Mr Dawson's Cat : Part One

It looked very bleak. Mr. Green, the vet, was asking over a hundred pounds to give Judith, Mr. Dawson's beautiful, tortoiseshell cat, blood tests to check her kidneys, after being a bit suspicious when he had taken a urine test from the cat. I don't think I can afford to have an ill cat, Mr Dawson thought to himself, I only have my pension and I was relying on Judith staying well. Mr Dawson was seventy now and had had Judith from being a kitten, over ten years ago now. In that time he had become very attached to her. He thought over his problem and thought the only way out was to give her back to the vet's practise out of town, where they had a facility to look after cats before rehoming them. She would need an affluent, new owner that could look after her, or at least she would have a life at the the cat's home until she died. Mr. Dawson put Judith's welfare first and decided to hand her back to the vets. He called a taxi and put Judith in her carrier. Poor Judith had to go.

When he got to the vets Mr. Green was in reception.

"So, you've brought her back to us. Was it the cost of the proposed blood tests?"

"Yes," said Mr Dawson, "I'm afraid it was."

"She'll be alright here," said Mr. Green, "I'll send in a couple of nurses to settle her down."

Soon Naomi and Marian came in to take Judith to her new home. In reception was a black cat that seemed to welcome both Mr. Dawson and Judith.

"This is our house cat," said Marian, "Peter."

Peter ambled over to Mr Dawson and Mr Dawson patted the amenable cat on the head.

"Nice to see you," said Peter. "Who have you got in that carrier?"

"It's Judith, my tortoiseshell," said Mr Dawson.

"We'll get on just fine," said Peter, "leave her to me."

Naomi got Mr Dawson to fill in a form where he had to agree to Judith's rehoming. He was in such a state; he never thought it would come to this.

After waiting several minutes, Marian came back with the empty carrier.

"I have put her on her new bed, Mr. Dawson, everything is settled now." Mr. Dawson had handed over all her toys, her litter tray liners, and some food for her stay. He was upset now the reality had hit home. He would have to go home alone. Reluctantly he got into the waiting taxi and waved goodbye to Mr. Green, Naomi and Marian.

Peter, the house cat, approached Judith when Mr. Dawson had gone.

"So, you've ended up here, Judith. I'm Peter, I'll take care of you."

"Nice to meet you," said Judith. "I don't know why I'm here. I was very happy with my owner, Mr Dawson.

"Maybe he can't cope anymore, maybe he is ill."

"I don' know about that," said Judith, " maybe it is I who is ill."

"If you are they'll get you sorted out here and eventually you will be rehomed."

"I don't want to go anywhere else. I loved my owner."

"Don't be unhappy," said Peter, "we can play in the meadow. We are out in the countryside here and I will show you around tomorrow."

"I had such a nice house, Peter, it was warm and cosy. I could sleep on the big chair or the sofa and Mr. Dawson never turfed me off. I never slept in my cat bed. I didn't need it."

"Oh, it sounds very nice," said Peter. "I am used to living here. It's not so bad, I think you will get used to it."

"I don't want to get used to it, Peter. I want to go home. Maybe I am just here for a holiday."

"Maybe, I will see what I can find out by listening to Marian and Naomi talking. I find out all sorts."

(Continued in part two)