Millie
Comments(20)
Photo: Millie the cat
I‘m drawn to cats. Mysterious and aloof, even the most affectionate cats seem to have a secret life. They’re true explorers. Their agility is as breathtaking as their silent steps surprise.
Millie is special. She belongs to my friend Christine who co-runs the Cataholics cat rescue charity in Newmarket. When I was painting Christine’s conservatory I was introduced to Millie and her brother Barney. Within seconds I was besotted with this dainty black cat.
Millie was found abandoned. The runt of the litter, she had four legs but just three paws. The vet removed the leg as the stump would cause problems in the future. This gave Millie extra vorsprung durch. This nimble cat is no lumbering Reliant Robin. She moves with the swiftness of a streamlined motor bike and side car.
I was delighted when I opened Christine’s front door and spotted Millie sitting on the stairs. Initially she watched my progress from a distance (decorating the hall, landing and stairs this time). Her slim neck was exercised by following the progress of my brush. Then she vanished. I turned a few minutes later and discovered to my horror that my tall wooden step ladder had taken her fancy. She was standing on the landing stage at the top, poised to jump.
I shot down the stairs and carefully lifted Millie down. Her fur was like silk. Within seconds she was climbing deftly up the steps again and defiantly leapt into the oblivion of the staircase. Safer than a computer operated space probe, she landed perfectly. So I let her amuse herself with the step ladder. There was a reverse journey too – stairs to landing stage and then down the steps.
When I was making a cup of tea she stood at my feet and meowed, a plaintive yet piercing cry. I couldn’t resist picking her up and giving her a cuddle. This was a big mistake.
At first she lay nearby observing me, happy with on occasional tummy rub. But then she got braver moving nearer and nearer until finally she dived in between my loaded brush and the skirting. I now had a black and white companion cat.
Millie now spends her days elsewhere. Far away from the paint pots and the possibility of zebra fancy dress. She returned home briefly this evening. I noticed a sheet of newspaper, being tugged under the door into the sitting room I peeped through the glass. There was Millie on her back underneath the newspaper. She shifted the paper with her front legs and gazed back at me from the shadow of her tent. Inquisitive, acrobatic and totally seductive. I lifted my brush in homage.
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For a moment there I read Catholic Cat Rescue Charity and was somewhat confused! I envy cats for their incredible sinuous movement and their coats which feel like the softest and smoothest velvet. I envy the way they can so quickly and easily stretch their whole body before moving away with such an economy of effort. I once read a description of the way a cat stretches like a concertina held in the middle in a child’s arms and it is an image which has stuck in my mind. Cats have the total monopoly on impressive stealth. Except for TobyCat who lived with us many years ago now and who didn’t really do cat. He tried it and decided it wasn’t for him when he fell off the fence in the garden and we found him hanging by his tail from a rose bush, I think he was distracted when we called him. He was a Persian Chinchilla with long white fur. Once or twice he had to be rescued from the roof of the shed until he decided there really was no point. But he was very beautiful and toward the end of his own life he spent a lot of time sleeping on my dad who was terminally ill.
Pamela, that is so funny, I read it as Catholic too! I must be tired.
Millie sounds like quiet a character, and lovely to boot. I have 5 cats currently, and my character cat right now is Rex, a rescue cat we saved from a garbage dumping station. He is a polydactyl (hope I spelled that right) so he has 7 toes on his front paws. It looks like he has on boxing gloves. Rex’s hobby is to run up and down the halls and stairs and slide, with much clattering, untill he gets tired, and then he stops moving his front legs, and just pushes himself along with his back. The first time I saw this manuver I was in a room and he walked past the doorway, front legs fixed, back legs pumping along. I thought he was sick at first, and then I realized he was clowning.
He is also the only cat I’ve ever had that knows his name, because he will come when you call him.
Yup! Third taker for Catholic Cat Rescue.
I was already wondering if there were going to be issues with placing the cats …… :0)
Me too! I only realised that it was not Catholic when reading your comments. The mind does play tricks as I understand that as we become efficient at reading our brains just look at a few letters in a word to recognise it especially the first, last and middle letter.
Millie sounds lovely and reminds me of my own little ginger longhaired fluffball-Bluebell.
We called her bluebell because she had the most amazing blue-violet coloured eyes that sparkled in contrast against her fur.
Sadly she passed away last summer due to kidney failure. The cause was more than likely anti-freeze poisoning as cats are attracted to it for some reason the vet told me. Her mischievous ways negotiating the various nooks and crannies in other peoples garages had in the end been her downfall.
I miss her greatly but thankyou Fiona for reminding me of her with your reflection on Millie.
I’m so relieved that I wasn’t the only one to see it as Catholic! Have you ever been sent that email which is written with all the letters in the words jumbled up and just the first and last letters in their correct place? It explains why it is that you can read the email perfectly well. I received it in French once as well and it was just as easy to read! That did surprise me.
