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| Name: |
Stretch
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Age: |
20 years old
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| Gender: |
Female
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Kind: |
Kampong cat
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| Home: |
Christchurch, New Zealand
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As
I'm now celebrating my 20th birthday, I thought I'd share some of my
many experiences with you. I am a very worldly cat, not only in years but
in globe trotting. I was born in Brunei in a small kampong; that's a
village so I am a kampong cat. I have huge eyes and ears, a three-quarter
length tail but am most known for my bellow, which I consider to be
impressive in a 2.8kg frame. It ensures I am never ignored and my needs are
met immediately. I can't really hear it anymore so it doesn't bother me.
Anyway, back to my travels. I was born under a bush to a sweet mum and a
wild dad. I was adopted by my mum, who is a teacher from New Zealand. We
lived happily in a village house, where I occupied my days sleeping in the
sun and the odd occasional burst to catch birds, squirrels and once a
snake. My mum did not appear to be impressed by my prowess.
When I was nine, Mum and I moved to Singapore where I adapted with great
ease to apartment dwelling. The introduction of a kitty litter box was a
great convenience! After a few months in my new home, Columbus arrived on
the scene. He grew to seven kilos but was far too good natured to challenge
my dominance of the household and his vocabulary in no way matched mine in
range or volume. I maintained control of the lap and the pillow in bed.
When Mum was away I condescended to let him keep me company and actually he
wasn't too bad a bloke. Anyway, after seven happy years in Singapore, we
all moved to Auckland, New Zealand so Mum could do some further study. I
don't recommend long international flights but they can be done.
Then Mum got a job in Christchurch and better still a house with a garden.
Columbus thought this was great and I enjoyed going outside, scratching the
railway sleepers, chewing some grass and then going round to the back door
to request it be opened. My mum conveniently added a window in the door at
eye height for me to glare at her if it wasn't opened promptly. Sadly,
Columbus is no longer with us.
However, the greatest change in my life is that I no longer live with my
mum. In February 2011, Christchurch suffered a huge earthquake which caused
immense damage to the city and her school had to close. With no jobs on the
horizon, she had to make the decision to leave New Zealand and take a job
in England. I had to put my paw down and say that at nineteen, I wasn't taking
any more flights. It was a heart-breaking decision, but there wasn't much
choice.
So now I live with Margaret. Margaret just loves cats, even old, noisy ones
and she has done everything possible to help me settle in my new home. The
downside is that she has six cats! However, I have sorted them out. They
run when they see me coming and I get lots of cuddles with Margaret on the
pillow at night. In the morning, I go outside, scratch the railway
sleepers, chew some grass and go to the back door and request to be let
back in. Life goes on... and it's good here.
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