by Elaine Wykes
Splodge and her brother Tinker came to us in August 1997 as 7 week old kittens. The friends who introduced us to the delight of being 'Cat-People' had asked us to look after their other brother Nipper, as they were away for the weekend and didn't want to leave him alone with their other cats for so long.
When we told them how much we'd enjoyed looking after him, they told us of the other 2 in the litter, a black boy-cat with white shoes and dinner-jacket and a brindle tortoiseshell girl-cat. We agreed excitedly to have the little boy, not really thinking about him leaving his sister, as we were so excited.
My husband asked them to bring him over on their way back and as a surprise for me, also asked them to bring the girl as it would be a shame to split them up.
Tinker and Splodge were never apart. They fought like cats do for sure but they loved each other with a passion. Cleaning each other, sleeping with paws entwined, stalking each other in the garden, play-hunting and generally doing catty things together.
Splodge used one or two of her nine lives when as a kitten, she jumped out of a first floor window and hurt her foot quite badly. She recovered and was soon to use up another few of her lives when she arrived home one day for us to find out she had been shot. The airgun pellet was removed and she was fine, back to her old self, running around causing mayhem wherever she went!
Their birthday each year was celebrated with prawns, chicken and other tasty treats and when our daughter Molly came along, they proved to be great companions to her.
Last week, Splodge did not come home. I knew this time she would NEVER be home. I cried and worried and Tinker seemed to notice she wasn't around.
Just as panic started to set in and as I was busy posting cards through neighbours doors asking if they'd seen her, a couple from the next street knocked on the door asking if we had a cat called Splodge.
They said they had found her down the side of their house and that she was dead.
We went to collect her, heartbroken and sobbing our hearts out. We brought her home safe and sound, where she belonged and buried her at the top of our pond, overlooking the fish she used to stare at for hours on end.
The hole that her death has left in our lives will never be filled and not a day goes by that we don't think of her and wish she would come flying through the cat-flap again, just so we could hear her jingly bell once more.
We have planted a beautiful bush on top of her which will flower every year and remind us of her. She will never be forgotten and will always, always be loved and deep in our hearts.
We are shortly to give a home to a much neglected cat from friends who have lost interest in him since their children came along. He sleeps in the outbuilding, gets fed outside, come rain, snow or shine and is never allowed indoors.
Life at our house will be warm laps, cuddly arms and a soft bed to sleep on at night and we hope that Tinker and Whisky will be firm friends and have fun together. Fingers Crossed....
We always called Splodge 'The Cat That Never Was' as she wasn't even supposed to be in our lives. We thank God that she did come into our lives and the 5 years we spent together were blissfully happy ones.
Goodbye Splodgy-Doodles, beautiful girl, our baby...sleep tight, stay warm and we'll meet again someday, I'll bring a treat with me and we'll sleep together on the bed, just like we used to.
Lots of love....
Mummy, Daddy, Tinky-Winky and Molly - your family.
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