Some friends felt sorry for the skinny little ginger creature and took her in. Work commitments took them away quite often, so they began to look for some other mug to have her. They worked on me. Audrey, as she was then called, came to live with us.
We quickly decided that she was too round and sweet to be an Audrey, much more of a Millie. Sparky simply called her "Invader".
There were a few yowls and skirmishes, some hissing and snarling, but after a couple of weeks things settled down. It helps that Millie is not one of those cats who wants to dominate.
Once Sparky, our senior cat, had worked that one out, she tolerated the incomer.
Millie is a dreamer, often away with the fairies, slow to react, but happy to fit in. If she has a secret desire, it is to be a dog.
Whenever I take Toby out for one of our walks around the gardens, or Owl Wood, Millie follows. If I am simply letting Toby out into the garden, she will follow him, or will sit on the garden wall, waiting for him.
She just likes to hang around on the fringes. Too much attention makes her feel uncomfortable, but the occasional stroke, or gentle pull on her tail, set her purring and chirruping.
Yet for some reason, she does like to get between me and my laptop computer. Don't blame me for typos, blame the cat!
While Millie is trying to sit on the keyboard, typing with all eighteen of her little toes, Toby stands on my foot.
If I ignore him, he lifts his foot off and then does it again, and again. Each time he exerts a little more pressure, until it becomes painful, so I have to pay him some attention, too. The whole process is repeated, until I put the computer down and take them out and about into Owl Wood.
Millie, the cat who isn't dominant in any way, becomes assertive when she has Toby in tow.
Who leads? Who follows? What plans are they hatching? Little tykes.
My plans for the weekend involve celebrating our granddaughter's seventh birthday, dog walking - without Millie, lots of reading and a bit of crocheting - and if I am feeling really self indulgent I will bake some bread.
I don't particularly want to eat it, but I love the process of making and baking it.
However you plan to spend your weekend, I hope you have a good one.
x
I hope you have a great weekend. It is a long one here - our regions Anniversary Day celebrations.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoyed those celebrations Susan.
DeleteI'm glad the people found your home for Millie! Is it unusual to find a ginger female? I was told once that gingers are nearly always males but I've not known many so have no idea.
ReplyDeletePolly sits on the arm of the armchair while I'm using the laptop and occasionally stands up to nudge my face with her face, so I find myself peering round her to see the keyboard - cats!
She is the first gingery cat we have had, Sue. I don't choose my cats, and I certainly couldn't go for a 'breed', not when there are so many waifs and strays out there. I think you could be right, most full gingers are male, but her legs and tummy have lots of white on them.
DeletePolly sounds a cutie, they definitely know how to get your attention, don't they!
She looks lovely. It wasn't until Mog landed with us that I realised how full of character some cats can be.
ReplyDeleteWho leads, who follows? It's a similar situation with Lily and Mog. Both up to mischief a lot of the time but they adore one another.
Enjoy your weekend. Bread making sounds great. X
Lily and Mog sound like a wonderful pairing - and lovely that Lily has an animal to care for and to love.
DeleteThe break making went well, thank you - excellent therapy!
Very unusual...a ginger and white female...I think the saying ‘ginger tom’ has something to do with it. x
ReplyDeleteI confess I hadn't really thought about it but, I think you are right. Millie is almost strawberry blonde in places, very pretty.
DeleteAt first glance I thought that Millie was sleeping in a frying pan ! I shall be looking after a friend's cat over the weekend ( feeding her in her own home) and she is a ginger cat...called Daisy. I had cats for nearly 50 years.....5 cats in all, and as I now have 2 dogs we didn't replace the last one. Beautiful creatures, and every one with a different personality!
ReplyDeleteI am having a quiet weekend after a busy week.....just dog walking, ironing and a bit of meal making, though I have " ready meals" for mains over the weekend. I cook from scratch all week, and enjoy my " time off". Enjoy the 7th birthday. x
Hello Frances, Welcome! I have just had a look at the photograph - and I can see exactly what you mean! It is actually a large, very vintage wooden bowl. I used to have it on the kitchen table, filled with fruit, then millie decided that it was the perfect bed. Who am I to argue? She got the bowl, it is the perfect size for her. The other thing is one of my boot jacks - I spend half my time in Wellington boots, we live out in the sticks, surrounded by fields and lots of mud! I have a boot jack at every entrance, saves me struggling and hopping around!
DeleteYou are absolutely right about them all having their own personality, each and every one is very special, not two alike.