That is so amazing – it was only when I read the comments that I realised it wasn’t Catholics too! Lovely story about Millie. We have dogs but I have cat-sat 4 times a year for my friend for about 20yrs. She has had several during this time and all are so unique. x
Catholic cats?!? Had me wondering.Our current cat is Andrew. He is a very large ginger and white Dutch rescue cat. He learned English fast, within days of being with us he could understand “do you want food?” “upstairs to bed” “cuddles”. He is the most effectively communicative cat I have ever had- if he wants something he comes to tell you, then you say “show me what you want” and he does- going either to the fridge, his food bowl, the door or a comfy chair/bed. He has a box of toys and when he fancies a game he gets them out one by one until he finds the one he wants to massacre; he will only sit on laps if they have a blanket on them, he’s no fool when it comes to comfort. Very entertaining.
but being Dutch, more than likely Protestant, I should say?
Kate – my cat does that showing you he wants too! They are so clever arem’t they? i do adore the moggies. The moment I met my cat it was love, and it is a lovely tale (tail). We decided we wanted a rescue cat about three years ago, registered for a cat (not minding age, colour) and waited for the call that came in July 06, “we have a cat for you, well actually a kitten”…uh oh, a naughty kitten! All I was told was that it was a black and white seven week old kitten. These were the days before we had a car, so OH and I walked the 8 miles to the rescue home to be “introduced” to our new cat….it was the hottest day of the year, and we nearly missed the opening hours. We got to the home and there was a pen of kittens, all dozing in the sun with a big fan on them. The lady didn’t know which was ours (there were three black n whites as well as tabbies etc) so off she went to find out. This one small black and white kitten got up, stretched his back and moseyed over to us, he sniffed at us, and we bent down and stroked him through the cage, bright green eyes and pink nose and paws, on a symmetrical black and white coat – a real beauty! We were so relieved when the woman returned and said “its that one” otherwise I think we would have had 2 cats!! It turns out he was born at the centre, the runt off the litter. He is two and a half now a brilliant, bright, beautiful boy-cat. I always remember him choosing us.
I’ve had some very funny cats over the years, but the ones who really stood out were such characters.
Bear was a big tortoiseshell moggy that used to sit on the wall outside waiting for me to come home from school. He once brought a bird in, in the middle of the night and plonked it on my Nan’s face, who I lived with, the bird was still alive and flapping wildly. I was woken by screams of sheer terror as my Nan fumbled for the light switch wondering what one earth she was being attacked by. Bear went the way of so many cats and was knocked over when I was away on business in the Seychelles of all places. I can’t think of that trip with anything other than a heavy heart.
Harvey, a chocolate burmese, beautiful, intelligent and yet stupid at the same time. He once broke a neighbours elderly mothers foot when she fell trying to catch him as he rushed through their front door. Sadly he went missing a couple of years ago. Heartbreaking, we spent many months and a lot of money trying to find him.
Then of course there was Paddington, beautiful, beautiful Pads who left behind Mao who is the only cat we have now. That’s the cat who loves cucumber (a bit like Small) and after hating the puppy for two months now plays with her for hours. They’ve both morphed, both part cat, part dog – fascinating stuff.
Great post Fiona, I’m both a cat and dog person.
My attitude to cats is summed up by Death’s reply to the dying wizard in Terry Pratchett’s novel. The wizard asks, as he is about to leave the world that if that’s it, then what’s so good about life? Death thinks about it for a moment and then replies (in upper case, as always) “CATS. CATS ARE NICE.”
Me too!! I only realised it wasn’t catholic when I read Pamela’s comment and even then I had to look carefully!! We’ve never had cats – didn’t think we were cat people really but having read all the comments they sound mch more interesting than I realised! Thank you I enjoyed them all.
haha, I only realised it wasn’t Catholic when I read everyone’s comments. I was awful confused.
That’s a really sweet story, there’s a cat that lives in my mums street with only three legs and one eye, but it’s the most streetwise cat I have ever come across. He can’t half hold his own, even when challenged with my old tom cat, which was the size of a small dog. Binx would always come off worse for wear.
I’d love to adopt another cat but my ‘teenager’ has just come into her first heat and I simply can’t do it again!! Driving me crazy.
Katie xox
Cats liking cucumber? Strange, because our cat likes melon (really likes melon, like cats like catnip!) and carnations of all things. I cannot buy carnations for fear of my cat breaking the vase! My old cat who died 4 years ago was also like a teenager – if I told him off, he would do a really loud indignant meaow!
Hi Pamela
We laughed out loud when we read your comment! The mind boggles at the Catholic Cat Rescue Charity. How would you tell?
The image of a cat like a concertina in the middle of a child’s arms is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this.
Loved the tales of TobyCat. I’m sure he was a great comfort for your father.
Hello Michelle
Millie is gorgeous. Makes me long to have a cat again.
