There’s adventure cats and then there’s real adventure cats. Now I always thought that I was a real adventure cat, with my harness and lead and walks in the garden and around the neighbourhood but oh how little I knew. Just recently there’s been strange things going on and I couldn’t quite figure out what, first mummy took me to the pub with her, not once but twice. You all know about the first trip when the pub was empty but that was apawently something called a ‘recce’. One day a little while after my first visit mummy popped me back in my carrier and off we went again. First we explored the garden, it’s home to some strange creatures who smelt a bit odd and kept shouting at me very loudly saying “ cock-a-doodle-doo at the top of their voices. That was a little unnerving but we wandered the other way and I chose to just ignore them, it’s not very polite but it’s also not very polite to shout either. Then after a little while of exploring the garden and the trees I heard some new footsteps and mummy talking, I recognised the other voice as the person who I had met last time, she spoke to me really quietly “hello, Jenny, it’s nice to have you back” she said, I meowed hello to her before heading off to explore a new smell.

Then mummy scooped me up and we walked away from the garden, I was unnerved as mummy’s feet suddenly made a loud crunch crunch sound, it ok Jenny it’s just the gravel, nothing to be scared of. I could hear people talking and with each step it got louder and louder, then I couldn’t feel the breeze on my fur or the sounds of the outside but instead lots of people noises. That was very scary so I squirmed and wriggled but mummy held me tight and said it’s ok Jen, I’m here but it was a bit much so I wriggled some more and meowed loudly at which point mummy put me down, I’m sorry mummy for scratching you, I didn’t mean it. It’s ok Jen mummy said, I know it’s a lot to take in but we’ll just sit here for a little while together.

Then came the little people… apawently I had a little fan club who wanted to come and see me and say hello, I don’t mind little people too much so I let them stroke me as I wandered about checking out my surroundings, we had a little space all to ourselves. Every so often someone would come over and say hello and mummy would talk to them and explain my rescue story and then I’d get a little stroke or a chin rub, I even met a big doggie called Benson who really, really wanted to come over and say hello but his daddy kept him a little way away on his lead.

Mummy and I then just sat and chilled out whilst everyone went l about their business and I curled up on mummy’s coat and took a little nap, not a full nap as my ears are always on high alert, just in case. I know mummy’s right there next to me but she always tells me how good my hearing is and that I can always hear what’s coming way before she can. There were so many new noises and smells to take in, as a blindie it’s important to learn quickly, you need to know what noises you need to run or hide from and which ones are ok to just ignore. It’s a lot to take in.

Then after a little while and having taken about as much excitement as I could handle for one day, mummy scooped me up, still snuggled up her coat and off we went home to chill out together.

Then as if that wasn’t enough, one day mummy and daddy came home with a present for me, they put it down on the floor and I hopped right in. Mummy said it’s so we can go exploring together which made me excited. Then after a few days when it was time for walkies instead of going out the back door like usual mummy put me in my new bag and we went to the car. I don’t like the car so I meowed and meowed but we weren’t in there for very long and mummy soon hooked on my lead and picked me up and we walked a little way before she put me down. I could hear the sounds of the cars going by but I could also hear the sound of trees and I could smell fresh new smells, I wasn’t too sure about why mummy had brought me here.

This place sounded big, I could hear the sound of wind rustling tree leave high up in the sky, I could smell so many exciting smells, and as well as the sound of the wind in the leaves I could hear so many other things. The sounds and smells painted a picture in my mind of somewhere very exciting, somewhere full of nature and animals, some familiar and some new. I could hear birds tweeting, cows moo-ing and some new noises that I really wasn’t sure about.

Off we went up the path, me and mummy side by side, stopping to sniff and listen to everything as we went, a couple of times as I was getting completely absorbed in a new exciting scent, mummy would pick me up and we’d walk a bit further along, then down I went again to pick up the pace and explore some more. The trees were intriguing, I could hear their leave rustling so high up above my head, I wasn’t sure these were real trees but they were, they were just humongous. I found one and explored right the way round it, I had never had to take so many steps to go round a tree before, I found just the right spot and reached up to give it a little sniff, it smelt ok so up I went but with mummy giggling to herself as my paws were stretched out as wide as I could reach and still I could only just grip on, mummy said that I looked like a little limpet stuck on the side. Wow this tree was big, bigger than I could have ever imagined a tree could be. Mummy, mummy I meowed can we explore some more? Come on Jen, let’s go and walk a bit further I’m sure there’s so much more to explore. Off we went and ventured further, I could feel the sun on my fur and the ground was quite hard and so I did what any self respecting girl would do and had a good roll around. Then off again to explore a bit more, each step brought fresh new excitement. Oh wow this place is like heaven for a little adventure cat like me.

