I've lived with cats for most of my life. Freddie was the last of my cats; he died back in 2018.
Personally I think that cats are more therapeutic than dogs. A friendly cat purring on your lap whilst you stroke him/her, is about as calming as it gets.
Fred was never the type of cat to jump on your lap asking for cuddles; he was much more aloof and independent. However, I would often find him curled-up under my chin whilst in bed, so he must have had some affection for me other than just for warmth.
He was a beautiful looking cat, more like his picture on my side-bar than in the picture above.
In good ancient Egyptian style, I buried him with some of his favourite possessions, some food, and a wind-up clockwork mouse.
I still miss him.
I remember Fred and your posts about him. He has a regal sort of appearance in this photo. A lovely cat indeed. I bet he's missed by many of your blog readers
ReplyDeleteMy oldest son BOUGHT him in Windsor. We suspect he had regal blood in his veins.
DeleteWe had a Fred cat too...he loathed squirrels
ReplyDeleteOur Fred wasn't too keen on Mice.
DeleteOur Fred, same colour as yours but quite long hair, would ignore mice and even rats..he also was scared of children...but squirrels he loathed and would chase!! Not sure what he would have done had he ever caught one!!
DeleteI remember him.
ReplyDeleteHe was a classic cat. Nice to look at, posed in all the right places, and was a cat unto himself. Just as all cats should be.
DeleteI loved my Oscar, my Blizzard and my Boris. The sense of loss was so painful when Boris didn't come home that ever since I have refused to have another cat. Nobody had heard of Boris Johnson when our Boris appeared at our door as a stray. He remained with us for more than a decade - the cat I mean.
ReplyDeleteI've had several 'strays' turn-up at the house. The last one, Scruffy Doris, eventually just moved on, and probably found somewhere better. I like the idea of both cats and dogs finding their own homes.
DeleteFred looks like the best boy.
ReplyDeleteHe was a lovely cat, I still miss him.
DeleteWhat a splendid cat Cro -is he a Bengal? My carer has Bengals and they look very similar to that.
ReplyDeleteHe was a Tabby. There's a Bengal in my street here, but he's very aloof and unfriendly. Tabbies are my favourites.
DeleteImmortality is being remembered.
ReplyDeleteWe think of him so often. When we sit under the Quince tree we always think of him as in my side bar photo. He loved to sit there amongst the branches looking down on us.
DeleteHe really is a handsome cat, and looks extremely well fed.
ReplyDeleteI have two tabbies in the garden, but they are feral and only come for food, then disappear again. One or two other cats show up but I think they domesticated and are only after extra rations. My new dog, who is quite amicable to passing cats, seems to take exception to those in her garden and has taken to seeing them off!
My next door neighbour has two black cats, and Billy just looks at them; not sure what to do. He does the same with foxes, but that's a much rarer occurrence.
DeleteFred was a beautiful boy. I am pleased you still think of him and miss him. It says good things about you.
ReplyDeleteI still think about all my recent cats and dogs, they were very much a part of family life. We miss them all.
DeleteWhat a gorgeously marked cat! I agree. Dogs are wonderful, but they are like that exuberant friend who's always saying, "Whatcha want to do? Come on! Let's go!" Cats are more inclined to be the quiet friend. You need both, I guess.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, dogs are demanding, but cats simply offer their services as required. I suppose that's what I like about them.
DeleteI had a Freddy. We found him homeless in a parking lot. He was also a Tabby. At home he loved a sunny spot. Nights he went on the prowl. He was a bit of a Tom Cat. One day he disappeared and I found him dead on the beach close to our home. We suspected rat poison as rats were an issue for a neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI do like it when cats find us, rather than us finding them. They just turn up, partake of our generosity, then move on again (or die).
DeleteCro, my carer who has Bengals has just looked at Fred's photo and says she is sure there is Bengal in there somewhere with the orange on his tummy.
ReplyDeleteIt could be so. He came from Windsor, so his origins could well be 'regal'.
DeleteCro, we have always had cats - all taken in from outside at some point. We've had dogs too and they were well loved, but the cats live on more vividly in my memory (perhaps because they were around longer - most 15- 23 years). Sometimes it feels like they're still here in the house with us. We lost our last one the first year of the pandemic and it was awful, we haven't been able to take in another. But we still care for the outside ferals. Our yard is their sanctuary. Your Fred was a handsome cat.
ReplyDeleteThey are far more independent than dogs, and could happily live their lives without us humans. Most dogs would find that difficult.
DeleteFred is beautiful, he looks like a tiger with that orange fur. My Lola is soon to be 14 and I am noticing some signs of aging this year. Hesitation before jumping up to the table is the main one so far. I supply a chair now so she jumps onto that then to the table.
ReplyDelete