Baby Angelin went off to have her lady operation just after we celebrated the New Year. Unlike me and Millie she didn’t have the operation before she left Cyprus as she was just a bit too young and not fully fit and healthy. Mummy and daddy decided that they would wait a bit after she arrived so she could settle in and get to know us first. She’s now 7 months old and fully fit so off she went for her operation, she went up with mummy in the morning and then mummy and daddy went to pick her up in the afternoon when she had woken up.

When she came home mummy opened the carrier in the living room as usual and we all gathered round. Cats are strange creatures in that even though we miss whoever has been away we don’t always give them a loving welcome home. I waited for mummy to open the carrier and out poddled Angelin but wait, there was something very strange about her…i took a deep breath and she didn’t really smell like Angelin but it wasn’t just the usual vet smell which Peppar smelt of when he had been in there before, it was something more than that. I put my paw out to give her a bit of a feel and she felt odd too, she didn’t feel of fur, I gave her another pat and she felt kind of fuzzy. It was strange and Millie and I didn’t liked it at all so we made sure that she knew she needed to stay away from us until she smelt and felt like she did before.

Mummy and daddy were not happy with us and told us off for being mean to Angelin. I felt a bit bad for her but she’s confused me as she just doesn’t smell as she should. I thought mummy and daddy might have tried to sneak another new cat in which I was not happy about. Mummy told me that it was Angelin but they had put her in some kind of clothing to stop her scratching or washing her operation scar whilst it healed.

Mummy reminded me that when I had to have my eye operation after I arrived I had a cone round my neck like Peppar had recently and I had completely freaked out about it. I remembered that as it was the only time I’ve been really scared after I arrived with them. The cone was awful, as a blind cat I rely on my other senses such as hearing, smell, touch and taste to get around and understand where I’m going. The cone meant that all of these senses were all muddled up as I couldn’t hear properly because the cone distorted the sound and the direction it came from. All I could smell was the plastic cone and rubber edging so I couldn’t smell my own scent to see where I’d been. I couldn’t feel with my whiskers so I didn’t know where anything was including the furniture and walls. I completely freaked out and they had to remove it before I hurt myself. Since then someone has developed cat clothing that stops cats from being able to get to a sound site but means they can still run around, hear, smell, feel and wash some bits such as legs which always makes us feel a bit better if we can wash some bit of ourselves!

Mummy described Angelin as a belated Christmas Elf, apparently she looks very cute in her ‘pyjamas’ but Peppar, Millie and I are just glad that it’s not us that have been put in a onesie. I know that a lot of people like to dress their cats and other pets in clothes as they think it’s cute but it’s really not. I’m so glad my mummy and daddy don’t dress me up as I’m not sure I could handle the shame and embarrassment of being made to wear human clothes. I’m a cat and I have a purrfect wardrobe for any occasion – my fur. It keeps me cool in the summer, warm in the winter, it is wind and waterproof and has stylish markings on it that distinguish me from anyone else. It is unique just like me.

I do let mummy do one thing which is I have a selection of bandanas that I wear on my harness. The first one I got was a pink one with little skull and crossbones on it, when I wear it I pretend I’m a fearsome, swashbuckling pirate cat out adventuring on the high seas somewhere. I got some Christmas ones as a present from Santa Paws and so when we go out for walkies I get to choose which one I wear. If I wear the robin one then maybe it will camouflage me when I’m climbing the trees and hunting the birdies.

Angelin has now been given the all clear to remove her onesie as her scar is healing nicely and so she’s well on the mend. The trouble is now is that I’m so confused what’s happening she keeps coming and going and smelling different each time. I had just got used to her being here and then everything changed. I just got used to her in her onesie and then it’s gone, I’m having to get used to her all over again and as you know I’m not very good with new introductions. Mummy says though that this is the last time she needs to go away and that I now need to get to know her again and carry on teaching her how to be a good blind kitty.

If mummy says that it is Angelin and that nothing else is going to change then I’ll try really hard to make friends with her again, I did enjoy playing with her before and I’m sure I will again soon once I’ve got used to her again. When her onesie came off Angelin played and played and played all day, she must have been happy to be free of her clothes but the noises of her running around playing with everything does keep me on edge as I’m still getting used to having the new youngsters around and all the noise can be unnerving and hard to ignore or relax.

