Pets, past and present.
The Cats.
Esther.
Esther came to New Zealand with Lucky. A half moggy, half British Blue, she was a very loving and snooty cat. Sadly her life was ended all too soon by a speeding car. Thankfully she died instantly. She is buried in the garden under a tree where she used to sleep.
Willow.
Willow is the "matriarch" of the group. She tries to control the activity of her housemates and isn't afraid to use her claws to get her own way. Hit by a motor vehicle at 6 months old, she struggled to regain the ability to walk and lead a normal life. She is strong and loving, a cat that welcomes every guest that walks down the path!
Kauri.
Kauri is Willow's litter-mate. Timid, he tends to stay away if unsure of a situation, hiding in all manner of places. Once confident he can be cheeky and playful. He also suffered a knock by a speeding car, but thankfully suffered little lasting damage.
Matai.
When Matai arrived home from the Opoho SPCA, she took over the en suite bathroom and remained in there for almost a week. Now her favourite place is on top of the aviary, her own personal TV set, which she delights in "changing the channel" of by making the birds fly! The birds are almost used to her slinky body clambering up the front and get quite blas�!
Esther, enjoying the sun, in a favoured spot! She and Willow often sat out here, listening for interesting sounds and looking for butterflies to chase!
She loved certain places and would sit very proudly, slightly aloof, waiting to be noticed.
Kauri knows where all the suntraps are and spends hours rolling in the dirt under the bushes. He seems the most content, seldom leaving the garden.
Grilled cat, anyone? The Barbecue does seem to be the perfect place for a girl to perfect her tan!
Willow holds court wherever it suits her at the time. Visitors often find she has climbed up and is sprawled behind them � sometimes from the fact that she clamps their head down and insists on washing whatever she can reach!
Once upon a time a little tabby cat decided to take a nap in the flower bed, having surveyed the scene first to ensure all was well.
Along came a curious puppy, who poked said cat with his cold, wet nose!
Having been so rudely awakened, she decided to yawn, show her disdain and go indoors to practice her version of tightrope walking.
The top of the door was ideal!