Originally Posted by Howlinbob

Years ago we had a beautiful strapping white dsh called Percy, back then the cats had free access via a catflap at all times. One day my elderly neighbour opposite called me, she was talking to Percy on her garden wall, and she said 'Is Snowflake yours?' Hahaha I couldn't believe it - apparently he'd been going to her house EVERY DAY whilst I was at work and I'd never noticed because he was always around with us in the mornings, evenings and overnight. She said she never fed him, just gave him a drop of milk and a fuss, and anyway that was the icebreaker and we became firm friends. He carried on visiting her every day but only when I wasn't in. Five years later she made her way slowly and painfully to my back door in floods of tears to tell me that she'd found Percy dead in her passageway. I never cried about it because I simply could not go there or see his dead body, so my OH and in-laws took over the burial.

A few months later we adopted Claude, a big fluffy black lad, well my Top Cat HATED him and would not accept him for some reason, although they both seemed docile creatures (cats eh?) and sure enough, my lovely neighbour soon told me that Claude was her frequent visitor. Despite every encouragement it was soon obvious that Claude had his paws firmly under the table over the road and there was harmony in both houses that way, so we said to our friend, look, do you want to keep him, he obviously doesn't want to live with us, he wants to live with you. She burst into tears of happiness and toddled off home, and they had several happy years together (even though he used to wee on her hall carpet!!).

Oh I've gone on a bit, not really sure what my point is....just reminiscing I suppose!