By way of an apology for this morning's political/angry content, here is a lovely story for you》

》this wonderful orange cat used to live with me. He arrived on my back doorstep, in the snow, about 13 years ago, when he was about 6 months old》

》after much door knocking it transpired that he had been left behind by a family who had moved out in a hurry. One girl was feeding him, but she didn't want to have him in the house. So we adopted Robin. He did, however, continue to pop in on his other ladies》

》I knew this because he sometimes smelled of "other house". Also, whenever he was injured or ill I would put a note on his collar and they would ring me for updates. Then one day Robin disappeared 》

》I eventually heard from one of the ladies that yes indeed, she did have him. He was fine, but could we talk about it later because she was having a major crisis 》

》it all seemed rather odd. Robin had lived with us for a good 8 years by then. Unfortunately, in spite of multiple attempts, I had never managed to get him neutered, but I had done all the other cat care stuff. I also hadn't chipped him, because I 》

》could only get him to the vets when he was really ill.
Anyway, I didn't see Robin for weeks, and heard nothing from S. Finally, walking past her house I saw him, bollock-less, but otherwise fine.》

》I did eventually speak to S, and decided that although I wasn't thrilled, the deed was done, and there was no point in fighting over it. I told her it was OK. She said thank you, and that her life was still awful. It was all very civil, though I was a tad mystified 》

》then recently I saw Robin in the street, and had to knock on the door, because Robin was following me. S was in a terrible state: her Chilean parents were visiting and her mother had severe covid. Obviously I offered to help in any way》

》a few weeks later I knocked again. Her mum had recovered, thank god, but she still seemed very sad. She asked me to come into the garden to talk, and out poured this whole sad story about what had happened 》

》as I had suspected she is incredibly isolated: a young woman from Chile who came here to study. At the time Robin vanished she was indeed going through some awful stuff: out of the blue her partner developed severe bipolar disorder》

》she had literally no one to turn to. He was hospitalised several times, which she found incredibly distressing. With no one around, and so much upset, she had clung to Robin for comfort. And I absolutely do not blame her》

》I stayed there for ages that afternoon. She is young enough to be my daughter and I was able at least to offer a listening ear, even if I could not fix anything.
Lovely Robin. He looked after me, then her, and he brought us together》

》the animals who chose to live with us are so much more than just pets. They enrich our lives, they are rocks in life's storms, and they bring people into each others worlds