Mummy and I kept going, it was so exciting and the further we went the quieter the sounds of the cars were and the sounds of the trees and nature noises gradually took over. With each step that mummy and I took I felt more and more enveloped in this wonderful place. I felt so at home walking about but before too long mummy said it was time to go and we needed to head back but we’ve only just started our adventure.

I wanted to stay a bit longer and just take in everything I could about this new and interesting place. As mummy and I paused for a little while I wanted to make sure that I listened very carefully to everything around me so that I could imprint it all into my memories. I could hear the gentle swish of the leaves high above, the quiet creaking of the branches as they move back and forth swaying in the breeze. As I sit here on my new log I can hear the familiar hum of the little birds wings as they flit from one bush to the next, the sound of them singing to each other from the tree branches and away in the distance the sound of something mummy calls a pheasant calling to its mate.

As we walked up the last bit of the pathway towards the car to go home there was a sudden burst of fluttering which made both mummy and me jump as a large bird did a sudden vertical take off just by where we were walking. Mummy and I looked at each other and at the exact same time mummy laughed and I meowed in surprise what was that mummy! “well that was a pheasant Jen, we heard them calling each other but I didn’t know there was one right there, It must have heard you coming.”

After all that excitement and exploring it was time to head home for some dinner and to settle down for the night. As I lay curled up on mummy’s lap that night, purring I meowed quietly, mummy can we go back to the wood again sometime? “Of course we can Jenny, I knew you’d like it and there’s so much more for you to explore”

As I drifted off to sleep I realised the I didn’t have to dream of being an adventure cat anymore because I really am an adventure cat. I guess dreams really do come true.

By now you all know how much I love my mummy, I could go on for ages and ages about what she means to me and how she’s my soul mate but I wanted to keep it simple. Sometimes less is more.

I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather adventure with or wear my posh pawty bandana for.

I love you mummy very much
I love your kind and gentle touch.
You take me walkies every day
And we run and laugh and frolic and play.

You saw in me a little spark
And this ignited something in your heart.
You don’t see my disability 
Instead you see me for what I can be.

You encourage me to be the best
And put my blindie senses to the test.
To explore new places and learn and grow
To let my inner adventure cat show.

You always think of how to keep me busy
And got me a wheel that’s really wizzy.
There’s never a dull moment with you around 
The best family in the world I somehow found.

I show my love in my happy dance
As I know how much this makes you laugh.
Who knew fates entwined magic would unfurl 
To give me my bestest friend in the whole wide world.

I love you mummy.

Where do I start? This has been a fantastic weekend, the sun has been shining and mummy’s been home for two whole extra days. With mummy home and the sun shining this means one thing, double walkies 😺.

As soon as mummy is up and out of bed and I can feel the warm morning sun on my face through the windows I’m something that mummy describes as a kid in a sweet shop. Everywhere mummy goes I’m there meowing come on mummy let’s go out and play. “Not yet Jenny, I need tea first but we’ll go soon I promise” hurry up, hurry up, hurry up I meow excitedly as mummy takes sip after sip after sip of her tea. C’mon let’s go I shout as I rub her legs. Then, eventually mummy goes and puts on her outdoor clothes and then I know it won’t be long. Then first I hear the cupboard door, closely followed by the familiar sound of my accessory box opening and mummy trying to decide which is todays bandana. Daddy normally chooses my evening accessories but mummy gets to choose the morning ones at the weekends. Then, on with my harness and off we go.

This weekends walkies have been extra special as we’ve been hunting for the Easter Bunny, according to legend he carries with him a bag full of goodies disguised as eggs. I guess he’s part of Santa Paws furramily, maybe like I’m part of mummy and daddy’s furramily. Either way I’ve been trying to find him. First I thought I’d better check out the neighbourhood so we went off down the cul de sac to see if I could sniff him out, I checked everywhere and even with my super blindie senses I couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary, no sign of a bunny yet.

Then, I heard a strange kind of bleating noise from the other side of the road which the noisy monsters travel down. Meowmy could see I was interested so when it was quiet she scooped me up and carried me to the other side to explore. As it turns out bunnies don’t bleat, mummy calls these animals sheep 🐑 and they don’t give out presents like the bunnies do. Still, it was fun being on this side of the road and so off we went checking out what it’s like on this side.

Turns out it’s fun on this side and there’s lots of new smells and sounds to explore so off we went. The new scents were intriguing and just when I’d caught up to one another one came wafting in my direction so I carried on to that one and then the next and the next one, it was quite exhilarating. I was so into it that I wasn’t even scared of the noisy monsters that went past, though after each one mummy told me how brave I was and that I was a good girl. I could hear the gentle breeze in some trees close by and above my head, I wondered what they would be like to climb as I lifted my head up to hear better, I hadn’t found a tree trunk so I guess I’ll leave finding the tree for another day, for now it’s on with the exploring.

