In Memory
Algy and Rupert were born September 2003. Upsettingly, Rupert was run over and killed at just 14 months old and when we lived in rural Dorset – surrounded by fields. Algy left us on 28th February 2020 and would have been 17 this year. He had Pancreatitis.
They were beautiful and amazing puss-cats with stunning blue eyes. Over the years we have had other puss-cats but these two and Algy, especially, because he was with us for many years – were ‘something else’. Algy had a personality almost like that of a Dog. When visitors called he would be there in the hall to greet them. He knew, too, what we were thinking. Losing him after so long was as if losing a special member of the family.
Only now six months later am I able to write or talk about him without crying. Each day I talk to them too…. and can feel Algy’s spirit around us especially.
When we went to see the litter of kittens in 2003 – their Mum and a pedigree Siamese ‘got out’ one night. Result? Nine kittens most of them different except for Algy and Rupert. Visiting the kittens for the first time and sitting on a stool surrounded by them, I became aware of one climbing up my leg (had jeans on!), curling himself around on my lap – looking up at me with those beautiful blue eyes and resting his paw in the direction of my Heart. Algy was saying ‘I Choose You’. This memory will stay with me for the remainder of my life.
Together they worked in tandem in every way. On one occasion they emptied out the ‘home’ of a family of Moles – bringing into our house ‘Mum, Dad and the Babies’ – all of them safe and unharmed. Carefully we put them back and, hopefully, they remained safe. It was the first time we had felt the soft fur of a Mole’s coat.
At one point Rupert disappeared for three or four days. On his return – chasing him in through our back door, Algy gave Rupert a resounding clout with his paw as if to tell him off! But when Rupert was run over – Algy sat on our Dining Room window sill – looking out for his brother, keeping a vigil. After about a week to ten days – he jumped down and did not do this anymore as if to say ‘OK he isn’t coming back this time’. It is my belief that for the rest of his life there were quite a few times when I sensed Algy still missed Rupert. They are together now.
Amen
Aileen and John with Algy and Rupert
When I first met Sam, I knew instantly and intuitively that he was my soul mate and that we were meant to be together. He was my world and my everything for almost fourteen years. The love between us was so strong, so pure, and so unconditional it cannot be expressed in words. He was my feather and, just like Dumbo’s feather, he gave me the confidence, the strength, and the courage I needed to fly. When he left the physical world, it felt as if my heart had been broken, a vital part of me was gone. Without him it has been difficult to fly, but each day I go a little higher, helped by the feathers he leaves for me to show he is near. Thank you for the best years of my life Sam. My love for you will never cease.
Gemma and Sam
Beautiful Lily (pea) – you were one in a million, you were kind, loving and so loyal. My best friend forever – miss you so much, always in my heart. Xxx
Anne and Lily
I still remember the first time I saw Nazareno on the beach in Spain in June 2002. He was being schooled and looked absolutely amazing. I had no idea he was to be the horse I would ride for that week’s holiday let alone to spend the rest of his life with me.
I fell in love with this beautiful Spanish boy immediately. We were perfect together, laid back and easy going but knowing how to enjoy life to the full. That week is still the best one ever in my entire life. I knew I couldn’t live without him so it wasn’t too long before he came to England to be with me. The next 16 years were truly amazing, filled with love, laughter and happiness. He was so special, a kind, sweet, gentle soul and taught me so much and gave me a confidence I never had before.
I thought we would grow old together but sadly it wasn’t to be and I knew he was trying to tell me something, something I didn’t want to believe but I loved him too much to let him suffer so on 24th November 2018 I said my final goodbye and stayed with him until the very end. As heartbroken as I am I feel incredibly fortunate and honoured to have shared that time with him and although my life will never be the same I feel his presence and know his spirit is still with me which I take great comfort in. I know he will be galloping around somewhere with all his friends and munching away to his hearts content. My beautiful Naz x
Claire and Naz
Matilda burst into my life at seven weeks old and instantly stole my heart. During the time we lived alongside each-other, she became my protector, my teacher & my best friend. Pretty and petite, she attracted a lot of attention for her beauty, yet her loyalty to me and her unique personality shone through. As a kitten, she girlishly tumbled in roly-poly fashion towards her toys, which was indescribably cute. (Who knew cats did that?!) She grew into a feisty, independent lady who played either coquettishly or with great gusto, enjoying being fussed over whilst at the same time able to give a good hard swipe when she’d had enough, revelling in the thrill of making her admirers jump out of their skin!
Her beautiful emerald green eyes were deep round pools of magic, displaying many different expressions according to her mood. A cancerian, she became a wonderful mum of three, one of whom stayed with us (he knew who was boss!) I was & am in awe of her natural affinity with motherhood and sadly she was devastated when the remaining two found new homes. In my work as a healer, Matilda adored being part of the sessions, especially anything to do with crystals. If a client didn’t appreciate cats or if it wasn’t appropriate to have her there, I had a job keeping her down, because she liked nothing more than to lie on top of them near their feet on the healing couch, giving and receiving the energy.
Last summer at the age of sixteen, her body weakened and sadly I lost her to the spirit world. I miss her every single day and the closeness I shared with her was a rare and precious gift. She loved me with every bone in her body and I her. Her long brown & golden coat, tabby stripes and proud demeanour will remain with me for eternity. I never imagined that such a tiny bundle of fur could transform my life and turn it upside-down. She kept my heart open over several difficult life experiences & her legacy lives on in her son, Toto and in her memory. Little bear I love you and I know that some day we’ll be together again.
