Day: 224/365

August 12, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

I daren’t say much about this picture of Helen Daykin’s cat Winston. He’s certainly most un-cat-like here.

A Cat A Day: 214/365

August 2, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

After I posted the picture of Button in a box earlier in the week, Helen Daykin sent me this great picture of Winston in a box. As I said . . . cats love boxes.

A Cat A Day: 211/365

July 30, 2011 by Fiona Joyce

Don’t cats love boxes? Today’s featured cat has been sent to me by Dawn German and I love his story. Thanks very much for sharing, Dawn.

“Here is a picture of Button. He is three years old. We rescued him from RSPCA as a present for my eldest daughter, although, to be fair he chose us. The minute we walked into the cattery he started meowing loudly, attracting our attention. When the girl took him out of the cage so we could meet him, he raced over to the cat box we had brought with us and climbed in! Clearly, he had decided that he was coming home with us. He was only 12 weeks old at the time. My youngest named him: although he is black, he has a little white dot on his chest. Ellie referred to it as his top button…then decided that this should be his name.

He is the sweetest cat I have ever met. (Have had a few cats in my time) He is gentle and patient with children: even when Ellie dragged him along the hall by his tail!! As most cats, he runs to meet us when we get home, but occasionally walks with us the girls’ school in the morning, waits patiently at the gate for me then accompanies me back home. He has walked with the family all the way to the local Asda supermarket – which is just over a mile away. He sat beautifully by the bike shed until we had bought food, then walked back with us. He was rather tired about 5 mins from home so allowed Lucy to carry him (which is rare)!

His favourite activity is sharpening his claws on my Rubenia (not sure of spelling) tree in the garden, then chasing butterflies. Thankfully, he has never caught one but he hasn’t given up hope! He also has a thing for cardboard boxes and has to climb inside each one. (One of the photos was taken in my utility room – excuse the mess – I had put the box out for recycling and discovered Button inside it!) Everyone in our neighbourhood knows Button as he is so friendly. Even our vet (who is a gruff, “mature” man) refers to him as his favourite.

Of course, I think he is special and unique. We all love him and I think he quite likes us too.”