We’d already gone past the field and the side of the grass changed, I couldn’t hear the familiar sound of a bush but could smell a familiar smell, something mummy calls a fence. I’m not really allowed through fences as mummy says what is on the other side isn’t ours, that’s a hooman thing though, us kitties can’t be bound by fences but with mummy in tow and my harness and lead on I guess I have to be restrained. Then, mummy asked me a very strange question which I didn’t really understand “Are you going to school Jenny?” I just meowed back and turned around which seemed to make mummy laugh. Then off we went back the way we had come, the smell of home got stronger and stronger and when I could smell it really close up I stopped, turned towards our house and meowed at mummy. “Jen, you’ll never cease to amaze me” said mummy as she scooped me back up “How did you know we were back opposite our house!” It’s my super blindie senses mummy, you should be used to how good they are by now I meowed.

Of course, in answer to your question, that I’m sure you’re dying to know, yes I did find the Easter bunnies. Mummy and I went back down to do another neighbourhood patrol and suddenly, there they were, my nose twitched and I could smell them waaay off in the distance. Mummy, mummy I meowed, there they are, the Easter bunnies. “oh come on Jen, there’s nothing there, I can’t see anything.” Well mummy should have learnt by now not to doubt my super senses so I turned round and meowed again, really mummy you should know better than to doubt me, just at mid meow mummy said “there they are! I see them now, I should have known better than to doubt you sweetie.”

After such a fun packed and exciting adventure weekend, I’m completely pooped.

Well, who would have thought it? My little sisfur Millie turned 5 yesterday. Where does the time go, I remember like it was yesterday the day you and Angelin arrived, I wasn’t the most welcoming and didn’t really appreciate you invading my home and I didn’t like it at all. I screamed and yelled and growled and hissed and for this I’m truly sorry as it turns out you’re the best sisfur I could have ever asked for. I’m sorry I didn’t realise it at the time but having two new sisfurs at the same time was a lot for me to cope with but you took it all in your stride and seemed to completely understand and ignored all my bad behaviour and just settled in.

When I finally came round I started to realise just what a good little sisfur you are, yes, you have your crazy Millie moments when all we can do is duck and cover whilst you run around the house like a crazy thing, yeowling away like a mentalist but I know that you only do this because you feel at home, you feel safe and secure and know that no matter what nothing will hurt you. That feeling is worth celebrating as is the feeling of having a forever home and you do truly celebrate that in your own unique, crazy ginger way by yeowling at the top of your voice and running around like a mentalist, ears back and eyes wide. It’s a true celebration of freedom but we all know that when mental Millie comes out it’s time to hunker down and stay out of the way of the ginger tornado whirling through the house. I wish I had just a little bit of crazy ginger in me too so I could just let it go like you do.

I love how you like to chatter to the birds and have taken on the very serious role of neighbourhood watch cat, keeping an eye on everything from the windows. You even keep an eye on me when I’m out walkies with mummy and we can hear you chatting to us through the window. Don’t worry Millie mummy and I take good care of each other so there’s no need to worry but it’s always nice knowing that you’re there. You can chatter to the birds to make them into thinking that I’m one of them and lul them into a false sense of security whilst I sneak up on them.

I know you’re always up for a spot of playtime and a bit of rough and tumble and I’m sorry if I somehow always manage to bite your niblet but this is my only defence and come back for being whacked with your bionic paw which when wielded with intent (like when you want to steal my spot on mummy or daddy’s lap and whack me on the head) it’s like being hit by a baseball bat so I’ve gotta get in there first with my defence moves. But you always know that even when there’s a marauding fight through the house it’s really just an epic play battle. I know that when we’re playing and you run away you could run faster to get away from me and hide so I cant find you but you don’t, you run just fast enough to get away but not too fast that I can’t follow along. Of course with my super blindie senses I’d always find you but the fun isn’t just in the finding, it’s in the chase and the game is so much more fun when we can all join in. Of course Angelin is always a poddle behind bless her but that’s all part of the game too, sometimes it you and I playing with Angelin trying to join in and other times it’s you and her playing with me trying to join in. It’s just how sisfurs work I guess.

Of course as it’s Millies birthday she got presents (which we all helped to open), she got a crinkle housey which Angelin sat in straight away and a little fishy on a stick to play with. We’ve already got so many toys that we really don’t want for much but it’s always fun to get something new and exciting to play with. With birthdays come special dinners, so we weren’t surprised to hear the familiar sound of the tin opener, as soon as we heard it we were all there trampling over mummy’s feet, all clamouring and meowing our excitement as we smelt the sweet, sweet smell of tuna as the tin popped open. Come on mummy open it quicker we all meowed, even Angelin did her best to shout encouragement for mummy to work faster with her loudest meow she could muster, it made mummy laugh as even her loudest meow is just a little ‘meep’ and you can only just hear it under mine and Millies shouts. “Here you go girls” she finally said as the bowls of fishy goodness were set down for us and in we went, even though it was her birthday Millie made sure me and Angelin got our share first, sitting back and making sure we had enough before she tucked into hers. She’s so mumsy, always looking out for us and making sure we get our share of things before she has hers, at least most of the time.