My big top tip for this blog entry and anyone who has or is thinking of getting a blind cat is that if you can in any way use an alternative method of protecting wounds and scars scars than a cone of shame then please do and request this from your vet. Mummy says they have all kinds of things now, soft floppy collars and inflatable ones as well as the onesie that Angelin had. She was very lucky that mummy and daddy learned from what happened to me and found something different for her. Hopefully sharing this will mean that another kitty can benefit from my horrible experience and I can help another cat avoid being as scared as I was.

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.

Daddy and mummy went away to see their family and I was really worried that they wouldn’t come back in time to see Santa Paws. I wasn’t sure if he’d come to visit if they weren’t here. I needn’t have worried though, they came back home just in time. It’s the first time they’ve been away and left me to look after Millie and Angelin, it was a big responsibility and I had to explain to them that it was ok for daddy and mummy to go away, they need to go and see their human family from time to time and spend time with them like they do with us. Angelin was worried that they might not come back as her first mummy went away and didn’t come back which is when she came to our family. She wondered how would we get fed if they weren’t here to look after us (Angelin loves her food), I explained that mummy and daddy’s friends would come and see us and look after us but when they’re not visiting Peppar and I are in charge and we’d look after her and Millie. Mummy and daddy never leave us for long so we just need to be patient and enjoy the peace and quiet and just chill out for a while When mummy and daddy came home, we gave them a big welcome home and lots of big cuddles, Millie was very loud and excited as usual.

One night, when mummy and daddy went to bed, they said that tonight was the night that Santa Paws 🐾 would come if we had been good kitties. All that night I could hardly sleep, I was so excited but also a little nervous as I wasn’t sure I had been good enough all year to be on the nice list or not. I haven’t always been a good girl but I have tried really hard. I thought I’d sleep in the spare room where I could guard the front door and would hear if Santa Paws tried to get in. As you all know my hearing is amazing so however he tries to get in I’ll hear him. Eventually I drifted off to sleep 💤 Even though I hadn’t been asleep long I woke up really early as I was so excited to see if I had made the nice list that I couldn’t sleep for very long. I needn’t have worried though, as it turned out I was on the nice list! Santa Paws came and left me and my brother and sisters lots of presents 🎁. I found a pile of boxes and packages that weren’t there before. What were they? Where did they come from? What was in them? Were they all for me? When can I open them? I gave them all a good sniff and pawed them all to see if I could guess what was in them. I even gave a couple of them a little nibble to see what they tasted of. No matter what I tried though I just couldn’t figure out what was in them. It was time to wake mummy and daddy up but hang on I didn’t hear anything all night, how did Santa Paws get past me? How did he get in? I thought about this for a while and decided that he must be some kind of magical being to have made it in without making a sound.

There was something for each of us, we all got to help unwrap the gifts, ripping the paper off to find out what was inside, it was so exciting. I got 4 new Christmas bandanas to wear when I’m out walkies. Peppar got a big fluffy bed to snuggle in; Angelin got a toy box for all the toys to go in and Millie got some new toys to play with. We made lots of mess on the living room floor! For once mummy and daddy said this was ok just this once. There was crinkly paper to play in, boxes and bags to hide in and jump out on one my sisters from when they least expected it. I wish Santa Paws came every day, it was AWESOME.

Daddy made sure that the bags were safe for us by taking the handles off. Cats can easily get the handles caught around their necks and blind cats are even more at risk of this for very obvious reasons. Always make sure that your pawents cut the handles off or if they can’t do this then they must supervise you at all times when you’re playing when there’s bags around.

Mummy was cooking in the morning but she still managed to take me out for walkies, having given daddy a list of what to do and keep an eye on whilst we were out. The cooking machine was on in the kitchen all morning and mummy said it was stuffed full, no more room for anything else, she was making a giant feast and it all smelled amazing, it was making me really hungry. My human Uncle came over to help them eat the big feast. It must be a special occasion as they all sat at the big table together rather than sitting on the sofa as mummy and daddy normally do. There were extra spaces at the table and so I plonked myself on the chair at the head of the table to supervise them all having their dinner and it also meant I could guard the Turkey bird that mummy and cooked for their feast.

