Yesterday we were all going to go to the Gloucester Victorian Market, an fun family friendly annual event that showcases local goodies such as jams, paintings, cheese, mulled wine, an old fashioned carousel, actors dressed in Dickensian attire, and a sea of other stalls. I remember going last year and how much I loved seeing all the top hats (can we bring those back?). Due to the rain and flooding all over the UK in the past few days now, we hadn’t gone earlier. Sunday morning swung round and we decided, rather spur of the moment, that we would go to a local cattery and have a look at rescue cats. After all, what is a ship without a ship’s cat?
My parents had planned on getting a cat about six months ago, getting all the little bits like scratching posts, toys, bedding blankets, the works. But with only two of them running the business, they just didn’t have time to go look properly. But boy did we look on Sunday! With the directions to the shop instead of the cattery, it was thanks to mum’s eagle eye to spot the banner for the cattery! We pulled in and were greeted by a big pig, Elvis. He was so friendly, running over like a dog being reunited with a lost owner. Then we noticed all the mud, and how everyone was wrapped up warmly, with wellies. It wasn’t until we got in there I found out that the place had been flooded!
Thanks to the hard working volunteers who battled the floods all throughout the night to make sure the cats and kittens were safe, all the cats had a new temporary home in a big shed. Cages upon cages of adorable furry creatures all huddled together, blankets everywhere to keep them warm; it was an amazing effort to see them all safe. We let them know that we weren’t like normal people, we’re here for an older cat, not for a kitten. Of course other customers were there all looking at kittens and Joe couldn’t help but want them all! We first met Molly, a beautiful black cat with a pink tuft on her underside. Perhaps her previous owner wanted a pink cat, but the idea of dyeing a cat’s fur… probably best I don’t get angry. Then we were introduced to two handsome tabby cats, Gizzo and Nubby.
Well mum couldn’t stop stroking them. She was absolutely in love with Gizzo (left). I think she was with him a good half hour. Dad then got to have a look and they just fell in love. After a while we noticed how these two interacted with each other and learned more about their background. These two were on death row in Ireland but the charity saved them. Coming all the way from Ireland to Gloucester, then later on in their lives being almost flooded by the British weather, we dubbed them ‘Brothers in Arms’. If we wanted one, we felt we had to take the other. They were so close to each other, snuggling and licking, it would have broken our hearts to break these two apart. And just like that we decided these were the cats for us.
Being in a whole new environment with people they don’t know, in a big livingroom to poke around, they went into hiding. When we had Smokey in Ellon, Aberdeenshire over ten years ago, he too went into hiding for a few days so we know it’s completely normal. I would do the same if I were a cat! I move the food and drinks bowls to just where they are hiding so they can just chill and not have to come out of hiding to eat and drink. In little baby steps we’ll see these two come out of their shells and laze about on the sofa rather than under it!
The ship does feel more complete with these two around, and when my parents are away, I won’t feel so lonely! Maybe one day they’ll be happy enough to give me a few snuggles too.
Tea With Dee 