Acquired when I was four months old, Tosca, the tabby, was always around for me, through babyhood, childhood and adolescence. When I was 18, sitting in a Psychology class, I suddenly couldn’t breathe and had to go out to get some fresh air.  I found out that evening  that was the exact time Tosca died.  I would like to be able to say that I always knew when my animals died if I wasn’t with them, but that’s the only time it has happened, so far.

A fluffy little black kitten with more attitude than I believed a cat could have.   She marched into the house and ensured that everyone – people and dogs – did exactly what she wanted.

A rescue kitten, ginger with very short legs and tons of character.  Reevo loved life, but very sadly, a car put an end to all of that when he was just 2 years old.  I didn’t know that I could be so close to a cat.  I didn’t know I could be so devastated when he died.

Reevo’s sister, tortoiseshell and white, quieter, more timid and more careful about the road.  She came on many holidays with us, mostly to the caravan in Wales, but also to Edinburgh for New Year celebrations.  Always gentle and loving, she lived until she was 13. 

Razzle was the most incredible personality.  She adored being with us, she spent her time around my daughter when she was young, loving to join in their games when she had friends to play.  She would accompany us on dog walks and we had to be careful that she didn’t follow us to school.  Several times I had to pick her up to carry her across the busy road, and carry her into school as I said Bye to my children. 

A lethal hunter, my daughter says she still checks the floor before getting out of bed after accidentally standing on creatures which Razzle had brought in during the night.  You were a huge personality in a little body, Razzle, and we will never forget you.

Beautiful Black Cat.  We only had you for a few months before another car ended it all.  You had a great time, but not long enough. 

Sister of Black Cat.  He was killed on the road outside our house just before his first birthday, she was killed in the same place by another car just after her first birthday.  You were both so beautiful and gentle, we had a great time together,  you both came on holiday with us and your short lives were, I hope, full of joy.  It was heartbreaking to lose you both so early.

Acquired from a rescue organisation at 14 weeks of age, Buzz was described as Naughty but Nice, which has fitted him perfectly ever since.  He became an indoor cat on the death of Stripey Cat, 10 days after we had acquired him.  Buzz runs his life in his own way and expects everyone else to do the same.  All the dogs who come into the house behave exactly as he wishes and mostly, people do too. 

At the age of 17 years old, he is the second longest pet I’ve ever owned, after Tosca, my first cat.  Ed, my youngest son, was only 3 years old when Buzz came along, he’s 21 now.  Buzz has been around us for almost two decades, he is part of my life like no other.

The best personality ever; gorgeous Sunni had her life ended far too early, breaking my heart as she went.

Sister of Sunni, they were supposed to be Maine Coon cats, but definitely not.  BB was shy and timid for the first years of her life, but slowly gained her confidence to become a force to be reckoned with.  Stunningly beautiful, long white hair which gets everywhere and refuses to come out of the carpets.  I wish I could age as gracefully as BB, who at 16 years of age, still looks as pretty as she did when she was a kitten.  And after 16 years, I don’t think that we have anything which doesn’t have a covering of white hair.   (“It’s like chewing gum” said a man who came to clean the carpets “It won’t come off.”)