Matilda who?

Matilda the cat, my Matilda.

Matilda became part of me in the summer of 2002 when I had to learn to live with a almost useless heart after surviving three MI's in 24 hours. Before she came I felt so sorry for myself and lamented my limited functionality day and night. I felt that my husband of 38 years did not see or understand my physical or psychological suffering, that nobody understood that I want to be back in my own old, big house where dogs and cats and Elsie were part of my daily existence.

Instead they moved me to this small cramped granny-flat (not really, insofar as granny-flats go this one is a spacious four-roomed little house) in a seaside town. I missed the grass, the flowers, but above all I missed my painting room where I could hide from the world if needed.

So there I was in a strange house with a body that found bathing to be a punishment, washing hair became an insurmountable task, when just breathing was an effort and in walked this tiny five-week old little Siamese cat.

Matilda became my new lease on life, I could hold her and cry my desperate feeling in her scruffy fur, I had to remember that my husband and I had to eat when I fed her, she reminded me of the young ones in the family that could not understand their grandmother being so helpless and forever sad.

She followed me where ever I went and slowly but surely she helped me onto a healing path. She became a proud and beautiful feline but always caring. When I have a bad day I would find her highest offer, a dead veld mouse on my desk chair or on my side of the bed, or sometime when she has to get my attention a live one was dropped at my feet, without saying that brought me to life quickly.

It is now five and a half years later, and Matilda is in total control, she oozes love when she want to, she allows cuddling until she is fed-up, she definitely do not like kids very much, and when she is called she takes a message and answer you later. She reigns with tight control and she still brings me a mouse sometimes and she is still scared that a Skua might catch when she is outside. She still sits in my chair and whenever she gets a chance she still likes to sleep on my side of the bed.

I am sure that she can understand what I am saying to her, so, these days if I start to feel sorry for myself she turns her back on me.

Thanks Tilla!

Matilda's Mom