If I guarded it and stopped them having seconds then there would be more for me to eat (and maybe) share with the others. I needn’t have worried though as daddy had saved some for us, after their feast daddy dished some out for us all. I’ve never had turkey bird before – it was YUMMY 😋.

Once they had finished their feast we all sat round the tv just chilling out. Then just when I thought all the excitement was over my human Uncle brought out some more presents! Mummy and daddy had some for him too so there was more unwrapping to help with and more paper to play with. Santa Paws must have got them mixed up and delivered them to the wrong house, still no-one seemed to worry about it so we just helped out with the unwrapping and helping shred the paper.

Then we chilled out for the rest of the day, little Angelin was exhausted with all the excitement and with her little belly full of turkey dinner she went off to sleep in one of the new boxes, Millie wanted to play fetch some more with daddy before she too crashed out next to mummy on the sofa. Pepper was in his usual spot on mummy’s pillow and I chilled out on my perch behind mummy before I too drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the days excitement and dreaming of how lucky I am to be part of a loving, caring family and how I’m going to model my new bandanas and play with all the toys we got. What a day 😸.

The next day we all just relaxed and took it easy, playing with our toys, watching tv and for me and mummy a nice walk in one of my new bandanas, I even got to choose which one I wore. Then in the evening I snuggled up on mummy’s lap to keep her company.

Now all I have to do is be a good girl for the next 12 months and Santa Paws might bring me some more presents next year. It’s going no to be quite a challenge as that’s a really, really long time for a mischievous kitty like me to be good for, still I’ll give it a try.

I’ve found myself starting to snuggle on mummy’s lap and rather than playing so much I’m watching the two little ones run around and making sure they’re ok. I’m trying to teach Angelin how to be a good blind house cat, how to play and how to and trying to teach Millie some manners and that she doesn’t have to always be the centre of attention. She had a hard start in life like all of us but she needs me to show her that she will get just as much love from mummy and daddy without having to be quite so full on. We all need to share mummy and daddy’s love and attention, there are four of us and only two of them so we need to share them. We can of course always play with each other to pass the time and if mummy and daddy are busy.

I still like to play and have my favourite toys and still take mummy out for her daily exercise and walkies – it’s really nice to have some alone time with just me and mummy. We chat to each other and talk girly talk and mummy needs to get her exercise too.

Having said that though I’m just so excited waiting for Santa Paws that I’m keeping lookout at the window for him and all my Instagram friends are also watching for him and will let me know that he’s coming. It’s hard being good as there’s so much temptation, mummy has put out fancy decorations, sparkly things and paper and boxes. It’s like mummy is trying to make me be naughty!

Well I’m sorry for a short blog this week but I need to carry on keeping lookout and making sure that the two youngsters aren’t destroying the sparkly decorations.

Merry Christmas everyone with lots of love from Me, Peppar, Millie and Angelin. 😻😽😻

There’s been something strange going on this week that he’s been home all week. I can tell from my super cat senses that daddy has not been feeling very well so I’ve been trying my best to look after him and keep him entertained whilst he’s been at home. I love it when my dad is at home because I get to spend lots of time with him however I don’t like the fact that he’s been poorly🤒 so I’ve tried to let him rest and get better. Mummy also spent a day at home last week and there is definitely something strange going on I’m not sure what it is but mummy was covering my favourite boxes in paper and she didn’t let me play in the boxes, she normally doesn’t mind me doing this but this time she was taking paper and wrapping them up. What’s going on? How am I supposed to get in the box to play and party? As mummy was being mean and not letting me play in the boxes me, Angelin and Millie decided that we would help mummy wrap the boxes so we sat on the paper, we played with the paper so mummy could hear where it was, it made rustling noises so this was great fun. At the end of it all mummy said that as helpers we made it take 10 times as long to wrap the presents so we must’ve been good at helping because we made all the fun last so much longer.

Mummy also put up lots of extra things round the flat some of them make little crinkly noises as she hung them up which of course we have to explore, for some reason that makes mummy say Jenny – No! We’ve been getting lots of cards in the post and I have been helping put these up in the flat as well. Mummy looks at me and says Jenny, where shall I put these so I show her where I can get to to look at them and mummy then puts them somewhere else that I can’t reach! What’s that all about? Anyone would think mummy was putting them out of my reach on purpose.

