Mummy and daddy said this week that we were going to start a New Year, they had some friends round one night and they sat around eating and drinking and then when it was late and the television said it was midnight they all kissed and hugged each other and drank funny smelling sparkling drinks. They all wished each other and us a Happy New Year 🥳 so I guess now we’ve started a fresh one now. Mummy and daddy’s friends were really nice, they smelled of cats and so I knew they were good people. They smelled familiar and then I remembered that they were the first people to come and see Millie and Angelin when they arrived and as mummy reminded me they were also the first people to visit me when I first arrived. They made me feel calm and so I joined in their party and made them welcome by rubbing them and licking them and talking to them along with Millie and Angelin. Peppar stayed in the bedroom most of the night as he is very wary of people other than mummy and daddy but I checked on him frequently to make sure he was ok. When it was dinner time he came out to remind everyone – his tummy always seems to overrule his fear.
When it was coming up to the Happy New Year time I could hear lots of pops and bangs from outside on the balcony, mummy came out to make sure I was ok but I was fine. With my great hearing I can tell if the bangs are close by or not and if they might hurt me. I think I’m quite unusual as mummy and daddy are always surprised that I’m not scared of the loud noises. Peppar doesn’t like them and Millie wasn’t too sure about them so I did make sure they were ok and I protected them against the big banging noises. They went on for ages, mummy said they were fireworks and were part of the celebrations to welcome in the New Year. Angelin was like me and isn’t really scared of anything and took it all in her stride. She’s a tough little kitten 🐱.
When mummy and daddy said that we were starting a New Year and also a new decade (daddy explained that years form decades and then centuries and millennium’s and each one is special) I started to think of all the things that I had done over the last year and what does the next year mean for me, what will I do? What adventures are to be had? What exciting things will I explore? One year is exciting enough to think about but what about the next 10 years what will all those years mean?
Well maybe I just concentrate on what I’ve done this year… back in March I celebrated my 1st adoptaversary, I had been in my new forever home for a whole year. What an amazing feeling that was, I had stayed somewhere loving and caring for a long time now. The memories of my tough life on the streets of Cyprus were fading into the distance and being taken over by happy, healthy, loving memories which comfort me rather than scare me. I remembered back to the scary day that I left Cyprus and came to the UK and met my new family, how scared I was at the long journey and how happy I am now with my family. No longer do I have to worry about when I would next find food, wonder what it was like to have a home, be mindful of what bad things might find me and not to be in pain from being poorly. What a lucky cat I am to have been treated to this wonderful new life. I cherish every day that I am in my new home, even if I am naughty from time to time, it’s only because I’m so comfortable in my home that I can truly be myself, which is just a bit mischievous! I do however always remember and think about all the cats that are still on the street and wish everyday that they also find their forever homes somewhere. I will always try to help them if I can, which is part of the reason I started this blog.
Oh yes, that reminds me – I started this blog in June, just to tell my story in case anyone was interested to hear it and amazingly there are people who want to hear my story and listen to what I have to say. Who would have imagined it, people wanting to know what little old me has to say but apparently you do. I wanted to promote what amazing pets special needs cats make and share some of my experiences and thoughts with anyone who wanted to listen. Maybe, just maybe by sharing my story it would help one little pussy cat find their forever home. Well little did I know that my story did just that, one lovely follower said that after reading my blog and the book Homers Odyssey that “I decided that my next cat would be a special needs one. I’m pleased to say that I’ll be shortly picking up Bibi, whose is lucky to still have one eye but I will continue to follow your stories. You give so much good advice that after Bibi has settled in, I plan get him a blind friend from the same rescue in Egypt.” How amazing is that? I made a difference to one little animals life and hopefully maybe even two.
When I started my blog I decided that if I was going to be on the internet and become an internet sensation I would also start an Instagram accountant a Facebook page just so I could share my story and show the world what I do and who I am. Who would have thought that ‘@Jenny_the _blind_cat’ would get over 500 Instagram followers! I kind of accidentally also created a Facebook group “blind cats of the uk” which I administer and manage but now has over 100 members all sharing and promoting blind cats, rescue cats and those with special needs. I am now officially an internet sensation 😸.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2548702982034691/?ref=share
In August I experienced true heartache, my big sister Mia quite unexpectedly crossed the rainbow bridge. I had no idea that I could miss someone so much, especially as Mia and I didn’t always see eye to eye but she was such a great inspiration to me when I arrived at my forever home. She didn’t make things easy for me and I now realise that she was doing what I always wanted someone to do to me, she treated me the same as anyone else, she didn’t treat me differently because I’m blind. She was amazing and taught me so much about what it’s like to be a leader, a Queen, a friend and a family. I wish I had known her for longer and been able to learn more from her. During this time I had to look after Peppar, he had grown up with Mia his whole life and as very sad at losing her, she was his big sister and friend, I now needed to support Peppar and try to fill the gap left by Mia. I was for the first time truly sad.
I became Peppars only furry friend and family but mummy and daddy also missed her terribly so I tried my best to comfort them as well. Eventually though they decided that the space she had left in their family should be used for a truly good cause so they decided to start looking for another deserving kitty to join our family. They were sure that there should be some good come out of a bad situation.
Then in October Millie and Angelin arrived from Cyprus. As you all know from previous posts the introductions and them joining our family didn’t always go smoothly but they’re here now and fully part of the family with me becoming the Queen and using Mia as my guide on how to behave, I know she’s not here but I can still hear her wisdom and think what would Mia do in various situations. I’m sure she is still guiding me from across the rainbow bridge and Peppar is also my other big support.
In November I became a master tree climber and was awarded a certificate as I’m so good at climbing trees. I had a party to celebrate with all my Instagram friends that I have made from all over the world. It was such a good day and I’m so lucky to have so many friends who are interested in what I do and want to share my story.
Then sooner that I expected mummy and daddy said it was Christmas time and I made it onto the nice list as did the others and so we all got some ameowzing presents 🎁. I also persuaded mummy and daddy to let me, Peppar, Millie and Angelin to give some of our Christmas money to the charity in Cyprus that Anna runs so that we could help some other cats like us over Christmas time. I hope that our donation can at least make some difference and help in a small way. I’m such a lucky girl and have had such amazing luck in finding my new family that I just want to be able to try to give someone else the same chance as I got.
I’m really not sure what this year will bring but I hope not to be sad or scared this year. I just want to enjoy my family for who they are and appreciate all our differences. I hope to be able to guide Millie and Angelin (especially Angelin) as she’s just a baby and I can give her advice on how to be a blind cat and for them both to reach their full potential, to be able to lead a full and exciting life. Hopefully you will continue to read my blog and I’ll get some new followers as well for both my blog and Instagram too, then I can continue to promote rescue and special needs cats as animals that can bring amazing benefits to human families.
Jenny’s Story 