The Unknown.

I had a text from a friend yesterday, she asked, “Are you black and white cats at home?” I said, “I am with my Mum, I am away from home,” I went on and asked, “Why?” Julia said, “Near your home, is a dead black and white cat.” It is always a fear, the ‘wild,’ cats that live in our home, six of them, that this could be a real possibility. Last year, our beautiful gray cat was killed in a hit and run.

I text Paul and asked him, “Is Turmeric, and Jonathan at home?” Paul asked, “Why?” I said, “Julia, has text me and said, she has seen a dead black and white cat, and she wanted to know if it was one of ours.” I had at first, put it on the group family chat, but quickly removed it, as Meghan is on holiday abroad, and I didn’t want her to have any bad news, so I had quickly removed it from WhatsApp. I instead, text it to Paul only.

Paul replied, “Turmeric, is out”, He is the world’s loveliest cat, great with kids and adults, he will always roll over and give you his tummy to rub, he never sneaks and use the cat litter that is there only for Nanny, he never jumps up on the kitchen table, like some others do, he is never cross. The thought of Turmeric dead on the street was too much to comprehend. Lovely sweet Turmeric.

Julia went back to pick up the dead cat to take it to the vets to see is it was microchipped, she has done this before, but the cat was gone! Someone had beaten her to it.      

It was then the waiting game. It was a scarry nervous time. Turmeric was in the back of my mind.

It was great to get that text late last night, “Turmeric is home.”  

I then let myself think of that little cat, now never going back home, the pain he would have felt on impact.  I thought of his family, looking out the window and the front door for him. The posters they would put on the lampposts. His toys never to be played with again, his empty favourite places he loved to sleep and his little bed and bowl.

Cats are SO small, but an important part of a human’s life. Poor little mite, RIP.