This is my beloved cat Elliot. It is hard to believe that he is now about 10 years old! I think I am his fourth owner but I do not know too much about his past except that he was probably a house cat for his first two owners.
He is such a soft old thing - like a cuddly old bear and he does not have a mean bone in his body.
I was waiting for a cat to come into my life. I had been into the pet shop and seen some kittens but something in me said "No hold out.....wait for the right cat to come into your life".
A few weeks later I was visiting a couple I know and there on their window sill was this cute cat, very friendly and when they opened the door, he shot in.
I must point out that he had been put out onto a major busy road and it was a wonder he was not killed as the traffic is unbelievable and the house is only a couple of yards from the road.
I now know that he must have been terrified of being thrown out at night into such a noisy busy environment. He is really very timid and anxious and does not like to stray beyond the garden. There is no way I would want my cat out at night anyway., but that's just me.....I would be so worried of what might happen to him.
I could not take my eyes off him and I had never seen him at their house before. I asked where he had come from and they told me he had belonged to their daughter, but she no longer wanted him as she now wanted a dog! I asked them if they had wanted another cat? "Why, are you interested in him?" .....Was I??.....I could see this was the cat I was waiting for as he curled up on Bob's lap to go to sleep. They had only brought him back a couple of days before.
After a phone call to their daughter, they confirmed that I could indeed have him, so before they could change their minds, I shot down to the pet shop to buy him a smart carrier and off we set for my home.
They told me he was a hunter....that he liked to go out hunting with their other cat......and I thought that I would show him my little garden and that if he wanted to stay with me he would.....and if he went, well he was not for me. He stepped outside and a few minutes later I went to check and he had disappeared. What a fool I had been. Do you not keep a cat in for weeks when they move to a new address? Why oh why had I tempted fate?
I remember going looking for him and explaining to a neighbour what had happened. I was kicking myself and so close to tears that I had already lost this lovely cat.
There was no sign of him....and I had resigned myself to the fact that the cat had gone......then...would you believe it? Who should come padding down the stairs? He had decided that he was an indoor cat again and had probably spent the last couple of hours snuggled up on my bed!!
He was called Smokie, but was soon renamed Elliot Michael. I had always hoped to have a second child and if a boy would have called him Elliot. The Michael is a stab at my corny humour as my son's second name is Michael too. I believe Michael Jackson called a couple of his children Michael somewhere in their names. :D I think it is Paris Michael and Prince Michael but I could be wrong.
Elliot was about 4 years old when I got him and he is now around 10-11 so he is getting to be quite a mature cat!
Anyway, that is the story of how I came to own "probably the best cat in the world". He is such a blessing and though highly annoying at times, due to needing lots of attention, I consider myself very blessed to have attracted such a lovely boy into my life. Love you Elliot. XX
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