I hope you enjoyed your weekend and achieved all that you wanted to, yet still managed to have a bit of R&R before what I assume is a busy week ahead.
The birthday girl had a lovely time - thank you.
x
Enjoy the Birthday celebrations. The rain here hasn't stopped all night, so we are staying in and catching up with some of the jobs, ironing and sorting out the wardrobes that have been on the list for an age.
ReplyDeleteOur birthday girl had lots of fun, really enjoyed being the centre of attention. Given the 'interesting' weather here, I can imagine that you had quite a wild weekend, weather-wise! At least you had a list of jobs to be done - and I know you are never short of a bit of craft work! Stay warm and cosy this coming week.
DeleteI did enjoy reading about Millie. My Charlie is similar in attitude and appearance which made me think I would love Millie to bits. Hope you have an enjoyable weekend.
ReplyDeleteI think you really would love her, Valerie. Of all the cats we have had, and we have had quite a few, she has undoubtedly got the sweetest and most gentle nature. I hope your weekend was a good one.
DeleteEnjoy your weekend. I love the furry tales, such characters and they bring alot of enjoyment and comfort with them. Oh and the odd devilish moment, sending things flying with resounding crashes, especially terracota plant pots! xcx
ReplyDeleteOh the mischief those cats can create! All part of their character and we love them anyway, don't we Chrissie!
DeleteWhat a nice tribute to a special gift cat. It's nice that she and Toby have struck a friendship.
ReplyDeleteThey really do seem to be developing a good relationship, which works for them. Sparky prefers to dominate!
DeleteI like the sound of your gentle, home based weekend. Millie is so beautiful and sounds like a wonderful cat to have around, I've enjoyed reading about her. Our little cat Chloe used to try to get between me and the book I was reading at night in bed before she settled at the side of me, I do miss her:)
ReplyDeleteChloe sounds as though she was a gentle cat - one of my old cats used to love to sleep on my pillow, the only trouble was that I would sometimes wake to find her peering down at me, dribbling! I hope you had a good weekend, Rosie.
DeleteErrr... Elaine, are Toby and Millie trying to tell you something I idly wonder!?!
ReplyDeleteSurely not!
DeleteI haven't had time to comment on your blog yet, but it definitely sounds as though meditation is required, you are having a tough time. :(
The quirks, of pets.... Best to learn to live with them. As you have... :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!!!
I would hate to be without them, but I must admit that this bunch will probably be my last lot. They are demanding, but adorable.
DeleteI hope your weekend was fun.
I still miss my ginger cat Tiger he was long haired and lived until he was about 22 - might have been 24 as we didn't have him as a kitten. They have their own personalities and you get to know their little quirks over time but then it is so hard when they pass away.
ReplyDeleteOne of my previous cats made it to 18 years, and I thought that was good going! I know a few people who really just don't 'get' cats, but they are wonderful companions. No doubt Tiger left a tiger-sized hole, it's hard, but that is the price of love.
DeleteProbably try to go out for a walk if it's not raining
ReplyDeleteI hope you managed to fit in that walk, Bill. The wind was wild around here, but at least it helped to dry out the mud, until the next time.
DeleteSuch a sweet story. It makes me think back over sixty or more years of pets and think which of mine belonged in this tale.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally try to recall all the pets we have had over the years, so many characters, so much love. Old Toby rests in Owl Wood, as do all the hens we had, then there are the cats. It could be a sad place but it is peaceful. They were loved.
DeleteAw, loved hearing about the antics of your pets - so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThey keep me entertained - and on my toes!
DeleteAw, she does look more like a Millie than an Audrey. Both kitties we have now are rescues. Our Dumperoo is determined to be in my lap if I sit at the computer. Glad you adopted Millie.
ReplyDeleteYou would love her, Henny, she is a quiet little thing who has gently worked her way into everyone's hearts and also worked some magic on Toby Too. I was reluctant to have her, but now I am thankful!
DeleteThis was such a delightful post! I could completely visualize all the antics and the actors. I hope you had a wonderful weekend, with everything you needed.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good weekend, thanks Susan. I know that your house is filled with animal antics, too. Got to love 'em!
DeleteI hope you have a good week.
happy birthday to your granddaughter.
ReplyDeletehave a great day
Thank you very much, Tanza.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteMillie and Toby look to be such a precious pair.
ReplyDeleteIt is amusing to watch Millie, she mimics the dog in so many ways. She is very cute.
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