I have heard of Santa Paws before as he came and visited me last year but I didn’t realise that he might come again this year as well. I thought last year was a special celebration as I’d found my forever home and family. Peppar told me though that if I’m good then Santa Paws will come every year – how amazing is that! The hard thing though is that if he only comes if I’ve been good I need to be good for a whole year, every year. That’s not easy for a mischievous 😏 street cat like me but I will try my best. Mummy says that this is the time of year when families get together and appreciate the love and the time they have for each other and give each other presents as a symbol of their love for each other.

I know I haven’t always been good this year but I have tried very hard. I’ve been playing and trying to get along with my new siblings, even on occasion I’ve been letting them share mummy’s lap with me, her lap is specially snuggly as mummy has her furry winter pyjamas on now to help us all keep warm and cosy.

I’ve also been sharing my scratching post with Millie and playing with Angelin so that they both feel part of the family.

I’ve also been making sure Peppar is ok too as he’s had such a tough time recently and giving him a snuggle as well. He was specially brave when we had some overnight human visitors which scared me a bit so he gave me a big hug and cuddle to make sure I was ok. He’s definitely going to be on the good list this year and get a visit from Santa Paws.

I’ve been making sure mummy gets out and has plenty of fresh air and exercise and that we get our daily walkies. Mummy says “but it’s getting dark Jenny” but that doesn’t matter or make any difference to me but I make sure that mummy can see me so she can follow me and knows where we’re going. Ive also been teaching young Angelin how to behave, how to play and how to get into the treat toy. She hasn’t figured that last one out yet but I’m sure she will soon, she’s getting better each day learning how to hunt her toys with my help and guidance. Each time I play with her she doesn’t realise it but I’m teaching her to hone her skills and develop her other senses to make up for her not being able to see. I’m always one step ahead though and I’m not going to share all of my secrets as I’ve got to keep something up my paw for when she gets older!

This Santa Paws must be an amazingly big cat if he takes presents all round the world to all the people and the kitties everywhere. What a wonderful job to have taking presents all over in the world spreading love and joy and happiness. Sadly though it seems Santa Paws only knows about cats that have got homes and families or maybe there’s just so many street cats he doesn’t have time to visit them all. Mummy says that he delivers all the presents in one night so he must be a super fast cat, maybe he’s a cheetah 🐆

Hopefully everything I’ve been doing since I found out I need to be good again this year means I will get something because I love presents 🎁 and of course the boxes that the presents come in and the crinkly wrapping paper too.

When I was a street cat no one ever brought me presents and I hadn’t heard of Santa Paws. This year whilst I’m so excited about getting presents and mummy’s special Christmas dinner that she cooks, I will spare a thought for all of those street kitties in Cyprus and around the world that haven’t found their forever homes or families yet and won’t be getting any presents, boxes or paper to play with or even a special dinner to eat. Maybe I’ll send them one of my presents to cheer them up, show them there is kindness in the world and they shouldn’t give up hope of finding their forever homes and families.

A lot of people think that if you have or are getting a blind cat that they need to be treated differently to a ‘normal’ cat. They think that we might need to be played with differently or have special toys. This isn’t really true though. My mummy and daddy thought this at first as well but I have shown them that I don’t consider myself to be different so they shouldn’t either. People think that we need toys that have bells or rattly things in them so we can follow the sounds more easily, that’s not true either. I have such good hearing that sometimes the noisy bells are just too loud for me, some of my most favourite toys are actually quiet. My bestest toy nosey which is one of mummy’s old charity red pirate nose, only makes a gentle sound, it doesn’t quite roll straight so it fun to try to catch, it’s also soft enough so I can grab it with my teeth and take back so mummy or daddy can throw it again, the like to play fetch with me so I humour them and play along. If they tap it on the floor I can hear the noise right across the room even if the tv is on. I know it’s nosey as it makes a unique noise which I can tell apart from all the other toys.

I also like a small rubber bouncy ball and a rubber bouncy dice, I can hear them rolling along the floor and can follow the noise easily. My hearing is so good though I can play with some really quiet toys too such as a woollen ball and a fabric Brussels sprout, I can still chase them and I know where they are by their smell so I can still play with them. Mummy says that she has no idea how it can chase these toys as she can’t hear them roll across the floor but I can and I can smell where they are too. Each toy smells different (much like I guess they look different) so I know which is which.

