Back in 2012 a local animal refuge was looking for someone to give a 'problem' cat a home/'hospice' for his remaining time. The problems? FIV and diabetes- and it had turned out that he was resistant to insulin. The animal clinic had sent him back to the refuge with the recommendation 'put to sleep', which the refuge hadn't the heart to do since he was so lively, friendly and alert. When I took him on he'd been off insulin for a couple of months and although the staff at the refuge wouldn't/couldn't commit themselves, with hindsight it was clear that they reckoned he'd got 6 months, at best a year, left and, since they were supplying his diat food, they'd budgeted accordingly................

Two and a half years later, end June 2014 and ca.13 years old,, the rising blood sugar levels had started switching off various vital functions in his brain so it was time for that last, one-way trip to the vet. Nobody had thought that he'd hold on for so long (OK, I took it on a day to day basis) and yes, even though I've since collected another cat, I miss him. Then again, over the years I've had 4 cats and they are all (OK #4 is very much alive!) missed in some way since they're all individuals with their own catsonalities.