1 Rabbit, 3 Dogs, 9 Birds, Numerous Fish and a Love of Cats...This Is...My Pets

Two Peas In A Pod gave us all the opportunity to wax lyrical when she chose This Is My Pet as the theme for this week's meme hosted by Three Buttons. So I'm late but I'm not missing out. Anyone who reads this blog, in fact anyone who knows me, knows I won't pass up an opportunity to talk about one of my greatest loves.

I have been fortunate to always have animals in my life. Some animal friends have stayed with me for many years and some have been shorter visits for various reasons. I can't remember much about the rabbit (including its name shamefully) but I remember having one briefly as a child and that I didn't like it.

I had around 8 or 9 birds across a couple of years, mostly finches, a canary or two and a lovebird. Every bird I had either escaped and flew away (yay freedom) or died mysteriously in its sleep. After many years we finally realised that we had a minor gas leak from our hot water service in the laundry and that this had most likely killed the birds but thankfully not us. It was all a bit 'Canary In A Coalmine' really.

I'm just not cut out for being a dog owner which I am old enough and wise enough to know these days, but certainly wasn't in my youth. We had a couple of dogs as I was growing up. There was a poodle that cried and whined constantly and went back to its owners a couple of days after we got it. I was only 5 or 6 and I didn't like the dog at all. Then we had Pip, for many years. She was a rescued farm dog who had been abused. She spent her days rounding up invisible sheep, attacking anyone male who came near her and eventually due to deafness, anyone at all who took her by surprise. We eventually had to find her a new home where she had a bit more space to run free and crazy, and luckily found a farm through friends where she retired.

My final attempt at a being a dog owner was a puppy I named Zephyr who I rescued from the RSPCA. He was a tiny sweet thing with the biggest paws I had ever seen. Zephyr started growing into those paws in no time at all and I was completely overwhelmed. After a few months of trying my best I had to admit defeat and return him to the RSPCA in the hope they would find him a better home. 17 years later and I still feel terrible about it. I hope he did find a better home. I really believe in the saying 'A Pet is for Life, Not Just for Christmas'. Anyway, I was young and stupid and knew no better. Until my early 30's I still wanted to have a dog. I've finally accepted that as much as I love them I'm just not disciplined enough to be a dog owner. Now I just enjoy everyone else's dogs to the point of being annoying. I always want to pat and chat to people's dogs in the street and often talk to dogs outside post offices and such. I've been bitter a couple of times when I've been overly friendly with strange dogs too.

Moving on to fish. I've had goldfish at various stages of my life and find them so soothing and relaxing to have around. I would love to have a tropical tank next but haven't had the time and energy since our last goldfish Stevie died about a year ago. We had Stevie for over 3 years (a good long time for a goldfish) and were a little sad when he died. So no more fish yet, but someday.

And now for my cats. Oh how I love cats. I am the 'crazy cat lady' in my soul. I think that I am somehow linked to all the cats of this world. However, the ones who have been a significant part of my life total 6. My Gran had 2 cats during my life. Tatsie was a big ginger tomcat who I tried to spend a lot of my time playing dress ups and dollies with when I was little. My Gran also had Sylvester who came to live with us when my Gran passed away. I had 2 childhood friends, Tammy - who I had from the time I was a little girl till my teens - and Johnnie who I brought home on the train in my handbag when I was about 15 and who stayed with my Mum when I moved up and out into the world.

Now we have Holden and Willow. Holden is 10 and I've had him since he was 6 weeks old. He is my friend and my companion and my guardian angel. I don't have enough words to describe how much I love him. He is loyal, funny, feral (especially at the vet), cuddly, wild, loving, naughty, a snuggler and a fighter. He is a brute, will eat anything including trying to get the milk out of your glass while you are still trying to drink, is bossy and sleeps around 20 hours per day easily.

And then there is Willow. She is 4 and was my partner's choice when I won the battle to get another cat. So technically she is my partner's cat but I still think of her as mine too. She is a princess, adorable, aloof, picky with her affections, cuddly, warm, funny and demanding. She likes 45 minute cuddles when you are trying to get ready to go to work. She spends most of her time alone in the backyard and particularly seems to like windy days that blow her hair around make her feel especially pretty. She captivates me in a way that only such an aloof and fascinating creature can.

So there you have it my friends...a little piece of my soul.