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Member since:23.09.2003
Reviews:61
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After reading the review Sarah wrote about her beloved Trampus she got me thinking about the special cat in my life.
Some of you may know I have three cats at the moment named Smudge, Ellie and Pepsi. I love them all dearly as they are unique characters and they are great companions, so don't get me wrong if I tell you there has been just one cat that engaged my heart in all ways, and who I still miss to this day.
So this is for you my lovely girl, as I spend some time sharing some memories you gave me:
You came into my life in 1973, I think it was in July. Ian and I had gone out one Sunday to get a kitten, and we turned up at a refuge to inspect the litter that we had been told were there. This little ball of white and black fluff promptly seduced my husband!! You insisted on sitting on his bare shoulders as he drove home, much to his occasional pained gasps as you hung on to him and purred into his ear! My efforts to remove you resulted in muffled curses and bloodshed...*g*
From the time we got home though, you attached yourself to me and promptly became MY CAT! We got another kitten, a stray from the hospital, whom we called Rastus. He adored you, but you tolerated him with gentle disdain. All your affection was reserved for me. You would keep me warm at night by curling across my neck like a furry scarf on winters nights - a habit that endured until the children were born.
Over the years you even got rid of unwanted visitors! One visitor who was being a pest got the "Tammy Special" treatment. You just climbed his trouser leg from the inside! His yelps were blood-curdling! Needless to say I couldn't actually physically remove you - and he did not return either...well done Tammy! On another occasion you helped yourself to some fish from the delivery van outside - and again my unwanted caller left abruptly! You always seemed to read my mind and choose your victims with care.
When I shopped locally you would either come shopping and wait outside, much to the chagrin of the shopkeeper who found you decoratively sitting amongst the tomatoes on the stall outside and when I worked locally you would meet me from work at night and walk me home. Later on, when I walked the children to school you would plod along beside us, then wait at the school crossing for me to come back again.
One day you felt like a holiday, so hitched a lift in the back of a neighbours car! When he opened the back door you were curled up asleep inside. Thank heavens he bought you back!
You were always unfailingly gentle with the children and we have some wonderful memories of the funny things you did. One such incident involved a friend of mine who had a dog called Henry. Henry was involved in a rather nasty accident and had plaster casts on his back legs - and YOU would torment him dreadfully knowing he could not catch you. However he exacted his revenge the day he had the plaster off and you ended up hanging off the light fitting in our lounge!!
When you were 17 years old your memory started to play tricks and I would find you sitting on the landing wailing, and when I appeared you would be confused, although still loving. The episodes increased and I realised you were becoming senile.
A year later Ian found you under a rose bush in the garden, where you had seemingly suffered a massive stroke. You lost the use of your hind legs. We hung on to you for 48 hours waiting to see how much you would recover. You lay on a blanket, chatting to me on and off and taking milk and water from a dropper. At the end of that time we had to make the decision I dreaded, as does every pet owner.
At the Vets he left us alone to say our goodbyes and I held you and tried to explain to you. You lifted your head one last time and mewed. Then the vet came back and a minute later you were gone.
I think I cried non stop for two days - it hurts me still, to be honest. Our poor Rastus was inconsolable, and within a month we had lost him as well. He went from lucid to senile in a day and sat in the garden calling and crying for you virtually all day and night.
We buried you in our back garden and amongst my poems is one dedicated to to you.
I have never loved a cat as much as you again. I don't really know if I could. You were just soooo special and if you asked me why I couldn't really explain, but you pet owners out there will know exactly what I mean.
Thank you for sharing your precious days with me, my darling girl. I love you still.
In writing this I thank Trampus for the memories that came back, even if I am shedding a tear for my old friend as I do.
Thanks for reading.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Adoreable,cute ,affectionate,truly man's best friend,loyal etc etc Disadvantages: sooner or later they will break your heart,can be expensive and troublesome
grafter123 02.12.2006 (25.12.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
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