Of course there were lots of kisses and cuddles all day for the birthday girl and a special extra long daytime cuddle with daddy and I after I snuck onto the bottom of daddy’s legs. There’s nothing quite like snuggling up on a warm lap, borrowing some of your extra long floof to bury my nose in and settling down to a cosy nap, keeping each other warm and settling in for the long haul. Until that is, you bite my bum coz you think I’ve got the better nap spot and then it’s each cat for herself.

I can’t think of anyone better to enjoy sitting with to soak up the sun or warm up with on a cold winter night. I don’t even mind you using my bum as a pillow (as long as you don’t nibble on it). We make a great team and I glad that you’re my sisfur, I wouldn’t have our family any other way. I love you my crazy ginger April fool.

Daddy told us it was mummy’s day today, a special day for everyone to celebrate our wonderful mummy’s. But daddy I meowed, I celebrate mummy’s day everyday, the time in the evening when I curl up on mummy’s lap, the little twirlies I do in the kitchen and my special happy dance, my happy chirps as I play and run on my wheel, the silly things I do that make mummy laugh and call me ‘a dafty’, that’s all my way of showing how much I love her.

As today is mummy’s special day I just thought I’d better properly tell her, just in case she hasn’t realised my more subtle ways of showing my love for her but also so everyone can see just how much I love her. She’s my bestest buddy and I cherish every minute that I get to spend with her. Thank you mummy for being there for me, for not thinking that I can’t do something but instead for thinking that I can do everything. Thank you for taking me on walkies every single day even when it’s cold, wet, snowing, freezing cold or boiling hot. No matter what you’re there ready to go as long as I want to, even when you’ve got the sniffles and don’t feel so good, you always put me first.

You’re always thinking up new ways of keeping me entertained, wether that’s by getting me a giant wheel to run in, a little piece of crinkle paper or running round the house with a feather stick for us to chase you saying come on girls catch me if you can. For encouraging us girls to be the best we can be, to embrace our differences and to not let them change who we are inside and that we should be proud of who we are, that purrfectly imperfect is something to embrace, celebrate and show off, not something to hide.

Thank you for our special time together, that quiet time when it’s just me and you having fun with no one else around, whether that’s splashing around in the bath and letting me nibble your toes or for letting me climb you when there’s no trees around. There’s not many mummy’s who are proud to be climbed by their slightly climbing obsessed blind cat, you don’t even flinch when even when I make a few little scratches on the way up coz I have to cling on that little bit more than a ‘normal’ cat might. You really do make the best substitute human tree.

Most of all thank you for not minding being ‘the crazy lady who walks her cat on a lead’. For not minding the strange looks and double takes that I know people give you when we’re on walkies, for being proud to be a blindie cat mum and most of all for loving us all no matter what. You really are just the best kind of crazy lady we could ever wish to have as a mummy and I still wonder what I did to be so lucky to get a mummy like you.

I love you mummy with all my heart
I hate it if we’re ever apart
The fact that you love a little blind cat with such absolute pride 
And take me on walkies where I can run, climb and hide
You alway help me live the best adventure cat life
And you’re always there to help me when I get into strife
We always have the best time together 
I can’t imagine my life could get any better 
You’re my bestest buddy and I’m your little fur baby
And I love that you’re my very own crazy cat lady
I love you mummy, happy you day.

Can you believe it, 5 years ago today I set off on the adventure of a lifetime, a journey that would change my life forever.

It was really, really early one morning when me and some of the other rescue kitties set off, we travelled for a long time, first in a car, then a plane where we were joined by some rescue doggies, then another plane, then a train and finally in a van. The van made lots of stops, each time one of the other animals left and didn’t come back. It was a very scary journey and we all wondered what was happening to each of them.

We needn’t have worried though as little did we know that for each of us it would be the start of a new chapter in our lives as we were being taken to our furrever homes and oh boy! Did I ever land on my paws with the home I got.

Normally on these special days I celebrate with cuddles, an extra walkies and a special treat for dinner, not this time though, mummy and daddy had something different planned. To celebrate such a special occasion mummy said that we were going to go on a special adventure, that we were going to go somewhere different for our walkies today. She said she was going to show me the place her and daddy go in the evening sometimes and that it would be an indoors walkies today. Well, that was fine with me as I could hear the wind and the rain pouring down the windows so adventuring indoors seems like a good idea. What I didn’t realise though was that in order to get to our indoor adventure she would stick me in my carrier and that we would have to go in the car. I protested loudly at both.