Mummy and daddy find it funny that when I’m playing with Peppar I crouch behind things to be able to jump out at him. I also hide behind the coffee table and jump out on my toys. It goes something like this…

1. Hear the prey (toy).
2. Find your cover (Hide behind something).
3. Listen to the prey and learn its movements.
4. Pinpoint it’s weak spot.
5. Wiggle bottom (to warm up the muscles).
6. Pounce and kill.
7. Claim victory to your humans, this sometimes involves leaving them a present.

I have everywhere I’ve been and explored mapped out in my head and I follow scent trails like you would follow a path or a road. If you put a box down somewhere or move a chair it’s ok as my whiskers will find them. I might bump into them a couple of times whilst I remember where they are but that’s ok, I’ll figure it out. It’s actually quite nice to have some variation, especially as I spend most of my time indoors. It means I get to explore something new or figure out a new route somewhere which provides challenges that I love trying to figure out, it keeps my brain active and keeps me challenged and occupied and stops me getting bored.

I know it seems odd that a blind cat hides behind things but these are instincts that just come as part of being a cat. They’re handed down from generation to generation and my cat mummy taught them to me, she was taught them by her mummy and her mummy was taught them by her mummy and so on. As a kitten I had sight to start with, I wasn’t born blind although I don’t remember what it’s like to see. I watched my mummy hunt and stalk prey to help feed herself and the clowder but I was very young then. Once I lost my sight I could still learn from my mummy and the clowder by sound, touch and smell instead, cat communication isn’t all about seeing we have many more ways of teaching and learning. The hunting instinct is in all of us anyway, it’s just unlocked and honed by teaching and by play as well. On the streets we can still do all of this and there I could still hunt and stalk things (and catch them), it’s an instinct that doesn’t leave me just because I have lost one of my senses.

If I wasn’t able to do all of the things that make me a cat then what would I do, who and what would I be?

I also do some things that a lot of ‘normal’ cats don’t do, as you all know I go for walks on a lead, this is something that many cats don’t do but I do and I love it. Maybe being able to see when trying something new is actually something the hinders learning as you can for example, see how far you might fall if you climb the big tree – I can’t and so I just have to trust myself and know that if I got up I must be able to get back down again – simples!

My point is, don’t just assume that blind cats need to be treated differently, we don’t see ourselves as being different so you humans shouldn’t either. I can do everything a ‘normal’ cat can do, sometimes it takes me a little longer to do them or I might do them differently but I will do them nonetheless in my own time and in my own unique way.

As you all know from previous posts, there are a couple of additions to our family that I wasn’t very happy about. Well I’ve been trying really hard to get to know them, I know it means a lot to mummy and daddy that we are one big happy family.

Peppar is my support, my guidance and my safety net when Millie and Angelin arrived. He was there for me to tell me that it was all going to be ok and that I shouldn’t be scared, he wasn’t and he would protect me as my big brother. I believed him as I trust him. Now though its my turn to help him. After his teeth operation he wasn’t his usual self and mummy and daddy have had to spend a lot of time with him trying to get him to eat, giving him medicine, pain relief, fluids and liquid food by syringe. Mummy said to me that they were worried about him and that I needed to look after him and help him as he hadn’t eaten for so long and was getting very poorly. I tried my best to help him and encourage him as he always helps me. I even left him some of my dinner in case he preferred what I had. Then, one evening, the night before mummy and daddy get to spend two whole days at home with us Peppar was on daddy’s lap when he thought Peppar had sat in something yucky, he called for mummy to have a look and give him a wipe down. Mummy looked at Peppar and gasped, we need to get him to the vet she said to daddy. Mummy picked Peppar up and put him in the carrier, daddy phoned the vet and then they said they would be back soon and off they went. Just before they went they explained that somehow all the fur and skin on the inside of Peppars back legs and groin had come off and he was red raw and needed to see the doctor straight away.

