Many years ago, before I met Robert I moved into a house that came with a cat. A resident cat that stayed in my garden, she was a tiny brown tabby I named Lily and I knew her for about three years. I couldn’t let Lily come into the house and live with me because I had Molly who was truly vicious toward other cats. Whenever she saw Lily at the sliding doors to the back yard she would howl and hiss and throw herself at the glass. I loved Lily and looked after her the best I could outside. I cut a hole in the garage door and installed a cat flap. I made a warm and cozy nest for her in the rafters after I saw her up on a large storage shelf where folding garden chairs were stored, I think she felt safe being high above the ground. In the morning I would go out to feed her and when I called her she would tiptoe across the beams and jump down onto a work bench to meet me, we’d have a cuddle and she would purr and give me head-buts.
If I was working in the garden she would be right beside me wherever I went. She was an expert huntress and caught many birds even though there was always food available for her; her instincts were keen. One day I went away for a long weekend with a friend, my mum and dad were coming in daily to feed Molly and were also putting out Lily’s food in the garage. When I returned from my trip I could not find Lily anywhere. I asked my neighbours if they had seen her, I called Animal Services, I went to my local shelter and called vets in the area to see if a cat fitting her description had been brought in…nothing. Lily had disappeared and I never saw her again.
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| Lily on the evening prowl |
If I was working in the garden she would be right beside me wherever I went. She was an expert huntress and caught many birds even though there was always food available for her; her instincts were keen. One day I went away for a long weekend with a friend, my mum and dad were coming in daily to feed Molly and were also putting out Lily’s food in the garage. When I returned from my trip I could not find Lily anywhere. I asked my neighbours if they had seen her, I called Animal Services, I went to my local shelter and called vets in the area to see if a cat fitting her description had been brought in…nothing. Lily had disappeared and I never saw her again.
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| sleeping among the evening primrose the week before she disappeared |
I'm glad we have an MIA Day so Lily is not forgotten and I can share her story with all of you.