Rex sound like a wonderful clown. I reckon that some animals have a great sense of humour and joie de vivre
Hello Jackie
I loved this comment!!
Hello Heidi
Bluebell sounds like a cat in a million. You must miss her so much.
Hi Pamela
I’ve not received that email but as I’m quite dyslexic I often misread words with interesting consequences.
Hello Wendy
Cats are special. I reckon that the bonding is much closer if you’ve had a cat from the kitten stage. I had two cats years ago and I still miss them.
Hello Kate(uk)
Andrew sounds wonderfully unique. But that’s the thing about cats. They have such strong personalities.
Hi Jackie
Yes that’s probably right!
Hi Natasha
I’m so impressed that you walked 8 miles to meet your kitten. You paint a superb picture of the visit. So glad that he was just what you wanted!
Hi Amanda
Your tale of Bear and the bird had me laughing this afternoon.
What a shame about Harvey. I remember the day when Paddington died.
Amazing that Mao now plays with your pup. I love seeing cats and dogs playing together.
Hello Martyn
Great quote. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi KarenO
Cats are great but loads of people think that they are ‘dog’ or ‘cat’ people. Or even no pet people. Cats chose to live with you. Dogs generally don’t have that choice. So they relationship is significantly different.
Hi Katie
Poor Binx.
I know what you mean. Cats on heat can be a real pain.
Hi JuliaB
The Min Pins like cucumber too. Thank goodness they haven’t discovered the delights of carnations yet.
We currently share our lives here, with three cats:
all Maine Coons & all rescue/basket cases. There’s the huge & fearsome ratter, Moriarty; who hadn’t ever been outside before we had him & flattened himself to the ground in terror at the slightest breath of wind; but now is King of the Barns & hates being indoors.
There’s beautiful Nevada, whose auntie played Mrs Norris in the Harry Potter films but is herself, a ’special needs’ cat, having the feline equivalent of autism.
And there’s sweet little, silver-coloured Silli, gentle one moment & spitting fire the next, but who is forgiven her mood swings as she lost her eye after an infection when only a tiny kitten. Not that it bothers her: she still runs, jumps & climbs with no problems…& during the summer months has the unfortunate skill of successfully jumping to catch the swallows as they swoop low into the eaves of the ancient, stone Long Barn.
Characters, all….& each one, so very, very, much loved.
Hello Jo
Moriaty sounds like a real find. Lucky you to have a top flight ratter.
Gosh, I didn’t know that cats can have autism. Poor Nevada.
The swallows must be very tempting. You can’t blame Silli. She’s just following her instincts. The Min Pins kill quite a few birds too.
This is another cat story, so forgive me.
My lil cat was just a few moths old, it was his first autumn, I think he was about 4 months old at the time. I was working in a seafood restaurant, and had a day shift, I left OH and cat in the lovely house and I returned in early evening. My hubbie informed me that the cat had brought in a squirrel during the day, a small one, but a SQUIRREL He shut the door to the living area and removed the squirrel body, sweeping the floor of blood and hair.
He the informed me that the ertswhile squirell had a head upon being brought into the ktchen but was missing one when he left, assuming he has eaten the head I shruggged it off and started to cook dinner.
As I cooked, I leaned over to the cutlery drawer, opened it, and there, among the spoons, lay a perfect squirrel’s head. It was a little bit mafia cat. And I spent about four ours disinfecting the kitchen.
Hiya Fiona –
no, I don’t blame Silli at all; in fact i’m quite impressed that a one-eyed cat can be such an acrobat..!
Meanwhile I have to say that whilst you’ve never come across an autistic cat, I’ve never quite come across a Mafia one…how on earth, did the squirrel’s head end up in the cutlery drawer….?? The mind boggles….!!!
Yup, we are lucky to have Moz the merciless – even more so, as we don’t have a catflap so he cannot bring his ‘treasures’ into the cottage to share with us! Eugh!!
Right – must go & salve my poor old Navara of his foodie burden, before it gets dark….
Hello Fiona
I came across these cat cartoons which so acurately sum up cats’ behaviour that you will laugh out loud. Just Google “simon’s cat” and you will find them. There are 3 which are called Cat Man Do, TV Dinner and Let Me In. You will also come across a time lapse video of said Simon with his cat during a whole night and you will see exactly where the Cat Man Do video comes from. There is also a doggy one – so the Min Pins don’t feel left out which was done recently for the RSPCA about the dangers of overfeeding your dogs. Do have a look because they are so funny.
Must also tell you about my friend’s cat who refuses to use the cat flap at home unless it is wedged completely open however she will quite happily use cat flaps in other locations and regularly visits the neighbours for a midnight snack! She blew her cover one night when the neighbours woke up and heard munching but realised their cat was on the bed with them. Now, unless the cat is absolutely gagging for food she doesn’t get fed as they assume if she is not overly interested that she must have dined out.