Tribute to Matilda (2002 -2018)
from Nikki
A Tribute to Kitty
From the day we got you I promised you I’d never let you go thirsty or hungry, you would always be loved and cared for, for the rest of your life. I’d protect you from danger, make sure you always had lots of lovely places to sleep and snuggle and that you always felt love from your Mum & Dad.
I remember when you were so scared a few days after we got you when you managed to get behind the kitchen kickboard and we searched high and low for you and how relieved we were to find you, and then some weeks later when Dad left the front door open you escaped, it was a freezing winter’s day and we were so worried you were lost, frightened and cold, only to find you hadn’t really gone outside and that you were hiding in the shoe rack all the time!
We promised you that at some point soon when you were more settled you would be introduced to the great outdoors, to feel the wind in your fur, sun on your face and run after those birds and butterflies you had been eagerly watching at the window for several months. When the time came, you leapt outside and it was such a joy to watch you experiencing all those lovely things finally, after an hour outside you came in and was exhausted and slept for the rest of the day!
One time when it was raining so hard and you were outside I found you sheltering under a bush, you clearly didn’t want to make the journey back indoors so I scooped you up in my arms and told you “Mummy would look after you” and took you indoors into the warm and dry. Once I thought we had lost you and I remember running up the garden calling your name out into the field at the back of our garden, shaking your biscuits only to hear a great “meow” and see you lying on the roof of a nearby shed, you didn’t come, but was simply saying “Mum, I’m OK, leave me be.” You loved the summer, laying under my sun lounger in garden, following me when I went in to make a cup of tea and then back out again!
In the Winter you’d always put weight on just lazing around all the time, you loved laying in front of the fire when it was lit, and when Christmases came we never had to worry about you pulling the tree down as you simply couldn’t of cared less for it, we knew when Summer came around you’d run off that little portly belly outside again.
Over the years we had so much time together, working from home meant we got to spend so much time together, we had our little routine each morning, have our little chats, and as soon as I settled down at my desk, you’d settle down in your basket next to me until Dad came home from work and then you’d forever sit on his lap and on the end of the sofa at night watching the telly with him.
I can’t believe how strong the bond is between us, my heart aches now you are no longer with us, I still find bits of fur hidden around the place and miss you so much, you now sit with me once again by my desk but on the window sill looking out now you are no longer physically here.
However sad I feel, I know that there was nothing we could have ever done for you to have made your life any better than we did and that gives us so much comfort knowing you had the best of everything and so much love, care and attention every single day of your life with us, we had 7 and a half glorious years.
Now we have your little sister Lily, you could have taught her so much, I had a dream about you the other night that she was in the garden frightened and that you were right next to her in a glowing presence looking over her and making sure she was OK, you would have loved her, but then, you did like to rule the roost so probably wouldn’t have been happy with the competition!
Our beautiful baby cat Kitty, you were the most special princess to have come into our lives, and we are lucky to have had you, we have so many memories and still talk about you a lot – and we always will do.
Love your Mum & Dad xx (July 2019)
Cleo was the cutest of cats who gave so much happiness to our whole family. She had a character which we fell in love with from the moment we met her. She was all we could have ever asked for from a furry friend; playful, inquisitive, loving, spirited and caring and we are already missing her so much it’s hard to bear.
When we had our little baby we worried Cleo wouldn’t cope well; we shouldn’t have. She was protective and loving to Lucy and came running when she cried.
I will never forget her following us to the shops for a walk, her waiting for us to arrive home and running out to meet us; and her 12 hour sleeps in her pouch.
She loved Carol coming for a play with her and we know she always enjoyed the visits.
Thank you Cleo for all the moments of happiness you gave us and lovely memories which we will always have. We will always miss you and your place in our little family.
2nd July 2019
To : Cleocatra
From: Joe, Sophie and Lucy xxx
“It’s impossible to forget a dog that gave you so much to remember …”
Three Friends
Sue and I have never had children so I suppose Gracie was always going to be the nearest thing to that without having to suffer any back chat! Now here was a Bull Terrier bitch that gave alot of love but also expected alot in return. It was therefore not an easy decision to entrust our beloved Gracie to anybody, but because of the everyday commitments of work etc, there were days where I simply could not take Gracie out with me whilst working, particularly when meeting clients. Carol was recommended to us and came round to our house to see how Gracie and Carol would feel about one another. Gracie, whilst always friendly (contrary to an incorrect perception about the breed), immediately took to Carol and it was clear that a friendship between the two was about to develop, almost making me feel somewhat jealous. And so our minds were put at rest and the relationship between Gracie and Carol blossomed. Visits at short notice due to the nature of my work, were never a problem for Carol. As well as offering a fabulous reactive service, I knew that our beloved Gracie would be well looked after. I came home early one day and caught them cuddling which, whilst it may have appeared a touch embarrassing for Carol, was a clear reflection of the bond that had developed between them. It is nearly two years now since the sad passing of Gracie and we have only recently asked for our door keys to be returned. Here is a reflection of Carol’s trustworthiness, there were never any issues regarding the security of our home. Carol, thank you for looking after Gracie so well with dedication, commitment and above all else, much love. I know how hurt you were when we told you the sad news, I’m sure Gracie has left a mark on your life as much as she has ours.
Gracie