I wasn’t in my carrier for long before mummy released me, she had already put my harness on so when I carefully ventured out she clipped on the lead so I knew that mummy wasn’t too far away, my lead always helps me know where mummy is, just in case I need her. I wandered about, gradually mapping my way. The place was full of smells, some of which seemed strangely familiar but I couldn’t quite put my paw on where it was I’d smelt them before. The place was very quiet but there were some odd noises in the background, sounds I hadn’t heard before but I knew that mummy was there and so they wouldn’t be noises that could harm me. Once I had explored for a bit I heard a familiar click and then I was free, allowed to roam all on my own.

With each circuit I felt more and more confident and comfortable so whilst mummy chatted with the lady who was there I carried on my exploration. There was so much to check out, I found chairs, water bowls and curtains, it was a bit like home but also different. My senses were tingling, my whiskers forwards and my ears pricked up, all so I could take in as much of my new surroundings as possible. I could detect every smell no matter how faint, every sound no matter how quiet, every touch no matter how gentle, it was a lot to take in. Every so often I would head back to mummy for a cuddle or a little head stroke, just to reset my senses with something familiar (mummy) and check that all was ok before heading off again to check out the next space.

I could always tell where she was as I could hear her voice. “Are you going to say hello to Beki, Jen?” As I listened Beki’s voice was gentle and so I went over to her, I felt an unfamiliar hand gently touch me, it was like she knew me somehow. She smelt like the place I was in, so I thought this might be her house that I was exploring. Her touch felt like someone who knew animals, who understood how to interact with them, she spent some time just being there, letting me get comfortable before she said hello. That’s how I know, she knows animals, she just waited for me to be more at ease. So I rewarded her for her patience and understanding but giving her a full on cuddle session, complete with roly poly and happy dance complete with vibra tail.

The off again to explore some more, then it clicked, the smells that I was getting was like a stronger version of how mummy and daddy smell when they go to the place called ‘the pub’. Apawently, according to mummy the pub is dog friendly and have furball Friday when doggies come along and get treats and doggie cream and doggie wine. Mummy thought I might like to join in too so had arranged to take me along whilst there was no one else around so I could have my very own day and be part of the furball crew. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to able to accompany mummy and daddy on one of their evening visits.

Thank you Beki from the Drovers Rest for making my special day so memorable and so much fun. I hope I get to visit again soon, explore some more and maybe have a few more cuddles, belly rubs and head rubs. You’ve made this little blind cat feel extra special today and I hope this shows that being blind doesn’t mean yew can’t also be an adventure cat.

Lastly to my mummy and daddy, thank you for choosing me to be part of your furramily, for believing in me, for encouraging me to be the adventure cat I didn’t even know I could be and for loving me just the way I am. I couldn’t have ever wished for a better furramily to be part of.

I’m not kidding, the days are all merging into one, every day mummy and daddy get up early, give us our breakfast and then ding-a-ling-a-ling the doorbell goes and we get herded (very unceremoniously I might add) into their bedroom where we’re imprisoned all day. It has been so often that now all mummy or daddy has to say is “come on girls, let’s go” and we all poddle off up there! Once we’re safely imprisoned and only then does the banging and hammering and sawing and footsteps start. Mummy has been home this week so we’ve had both mummy and daddy for company, oh yes! They don’t imprison us alone, they have been keeping us company. Occasionally they pop out to do something but then it’s back in with us to keep us company.

It’s a fairly comfy prison cell, we’ve got food, our litter tray, toys and a scratching tree and daddy puts the tv on and mummy says we really should see it as more like we’re all on holiday together, sharing one big room. Well, we kinda do that anyway as of course what’s theirs is ours and we often cuddle up with them on the bed at night. During the day though, they’re stifling my adventure cat needs to prowl around the house and explore and find the purrfect spot to settle down in depending on my mood and where the sun is. On a normal day, sometimes, I like to stay with daddy in the living room but there are also times I like to be somewhere quiet on my own but with all of us in one room that quiet place just isn’t happening.

It is much easier though to try to share some of mummy and daddy’s lunch when we’re all together, one of us can sit on daddy’s legs and then the other two can climb up him to find out what yummy thing he has and pester him to give us some. Daddy always shares but it’s much more fun to try to take it straight off his plate. “Not fair” he says “you’re ganging up on me, girls” of course daddy, you can’t refuse when there three of us together.

Then as the sun comes around it’s time for some bird watching for Millie and some serious sunbathing, although as usual there’s always some healthy ‘discussion’ as to which one gets the best spot, of course I think I should get the best spot as I’m the Queen and deserve to have nothing but the best, Millie on the other hand thinks that just because she always sits in the window watching the birds in ‘her’ spot that she gets to sit wherever she wants. Then according to mummy and daddy there’s plenty of room for both of us and we should do this thing called ‘sharing’ well ok as long as I get to share in the best spot! It’s just as well Angelin isn’t one for soaking up the warm sunshine, she prefers the cosy hammock bed instead. So after a post lunch wash it’s time to settle down and absorb the rays in a way that only us cats can.

