Ed The Cat

Getting a pet was always going to a priority on our return to the UK – I’m on my own, husband away, I need something to make a fuss of and sit and fondle. A cat is the perfect substitute.

We already had a cat who had been left with the in-laws whilst we were in the US.  Typical of her fickle species, her allegiance quickly changed to whoever was in charge of the Whiskas packets and she soon made herself at home. It would have been cruel, not just on her, but on the in-laws, to ask for her return.

So the teenager requested a kitten.  She contacted the local cats charity to register for adoption and in less than 24 hours  we had been visited and vetted, and asked not just how soon we would like to take one, but how many kittens could we actually have? Well just the one was what we wanted, such a shame when they offered us 19.

19! Yes, that was just the number of homeless kittens in our immediate area and ready to go  that day. There were 150 across the whole of the local region. Why this massive population explosion? Neuturing apparently – people just don’t bother anymore.

So we set off to choose our cat.  10 week old kittens are of course irresistible and it was amazingly hard – but with those cute big ears, huge brown eyes and the ability to stand on his back legs and look like a meercat, Ed was the natural choice. At that point he had no name of course – we had to stock up on kitty supplies so left him at the homing centre for another couple of days whilst the teenager was left with the responsibility of deciding what to call him.

She chose Edward – after Ed Sheeran. I did point out that the kitten we had chosen was not ginger, but black and white, but he’s grown into it, and I couldn’t now imagine him being called anything else.

And of course he has been great fun. Not so much a kitten as a teenage boy, constantly out on the roam and eating us out of house and home. Yes he has now been castrated – we’re doing out bit for birth control, and he has enjoyed all the usual curiosity killed the cat  escapades of falling from trees, becoming stranded on the garage roof and painting his paws  pink with nail polish etc etc

The similarities between Ed and my husband are uncanny. He pricks up his ears at the first mention of food and purrs contently when stroked. Totally adorable and the perfect companion. Do I worry I’m going to end up an old lady on my own surrounded by cats? Absolutely.