They were gone a while but when they came back Peppar wasn’t with them, I was worried…Mia went off in the carrier and didn’t come back, what was happening to Peppar, when would he come home? Would he come home? What would I do without him? Much like mummy and daddy I felt sad 😿 and had a restless night, Peppar doesn’t do well in strange places or with strange people, this is why mummy and daddy had been doing so much for him at home. I’m not there to comfort him, or reassure him like he does with me, he’s all alone and I know what that’s like and how scary that can be. Mummy and daddy said to us that they knew it’s tough but that he was in the best place as they would look after him, still that night I tried my hardest to send him healing, loving thoughts. It was a long weekend but after two nights away from us mummy got the call her and daddy had been waiting for, they could go and get Peppar and bring him home. The cat doctor said they knew he must be feeling better as he had turned into a velociraptor! Mummy went to get Peppar and daddy stayed home to get out the dragon hoover machine so everything was nice and tidy for him.

When he came back he had a cone of shame on but unlike when I had one he seemed ok with this. In fact he seemed ok with everything, mummy said he was on some strong painkillers which made him specially chilled out. Mummy and daddy were so pleased because one of the first things that he did when he got home was eat – they hadn’t seen him eat that much for days and days. Over the next few days Peppar got better and better, he was eating more and was getting back to his old self. Soon he didn’t need his painkillers and didn’t need the cream mummy had to apply to his bare tummy skin with daddy’s help as it was all healing well. My big bro was back…a bit quiet and thin but back. I’m so happy and relieved to have him home and back to his old self.

You might wonder what this has to do with me getting on with my new sisters but whilst Peppar was poorly mummy and daddy were busy looking after him that I had to work out what I was going to do about Millie and Angelin. Mummy was still making time to take me for walkies and play but she needed to help Peppar. I decided that I needed to help out, I needed to step up and look after the rest of the family, I needed to learn quickly how to lead them without Peppar to help me. I am after all the Queen 👑 I am young to be a queen so it is very difficult without Peppars help but I know I can do it, I’m not a quitter and have learnt over my time in my new home that I can do anything I put my mind to. I realised that the youngsters aren’t going anywhere, they’re here to stay so I have to accept that and adapt. They’re very full on and being younger than me they need more attention so I have had to let them take some of mummy’s time, that’s not easy as I’m still young too and I want mummy and daddy all to myself – I think what I was feeling was jealousy but I need to be a big girl and let them have some attention. I know that mummy and daddy love me and will always make time for me to play or snuggle or go walkies. I’m a very lucky girl.

Sometime I can hear them playing, I kind of want to join in but I’m not quite ready to let myself go completely yet and join in. For now I’ll just ‘watch’ them and learn all I can about each of them. Milly is very noisy, she meows a lot and she runs everywhere very quickly, she seems to be an all or nothing kind of girl. She has a strange pawstep though as she only has three legs which confused me to start with, I couldn’t quite figure it out until daddy told me. The fast movements she makes can be quite scary for a blind cat as until you get used to it as you don’t quite know what is rushing towards you. I’m getting used to it now though and just let her rush around me. Angelin is mostly silent Mummy says she’s blind like me, she makes the odd squeaking noise (she sounds more like my doggie friends than a kitten) but like me she stays quiet so she can hear what’s going on around her. When mummy or daddy are trying to play with me she often comes in and steals the toys away! She has no no respect for her elders but I’ll teach her how things should work, she’s just a baby after all and didn’t have a clowder or Queen to teach her how to behave when she was a tiny kitten growing up in Cyprus.

I also realised whilst Peppar was poorly that I should probably try to be more like him, he welcomed me into the family when I arrived and so I should probably do the same for my new little sisters. So I’ve been trying really hard to accept them and welcome them, it’s hard though as being the Queen of the group, that’s my job now. It makes me feel very uneasy as I’m still so young and it’s a lot of responsibility to have at such a young age. I’m not sure I’m ready for this but I must try and I will do my best. I’ve been trying to get to know them more, joining in playing with them and letting them sit close to me when I’m relaxing.

They’re still quite annoying, a bit excitable, and need to learn their place in the family but I’m getting used to them being here.Hopefully I can learn to be a good big sister and leader to them in time. Mummy and daddy reminded me that, like me they are rescue cats from Cyprus so I can understand how they feel and what they are going through. Maybe my experience can help them to settle into our home and family.