Then, there’s only so long that you can keep an adventure cat locked up before the need to roam kicks in and I start getting impatient and start pacing around, meowing at the door and rolling around in front of it to make it open. Come on mummy I’m all recharged and ready to go now I meow but despite my best efforts I just can’t make the door open, it seems immune to my powers of purrsuasion. Eventually though, all the loud noises stopped and then finally mummy and daddy let us all out. Every day we were let out after being imprisoned something in the house had changed, there was always a different smell, a different feel and stuff that’s been moved around (again). The air smells damp and dusty with a hint of chemical, there’s crinkly stuff all over the floor and our paws make a patter, patter noise as we gradually venture through the rooms. Some of the rooms have got extra stuff in and some rooms have less things in them, it’s all very confusing and you might think that as a blind cat this gives me problems in navigating around but I’m better than that, my blindie super senses can tell exactly where things are, my whiskers alert me if there’s something in my way, I can smell everything too so I know if there’s something in the wrong place. You might not be able to tell but everything in the house has its own unique smell so I know if you move something around, you can’t fool me! For an adventure cat like me it just makes for a new and exciting playground.

This is still better than a little while ago before all the people turned up when mummy and daddy adopted a baby dragon which came out each evening and snorted it’s way around each room, it took all mummys attention and made a terrible mess, I don’t know how it got away without being told off as if any of us girls made such a mess we’d have been well and truly told off. It huffed and puffed so much it made all of the paper fall off the walls and covered the floor making it all sticky and the air felt like the bathroom after mummy has a hot, steaming bath. I didn’t get too close but didn’t go too far away either , just staying close enough to let mummy know I was there to help her if she needed it but staying far enough away from the noisy baby dragon, I didn’t want my fur to go all fuzzy after all. I think it’s gone into hibernation now as it hasn’t been out for a while so it’s back to having mummy’s full attention in the evenings. Just to make sure though I’ve been spending each evening cuddling on mummy’s lap and catching up on some well earned sleep. We might have had a nap in the sun when we’ve been locked up but my ears hear each and every noise that’s going on outside and so it’s not like we’ve just been sleeping the day away so there’s a lot of sleeping to catch up on when the house is back to being quiet and peaceful. Plus if I’m really cute I might not get locked in again tomorrow!

No matter what stresses the day has given us and no matter what we’ve been up to or how long it’s taken and how few naps I’ve had I still always get the one thing that I love the most, an evening walkies with mummy. As long as I get my ‘me time’ with mummy then the world will be just fine.

There’s something strange going on with the birds round here. I think that word has spread amongst the bird population of what a great hunter I am, I know I haven’t caught anything yet but that’s not the point, I could have if I’d wanted too but I love birds and just like to play with them.

As the evenings have got lighter and warmer and the endless rain seems to have eased up a bit, the birds go to bed a bit later and mummy and my evening walkies is much more interesting. There’s so much more to listen to and keep me entertained with, I can hear all the birds in the bushes hopping around, flitting this way and that getting ready for bed, I can tell the big birds from the little birds as they all have their own unique sounds, there’s plenty to smell too, I can follow the trails of all the little animals that have been out and about overnight and if we head off down the road I can smell where the doggies have been on their walkies too, it’s a really exciting time.

The last week or so some of the birds have been showing off some unusual behaviour, it’s not something that I’ve heard before, I think they must be scared of me for some reason as they had all joined together in one big group to fly around and around, it’s like they’ve made one giant bird out of lots of little ones.

They made a different sound as they flew overhead and if I listened really closely I could hear all of their individual little wings flapping away but I had to really concentrate to hear that because there were so many that it changed their normal sound into something much bigger, louder and different altogether. It was like a loud swish, swish, swish as they flew around us. They flew all around our house and right over it too, when they were right overhead the swishing noises became really loud and the sound changed to more of a pffft, pffft, pffft each time they changed directions. When they flew right overhead it was really loud and mummy put her hood up coz she could hear the little splats as some of them pooped as they flew around! “Watch out Jen” she said, “Don’t open your mouth if you look up!” The sound came in waves and just when I thought they were going one way they would quickly change direction and go off somewhere else completely different to what I expected. “They’re showing off and dancing for us” said mummy “and the noise sounds like waves lapping on a beach” Well I wouldn’t know about that as I’ve never been to a beach before but what I do know is that it’s just not fair for them to gang up on me like this, how am I supposed to play with them when they’re in a big gang like that? I’m just going to concentrate on those that are still flitting about in the hedge, come on mummy let’s go. But mummy was just standing there mesmerised by the dancing birds. She said it was quite a beautiful sight and wondered out loud to me how they managed to all know when to change directing all at the same time. Eventually with enough tugging at the lead we carried on with our walkies but with mummy keeping one eye on the birds.

