Milly

Dear everyone, human, canine, and particularly feline, at Feline Care.

Hope you are all doing well, especially my old pals there. It has been 4 weeks since I left and I thought I’d write a few lines to tell you about my new life in Norwich.

Well, you know already I moved in with this mad Greek woman who gave me a posh name to go with my standard one: Melisanthi she called me (means flower-bee apparently) but she still mostly addresses me as Milly so that’s ok, and if it makes her happy…

The mad Greek woman (I was not altogether ready to call her mum at first) is very attentive and big on gourmet food and cuddles, overly so sometimes I reckon, but I paced myself in terms of breaking the ice; I didn’t want her to think I was too easy, but I soon could not help really warming to her. All her friends have been round to meet me and they are all full of admiration and make a real fuss of me so I am enjoying my new regal status.

The house is quite big with lots of beds and sofas, long-pile carpets and cushions, so lots of comfy warm places to try and numerous new toys but, in truth, I concentrated mostly on finding the best hidy-holes in the first week of my stay here just to be on the safe side.

I have been exploring the rooms gradually, more seemed to open up strangely as time went by, and I have the freedom of the whole house now; I think. One of my favourite spots is the peacock-chair in the garden-room. There is a large, delicious-looking back garden with birds, and fishes, and frogs and squirrels and everything, maybe mice too, and I spy on them from behind the glass, and have been on walks in it but on a lead, which is a bit degrading, as if I did not know how to conduct myself!

I have been promised to be let out in the garden by myself this weekend though. Well, to be honest, I did once sneak out of the kitchen window but mum was so panic-stricken calling out and looking for me that I walked straight in when she opened the door to the patio; I mean it would not do to give her a heart attack so early on in the relationship now, would it?

One blot on the landscape – or so I thought at the time - was the arrival of a 9-week ginger kitten at the end of my 1^st week here and just as I thought I was set up to be undisputed monarch of this lovely, big and peaceful kingdom. What a nuisance!

The thing – a smelly male you realise - screamed and screamed, constantly demanding food and attention, stank the place out, and I was quite miffed, I must admit. However, as days went by, I started to take to the skinny little guy. He is actually not that bad. He looks up to me as if I am a goddess and he is funny to watch, and I use him as a town crier whenever I am hungry as I can look dignified and patient while he squeaks the house down and our mum jumps up and rushes to feed us. I even play rough and tumble with him now, and regularly put him in his place, but much as I hate to admit it, I quite like him now and I truly think it is good to have a little brother who can protect and defend me when he gets older while I still boss him around at home.

Well, with that, I want to thank you all very much for caring for me while I stopped at yours and for finding me this ace new home.

Lots of purrs

Milly

Dear everyone at Feline Care.

Hope you are all well.

It has been 6 months since I left FC and I am really sorry I have not written recently but my new life has been keeping me really busy with hardly a moment to spare.

Summer was really fantastic and although I have meticulously explored the entire neighbourhood, my own house and garden are a lot of work to keep under control so I do not venture outside its borders much.

There is a myriad of interesting spots, some warm and sunny, some shady, some good for under cover observation, some ideal for pouncing. There is an abundance of fascinating insects, birds and squirrels and the fishpond is great entertainment, but although I like to watch the fish, I find frogs more accommodating for playing with, as they come out and I don’t have to get my paws wet.

The apple trees are great climbing frames, but I cannot seem to convince the pigeons, blackbirds, magpies and jays that I am just another bird and catch them off guard, even though I sit still for ages, hidden amongst leaves and behind apples, high up in the branches, waiting for them to land close by. 

Anyway it is probably just as well as the one time I ran into the dining room with a live dove in my mouth it did not receive the awe and appreciation I had anticipated. In fact it was swiftly taken off me and re-released, would you believe! All that wasted skill and effort…

Apart from that one incident, mum and I are thick as thieves now. I am always surprising her with my feats of ingenuity, like repeatedly rounding up my little brother Ari when he was still too young to be trusted alone outside, and easily opening a locked cat-flap by pulling and sliding underneath rather than pushing it open, which has put paid to anyone who might have thought I was a dumb blonde.

Although I still like my own space occasionally, I adore the cuddling quality time mummy and I share every day and I love teaching my little brother Ari how to get up to all kinds of mischief. We do a lot of exploring together, and had a fabulous time in the snow this weekend. We also run riot play fighting up and down the house, and although I do not share his passion for football (boys!), I really like it when he eventually gets tired kicking balls around and curls up to me for a snooze by the fire.

Mummy and I often sit together when she is working at the computer, and we frequently look at your website for news. She and I have been rummaging for things to bring over to you these past few days, so I hope it is all right if I send her over to you to deliver them, probably next Sunday midday.

Meanwhile please see attached a few of my more recent photographs.

Lots of love to you all.

Milly