Hello and welcome.  My name is Matilda and I am a very cute black and white pusscat with the softest fur, which I keep scrupulously clean.  I did not begin my life with Ann and David but adopted them when they came to live in "my" neighbourhood.  Curl up beside me on a nice soft cushion and I'll tell you my story.....

Matilda's Story
I belonged to neighbours of David and Ann originally.  They didn't allow me to come inside their house so I lived outside but, as I was young and strong then (and the weather usually mild), I managed okay.  As my owners were out all day, I was left pretty much to my own devices.  I had met Ann and David whilst prowling around in their garden and they always spoke to me when I visited them, which was nice.  In 1997 Northern Ireland was in the throes of a rare icy cold winter, with thick snow and frost and temperatures plunging to -14 degrees and below.  My owners were away on holiday.  Alone in the cold, and unable to find anything to eat, I knew I was in big trouble.  My paws were sore and my ears frost-bitten but I made it to Ann and David's house through the snow.  When I arrived mewing pitifully at their back door that December they were shocked at my condition.  I was starving, cut and suffering so badly from hypothermia that I could hardly move.  (Brrrr, I hate to even remember it).  They brought me into the house where I collapsed.  Recognising I needed urgent help, they bundled me up in a handy quilt and immediately took me to see a Veterinary Surgeon in the town and explained the situation to him.  I felt so ill I didn't even mind going to see him and just lay in Ann's arms.  He gave me an injection and asked David and Ann if they would be willing to keep me indoors and warm for a few days as I was clearly very ill and traumatised.  I hid my head in the crook of Ann's arm and kept my paws crossed.  What a relief it was when I heard them say "yes", they would look after me.  So home I went with them to sleep in a cozy, quilt-lined, cardboard box beside the radiatior in their kitchen.  Oh it was wonderful to get warm, be fed regular meals and be given lots of TLC!  I really liked living with David and Ann and I did my best to be as good as gold hoping they'd let me stay with them.  Sure enough those "few days" stretched into weeks,  but I was still kind of scared they'd send me back outside alone again once I was fully recovered.  One marvellous day, however, they brought home a present for me!  It was a beautiful BASKET all for me!!  I knew then that I'd found a safe, secure and loving place that I could call home if I wanted.  I've been living with David and Ann (my new "Daddy" and "Mummy") for 8 years now.  They love me and I love them.  I've got a new little brother too and, while he can be a boisterous pest now and then, he is fun to have around.  He and I agree: it's great to feel loved and part of a happy family.

Me, asleep in my very own basket!

Mummy and Daddy say this poem reminds them of me ... purrrrrr ... Little Cat Soft and furry, Warm and purry. Ankle wrapping, Always napping. Softly walking, Birds a-stalking. Whiskers preening, Eyes a-gleaming. You give my life a special glow. Little cat - I love you so. [by S. Butcher]

Here is my "Mummy" to tell you a bit more about me ...

Although Matilda ended up basically fending for herself that terrible winter, David and I know from observation of her behaviour that she came from a good home originally.  She is completely house-trained and, prior to the installation of her cat flap, would simply go to the door and "ask" to be let out to go to her spot in the garden when she needed to.  (Nowadays, of course, she enters and exits the house through her own cat flap and is independent in this regard).  Matilda also displays remarkably good manners.  She will not eat anything unless the food is in her own bowl (or fed to her by hand).  A very well mannered Miss.  Her one fault is that she finds the hall and stair carpet irresistable for sharpening her claws on!  It has little balls of wool clawed up from it all over the place.  However, as our house is a happy home first and foremost, if this small act is Matilda's only vice, then we can put up with it.

She was extremely nervous and shy at first, but once we gained her trust she became a very sociable and loving little cat.  She adores company and never goes too far from of our sight.  If I happen to go upstairs and she doesn't know where I am, she will miaow for me and then run to me when I answer her.  She loves to be nursed and stroked.  It is a two way thing though because, as much as she needs us, we have noticed too that she seems to know when one of us needs special attention.  She will go out of her way to snuggle up to that person, determined to do her wee best to make them feel better.  At the time Matilda came to live with us, I was suffering from severe vision problems (related to MS) and was practically house bound.  Matilda was my life-line.  She was such company for me during those days while David was out at work and I was unable to see to read, sew, watch TV, or basically do anything much.  She recognised when I was feeling down and made a special effort to cuddle up, giving my hands little licks, trying to make me smile.  I think that without Matilda to talk to and play with, I would have found those days unbearably long and tedious indeed.   I continue to be grateful to my little furry friend.  She is a very real comfort during difficult times and I can recommend cat-therapy to everyone!   Since I became a full-time housewife Matilda's 'cup runneth over' because having "Mummy" at home all day is pure joy to her!

Matilda is still quite timid around strangers and when we have guests she tends to scoot upstairs to watch the proceedings through the bannisters!  She does not like loud noises or singing!  She also appears to suffer from a strange affliction for a cat - she is scared of the dark!!  We guess that in her past she maybe got trapped somewhere dark and the experience frightened her.  Whatever the reason, if she wants to go downstairs in the middle of the night she comes and wakens me (never David - she has wit this cat!!!) and has me escort her down the dark scary stairs into the kitchen.

Interestingly, Matilda still goes to visit her original owners occasionally.  She likes to go and look in at them through their kitchen window apparently!  We were relieved that her decision to "move house" did not cause any ill-feeling between ourselves and our neighbours and, in fact, recently it was nice to be able to talk to them and find out a little more about Matilda as a kitten - a period of her life that we missed out on.  They know that she has chosen to live with us of her own free will and they are content about it.  They say they are glad she is well cared for and obviously happy.

Matilda has several special toys - a woollen sock with a bell on it, a wind-up furry dormouse, a rag ball,  a pingpong ball, a ball with a bell in it and, her absolute favourite, a long pink feather on the end of a stick.  She insists upon a game of 'chase the feather' before bedtime.  Now that we've spoken with her original owners we know for sure that she is 13 years of age but, this notwithstanding, she still likes to play.  She does tire quite quickly though and could be described as more of a sprinter than a marathon runner!  Her favourite pastime is snoozing!

David and I feel pleased and privileged that Matilda has chosen us to be "her people".  She has brought us fun and frolics, love and laughter, company and contentment.  We don't know where the following little prayer originates, but it is certainly very appropriate for our very precious Puss.
 

Dear Lord, Please hear our prayer for all animals, May they be well-fed, well-trained and happy. Protect them from hunger and fear and suffering. And, we pray, protect especially, dear Lord, The little cat who is the companion of our home. Keep her safe as she goes abroad, And bring her back to comfort us. Amen.