On one walkies mummy and I met a boy called Jasper and he had come along the road to watch the birds flocking and stopped to say hello to us. He was a very polite boy and said that he wanted to take his cat for a walk on a lead too coz it was scared of lots of noises and he wanted to take it out into the garden to show it the grass and bushes. He asked mummy if he could stroke me and of course mummy said yes, he was very gentle and careful stroking me, he asked why I couldn’t see and mummy told him the story of my early life as a street cat. Then as he carried on stroking me he told us all about the birds and their strange group flying, he said that it was called a murmuration and that it was only this particular species of bird that did it, he called the birds Starlings. We all stood and watched the birds together with Jasper telling us about why they did this and how they all keep up with each other. I heard mummy telling him how clever he was to know so much about the birds, he just said that he loved birds and watching them flying about in their special formation. So we all stopped on our driveway and watched the Starlings flying around until all of a sudden mummy said “oh wow! Look at that, they’ve all just swooped down and disappeared somewhere” and as quick as that the show was over and the sky was quiet again, then Jasper said he had to go back home so his mummy didn’t worry about him. We said goodbye but I hope we get to meet Jasper again soon.

Then, it was back to normal and I meowed to mummy to get going and carry on with our walkies, it was time to head off and check out the neighbourhood…finally…it’s about time for me to complete my neighbourhood watch patrols to make sure everything is A-ok before settling down for dinner and a cuddle.

You all know by now that I’m an adventure cat, using my super blindie senses to explore the great outdoors. What you might not know is what an adventure cat does when there’s not much opportunity to go and explore, where does all that energy go? Well let me tell you what I do, I make my own adventures, the dining room becomes an adventure track for what mummy calls ‘circuit training’ or ‘kitty speedway’.

One day I suddenly realised that I have got all this space to play and run around in, I can get my exercise and get the walkies that I’m not getting outside, inside instead. So I thought that I’d start off giving the dining room a try, surely there’s something I can use in here, what about the dining table, I used to use it as a maze in our old house, chasing my toys in and around the chair legs and under the table. I fancied something different though so off I went round the dining room table, first one lap, then another and another, hey this is actually quite fun, so on I went just quietly by myself, round and round and round I went. I started off slow but one I got going I quickened up to make it that little bit more difficult and challenging. You know me I’m not the kind of kitty that does anything the easy way. Before I knew it I was getting a little bit tired so I stopped for a brief rest, then off again. I heard mummy walking past and she laughed and said “what you doing Jenny, are you circuit training?” Well yes I am I meowed back to her and off I went again.

I find it such a fun thing to do that now every morning as mummy’s getting ready to go to work I start off the day with a session of circuit training. Stopping every now and again to meow to mummy to make sure she’s put her boots on, I stop to help her with this and chase her boot laces, then round again as she puts her coat on and then as she gets her bag. Finally she’s ready to go so I give her a little meow to say bye bye and off round the table again. Mummy took a video of me but coz I went round so many times she had to speed it up or the video would have been too long, she said it would be like watching a kitty version of a formula 1 race which daddy calls roundy roundy too.

Then, you’ll remember that mummy’s brother brought us a huge kitty wheel to play in when he came to stay with us at Catmas. Well, I’ve been working hard with mummy and daddy to get used to it, first sitting on it and getting used to how it feels, it sways slightly as I get on which is a kind of nice feeling. Then a little step one way and it moves, it makes an unusual noise, a slight low rumbling, swishing noise which takes a bit of getting used to. I was a bit nervous at first so mummy encouraged me with a toy to chase, this was ok but then as she lent down her hair was moving around on the wheel and off I went after it, I like trying to catch mummy hair when she washes it, she lets it flop down and tickle my face. I took a few steps running on the wheel to chase it, it was quite fun so we went again, just short little bursts as it’s and odd sensation for a blind cat to understand, so many elements to take in and adjust to. This was going to be a fun challenge to conquer.

Each day I’d get on the wheel, sometimes just sitting there, gently swaying getting used to the motion and feel. Sometime sitting there waiting for someone to play with me so I could make it a little more fun. Gradually bit by bit getting more used to it and building my confidence up. Every time I used it mummy and daddy would give me lots and lots of encouragement and say go on Jenny you can do it and then tell me how clever I am and that I’m a good girl. Then one day I thought I don’t need them to help me, I can do this by myself and so one evening when they were sitting in the living room watching tv I hopped on and just started walking. I could hear mummy and daddy whispering to each other “look, she’s doing it” and in typical cat style as I heard the sound of the phone being picked up I stopped. I’m not ready to be filmed just yet, and this is how it went for a while, I’d have a walk on the wheel, just long enough for the phone to come out and then a couple of seconds into filming that was enough. It was a fun game to play with mummy and daddy.

