Teddy and Mouse, the ginger twosome, arrived from Cats Protection on 9 May 2006. Teddy was about eight years old, and Mouse is three. They spent the first week hiding under a chair in their safe room. My darling Teddy left for the bridge on 3 October 2006.  Latest news is at the top of the page...

30 November 2007

One year on and Mouse is now wonderfully bossy, and has taught me her language for 'outside now please', 'breakfast now please', 'play now!' and other essential commands.

Sleepy Mouse

Mouse munching on her cat grass

Does my tongue look big in this?

Post milk scent marking and stroking

13 November: Mouse and I are settling down to life without Teddy. Mouse is a girl who loves to play...never happier than when chasing something on a stick. She's come out of her shell in the past month, and I'm slowly translating some of her sounds:

mrrrp - hello, I've just woken up
mrrreeep - I want to play/give me food
eep-eep - here I am!

But first, munchies...

Mouse tucks into her favourite cat bix

All shopping must be thoroughly investigated on arrival

My girl turns shopping inspection into an audition for a nun in The Sound of Music

Catching the rays in the study

Okay, let's play...show me that blue thing on a string

Which way did it go?

Mouse kills vicious blue furry thing

Checking the body...

Mouse with her mouse, now much chewed

Time to clean up

Sleepy now

Even sleepier...

My honey Mouse away in her dreams

6 October: three days ago I had to make the awful decision to have Teddy put to sleep. He'd been up and down during his week back at home. Danny was pleased that his blood tests showed the liver infection was clearing, but asked for a urine sample. This showed that the infection was now in his kidneys. I had an appointment set up for Danny to see him again this Monday. Teddy was okay on Saturday and spent a couple of hours sitting on my lap, before snoozing in his basket.

Then on Sunday he was really low: not even coming downstairs for his food and hiding during the day. And he fought me when I gave him his meds that evening, which I now think was because his abdomen was hurting. I decided that rather than take him to  hospital in Wanstead on Sunday, I'd take him next day to Danny who knows all his recent history. Danny went very quiet when he was examining him, and said he could feel a mass that wasn't there a week ago. He wanted to keep him in to do an x-ray and probably operate. The worst case scenario was that my poor boy had cancer. 

Danny operated on Tuesday, and at 1445 the dreaded phone call came through. Teddy had lots of tumours, and Danny said he had cancer of the pancreas, which is incredibly aggressive. Even if he came round from the anaesthetic, he would only live for a day or two. So the best thing was to give the go-ahead for him to go while he was still asleep. Which was what I did. I went in a couple of hours later to say goodbye to him. Emma had wrapped him in a towel, and she and Danny were incredibly kind to me while I held him in my arms and told him how much I loved him. 

Last pic of my boy, looking so skinny

It's so hard to get my head round how quickly he's gone. I've now done some reading about this particular cancer, and it seems that it's almost always fatal. I'd only known Teddy for five months, but he's left an enormous hole in my heart. I miss him from all his favourite sleeping places; I miss him rushing downstairs when I got home in the evening, then jumping up onto the table to examine any plastic bag; I miss his gorgeous orange mackerel markings and slightly scabby pink paw pads; I miss playing fish on a string with him; I miss his enormous motor-boat purr; I miss his great furry bulk draped over my knees; I miss him at night when he'd jump up onto the pillow next to me and gently put a paw on my hand. I miss him and I want him back. And I hate the fact that this bloody disease took him so quickly.

My beautiful boy

Teddy, you could not have been a more wonderful cat. I wanted to spend years with you, but at least we had five months together. It's not nearly long enough but I hope I made you as happy as you made me. Goodbye, my bold boy.

25 September: what a week. Last Sunday Teddy looked a bit low - he was sleeping in different places and was off his food. I took him to the vet on Monday and was horrified when Danny said his temperature was through the roof. I left him there, and rang Danny later to find out the results of the blood tests. Very bad news: Teddy had a serious liver infection, and had a 30% chance of surviving. Danny put him on anti-biotics and meds to flush out his liver and I spent a sleepless night. Two days later and his bloods were much better...and he came home on Friday. He's still on five types of drugs, and hates me syringing it into his mouth. And Mouse doesn't recognise this odd-smelling new cat. But he's here...back to Danny today for more bloods. Huge thanks to super-vet Danny, and nurses Emma and Wendy for looking after my boy.

Teddy in the bath this morning asking for something to drink

Sulking in the spare room after expert pill-popper Emma got five pills down his gob

...meanwhile, downstairs, princess Mouse takes over the work top

27 August: snuggle Sunday

Best of friends

Mouse the valet

Teddy roaching in the heat

Little miss ballet Mouse

3 August: had a fine day in Hertford with Ian and met the mighty Boll! She's a wonderful puss. 
Latest pics of T & M...

Mouse playing the cello

Under the table-Teddy

Almost flat out in the heat

My most handsome boy cleans his toes

Miss Mouse reclines...I never thought I'd see her so relaxed

Teddy enjoys an episode of CSI...

...while Mouse meticulously gets rid of any trace of the evidence

Then Teddy hops up to help Mouse clear up...

...and Mouse returns the favour

A close up action shot of that tongue...

Enough grooming already. Down to the hard work of snoozing.

25 July: back from Wales and the first time I've left the ginger twosome alone. Thanks to Marie for coming in to feed them. No sulks, and the duo were pleased to see me back! Terrific heat this week.

Teddy and Mouse snuggle among my shoes. This is one of Teddy's favourite sleeping places. Note Teddy's hand on Mouse!

The Mousicle splays out...

...while Teddy collapses in the door of the spare room

Mouse using her finely tuned tuna sensor

Close up of Mouse through the banisters

13 July: time for a Teddy Mouse Massive update

On the day England crashed out of the World Cup, Mouse is still shocked at the result

The hottest day of the year, and the ginger twosome spread out on the landing

Miss Mouse attempts to read the Guardian upside down

The Tedster with his sleeves rolled up

Miss Mouse tests the great outdoors

...and ends up doing some gardening

Do we do outdoors in the rain? NO!

Feeding time...food was a bit of a puzzle as Teddy tends to nick Mouse's food.  I've ended up giving them half a tin of Hi Life tuna, then Teddy gets almost all a pouch of Royal Canin obesity food with a taste for Mouse.

Miss Mouse supplements her diet with some wisteria

My giant boy snoozes after food and play

20 June: and on the day of the England/Sweden match, Mouse and Teddy limber up for the game...

Aha! Feather on a stick!

Miss Mouse investigates...

Got it!

Mirror, mirror, who is the most handsome Teddy?

One-eyed boy with his cigar

Another catnip frenzy

Mouse and Teddy in their favourite daytime sleeping place - how gorgeous are they!

1 June: Mouse is now brave enough to have her photo taken! Both have now had their vet visits, and Teddy has to lose 2 kilos. Fat boy.

This is Mouse's normal shocked expression

Their favourite spot for sleeping, at the top of the stairs. Today is the first day they've both been so chilled.

Help! We need rescuing!

13 May 2006:Teddy is out and about! Here is my giant boy making himself at home...

with my catnip cigar!