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Before I was ever adopted by a cat, I always dreamed that one day I’d have the privilege of caring for one.
While I admired every variety, I didn’t imagine that it would be an elegant cat or an exotic one.
What I saw in my life was a grey cat.
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*As it turned out, I’d been living with cats for 30 years before a single grey came under my roof and then it was only in my foster care suite.
How pristine those dream curls and carpet were. It was the very early days of the Kitty Suites!
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The lady who adopted Grayson wanted two cats, so sweet Gus got a good home too.
Grayson was named after a whale I’d read about.
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Oliver was one of three siblings.
The other two were Mikael and Maks.
Maks was adopted by my friend Denise.
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Bridget’s sister was black.
They had been left behind in an apartment.
They went to a very loving home.
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Cinder and Ella were mother and daughter.
(Ella on the left)
They also went to a great home where two young lads doted on them.
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The grey kittens:
Mikael at the top, Oliver in front of him then Ella and Maks with his back turned.
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Mama (top left) and her Babygirl lived in the foster suite because they had issues with incontinence.
Abe, the big boy on the right had a bad heart. I went in at breakfast one day to find he had died in the night.
They were all very sweet cats. And no, I don’t say that about all of them! Some are inclined to be spiky.
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Last summer, another grey arrived and fixed himself firmly in our hearts.
Little Man decided to adopt us.
We had no say in the matter.
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So, in the end there were many grey cats, but I think the one I saw in my mind all those years ago was Willow, as if I always knew she would come to me one day.
The way that she arrived and immediately made me her person was so special and so mysterious.
It’s as if we have a psychic connection, which I know sounds fanciful, but it’s what I feel in my heart.
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*Scrolling through old photographs I was reminded that in fact, in 2000 a little grey cat lived with me for a couple of weeks.
I named her Katy after my aunty Kay and I would have kept her, but sadly found out that she was positive for FIV which back then was a concern for Yeti.
Katy was adopted by the mother of the lady who had asked me to foster her.
Technically, she was my first grey and I was sorry to have to let her go.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the beautiful memories of the grey cats in your life, and the photographic portraits of all of them.
Joanna
My first grey was called – surprise – Smoky!
I was aged about six and we were living in a military hut in a field near Swindon recommissioned for post-war housing. It was early on what must have been a summer morning. i woke and there in the half light under the window was what I thought was a football.
It was in fact our neighbour’s Smoky who had climbed through the open window and chosen my bedroom to curl up and nap. I was surprised and so happy.
I remember a coat of thick short hair
Cinder and Ella – I think they’re two very original names! Little Man is such a lovely cat (there’s just something in his little face that melts my heart). And every time I see that picture of Willow, it’s her beautiful eyes that make me look twice!
Don’t know if you got my comment. Seems like WP is acting up again!