Now, I just get on and off doing a little walk here and there, one time going to the left and others going to the right. I’ve even learned how to do twirlies at the bottom of the wheel when changing direction. It’s just a gentle walk at the moment, unless mummy or daddy play with me then it’s a little run to catch the toy but that still feels a bit scary so it’s just a quick burst then back to walking.

Then one day mummy was dusting, I love helping mummy dust, I follow her round meowing to tell her the bits she’s missed but also to catch the fluffy thing she uses, it makes a really subtle noise that I just can’t resist. Everywhere the duster goes I want to go too, chasing it and trying to catch it. As mummy dusted the window sills next to the wheel and instead of jumping on the window sill like I normally do I hopped onto the wheel to try to get close to it, meowing happily as I tried to get that pesky fluffy duster. Then mummy said “come on Jen your wheel needs a dust too” and that was it, off we went, mummy on the outside, dusting and me on the inside getting it moving and meowing excitedly in the process, this was such fun. Mummy said we were the perfect team and let me tell you that wheel got a serious dusting and mummy and I got a fun playtime too.

So as you can see, there’s no reason not to exercise just because the outdoors is a bit miserable, all it takes is a bit of imagination. Millie and Angelin don’t seem to want to play my roundy, roundy game or have a little walk on the wheel but they play much more with our regular toys than I do so they burn off a lot of energy that way. They don’t like the outdoors and going walkies like I do so they don’t miss that type of exercise when it’s not nice enough to go out for long enough to have a good walk. Isn’t it good that we’re all different.

The cold, crispy snow is back again. When it first came mummy was really excited, she got up to go to work, opened the curtains and gasped “it’s snowed girls, it looks so pretty.” Well, that means a chilly walkies with mummy when she comes home later I thought. As I listened to mummy head outside to go to work and scraping the snow and ice off the car I couldn’t help but be secretly pleased that I didn’t have to go out just yet. Poor mummy to have to go out in that before even having some breakfast. Mummy is quick at getting up and out on work days, she likes snuggling in bed with us all too much to get up any earlier than she absolutely has to. It’s something about having to bank as many cuddles as possible to get her through the day and make up for having to leave us at home.

Secretly between me and you I was quite happy to spend the day inside, wake up gradually (I’m not a morning kitty), have some breakfast, say morning to daddy, play a little, have a nap and repeat until mummy comes back in and then I’m completely and fully ready for my walkies and outside adventures.

After getting all kitted up and rolling around by the door meowing trying to get mummy to hurry up, come on mummy I’ve been sleeping all day I’m ready for a run around she opened up the door and woah! That’s just so chilly but I take exercising mummy as a very serious thing so I took a deep chilly breath and out I went. The air smelt fresh and filled my insides with crisp tingly air, it was like being super charged. So with tingly insides and tingly toes there was only one thing for it, to run, with each pawstep I felt the soft, cold snow disintegrate underneath me, and could hear the soft crunch as it squished together under my paws. Mummy said that I left a trail of paw prints everywhere I went. Then the delicate mess of the moment was shattered by mummy loud crunch, crunch, crunch behind me. no it was made extra loud by the fact that the snow seemed to make everything else extra quiet and so mummy and my running around seemed to slice through the quiet.

I spent some time sniffing out the scents of the other animals that I share my garden with, the scents were different to normal, they seemed to sit on top of the delicate snow. Every time I gave them a little sniff, I touched a snowflake which was really tickly and instantly turned into water, I had to be really careful not to sniff too much as it nearly made me sneeze. Whilst it was fun running through the snow with mummy, giggling and laughing like a crazy lady my paws were starting to get cold and so we headed back indoors fairly quickly.

After that night the snow seemed to loose it’s softness and become all crunchy and parts of the pathway started to become extra cold, slick and slippery, I had to be really careful not to slide down the steps on the way out. Then gradually day by day there was less and less snow on the ground until eventually it was all gone and we were just left with the usual rain.

Despite all the cold stuff on the ground at least whilst it was there it kept the rain away and the days were crisp and clear. There’s something strangely nice about having chilly paws but a warm sun kissed face. The warm winter sun, not quite enough to melt the snow but just enough to make you appreciate being outdoors listening to the birds and enjoying life.

One thing that I’m really glad of though is that no matter how cold the weather is outside, no matter how much snow and ice there is I have a warm house to call home. I can come inside and eat a hearty meal before warming my paws up however I want, I can envelope myself in my favourite snuggle bed, curl up in my hammock by the warm radiator, wrap myself up in a blankie on mummy or daddy’s lap or cuddle up with my sisfurs.

The life of a rescued cat is just purrfect.