Birdwatching
Merrydancer Daisy.
Really there wasn’t anything exceptional about Daisy, she was an Aby doing what Aby’s do, the thing that made her special was the fact that she was mine.
From the day in July 2008 when she came to live with me we seemed to create a close bond, she followed me everywhere and tried to lend a paw in everything I did.
At night she would curl up by my side on the bed and as soon as I stirred in the morning I would get showered by head-butts and purrs to make sure I didn’t nod off again. We had lots of fun together; one of her favourite games was playing ‘fetch’ with a small ‘feather on a stick’ toy. Sometimes this would go on for ages; I tired long before Daisy did.
We started going to shows together, a new experience for both of us. She did fairly well even though I don’t think she was too pleased with the situation. She did tolerate it but always happy to return home.
December 2009 Daisy gave birth to four beautiful Usual kittens, again a new experience. Daisy was the ideal loving and caring mum, when the kittens were settled she would lie on the corner of my bed watching over them and the slightest movement or sound she was off like a shot to tend to her babies. One thing that struck me was how Daisy wanted to share her babies, when I went upstairs she would excitedly fuss around my legs giving out little chirps and when I moved toward the kitten box she would trot off with tail held high and stand in front of the box till I arrived. While she was feeding her family I would stroke her under her chin, she would purr loudly and ‘pad’ fresh air with her front paws. All her babies have now grown into beautiful cats.
9th November 2010 saw the arrival of Daisy’s 2nd litter, this time three Usual and one Blue kitten. Daisy managed much better this time and all went well with the birth. Just one week later disaster struck. Daisy would never use the litter tray in the bedroom, she preferred to come downstairs. Around 9.00pm I heard the usual tapping on the living room door so I let Daisy in, she slowly walked to the middle of the room and lay down. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, I thought she was just resting but then I noticed she was staring straight forward, I called her name but got no response so I moved closer and called again, still the same. I tried standing her up but she just wobbled a couple of steps and flopped down again.
I rushed her to the emergency vet and without going into details I was leaving with an empty carrier at 11.45pm Daisy had been put to sleep after suffering from a stroke or blood clot to her brain.
The memory of my sweet little girl will always be in my heart.
Her little orphans are now being cared for by a wonderful foster mum, Squeaky, who belongs to Margaret Horner the owner of the kittens father Ch. Nishalka Khepri. So hopefully and god willing Daisy will live on in them.
Ken Harrison.