It`s a cat`s life...

Those of you who read my site on Facebook, will know that yesterday we were rejoicing at the safe return of Peaches. our one-eyed ginger cat. He went missing ten days ago just after we had returned from the Pyrenees, most unlike him as he is not a cat who roams. We had searched everywhere and had just about accepted that he had met with a fatal accident. Life can be dangerous for a country cat, foxes are not unknown here, we have also had cats taken in rabbit snares, besides road deaths.
   However, yesterday I was walking the dogs up a track some 200 metres from our house when I spotted an animal in the distance. It was too far to see what it was, but it did seem to be reddish. I went towards it leading Laika, who is inclined to chase animals. When the cat spotted us it ran speedily and vanished round the corner some 200 metres away. I did not really believe it could be Peaches, their are shy feral cats often seen near here, but nevertheless I followed calling for Peaches. The cat had vanished by the time I reached the turn but I continued to call, more in hope than in expectation. Suddenly, I heard a wailing cat cry from the lucerne field, on the other side of the high hedge. Something was struggling through the hedge and as it emerged I was overjoyed to see it was Peaches, ecstatic to see me and the dog. Where he had been in the intervening time goodness only knows. He was well, but thin and hungry. I feel he was chased by a dog and got lost, this theory is reinforced by the fact that he was very frightened on the walk back home by the barking of Alto, our neighbour`s dog, tethered in their garage beside the track. Thank the Lord I persisted in following him, I nearly left off. Kim was delighted and incredulous when he followed me and the dogs back into the house.
   He has led a rather difficult life, has Peaches. He was born wild in the little stone chicken house at the bottom of the village street, in June 2009. He must have been abandoned by his mother shortly after. The first we knew of this was when he and his two litter-mates came crying up the road, desperately seeking food and shelter. Here is an early shot of the three of them, Sunshine, Grissou and Peaches soon after. We always have dried milk suitable for lambs and kittens, so they had come to the right place. We found a good home for Grissou, the name chosen for her by her adoptive family, but kept the other two

   However, Peaches problems were not over. He developed a terrible eye infection, probably had it from neglect by his mother. It grew worse and worse and eventually our vet had to remove the eye. Here is the wounded soldier shortly afterwards. He soon recovered and the loss does not seem to inconvenience him, I have never seen him mis-judge a jump.
  Nowadays, he is a valued part of our  Ark crew, which is why we were so pleased to have him returned to us. He is a very affectionate cat and will give passionate kisses both to us, who enjoy them and to the dogs, who are a little embarrassed.
  All`s well that ends well, and we hope that this spells the last of his misfortunes.

  Bye for now, going to get a kiss from the prodigal...















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