A little Cat Tale...

 In our churchyard there has been a little black and white cat for a while. It dawned on us gradually that she lives there. She is incredibly friendly and has obviously been loved and well-cared for at some point. There are many stories surrounding her..the most persistent is that she belonged to someone in a nearby house who left her when they moved. I don't know if this is true or not, but she certainly is loved by many. Her name is Milly and she is petted regularly by the various characters who pass through the churchyard each day - some just stroke her briefly and some stop and commune at length. Many bring her food and leave it on paper plates or even paper bags in spots that she frequents.

I noticed that she slept curled in a sheltered spot, a corner of the church by one of the ancient back doors. This is her 'special place' - but it's all stone, with no comfort for a little cat.

We started to have some really harsh weather a few weeks ago - regular temperatures of around -8c at night (incredibly cold for the South East), biting winds and snow...and it occurred to me that she wouldn't survive long with no shelter. She doesn't like confinement..she sometimes wanders into houses with open doors but panics if the door is closed. We can't have a cat currently (Miss Alice firmly agrees with THAT!) and she isn't ours anyway. But I couldn't leave her out in the open, at the mercy of the cold and the elements. I have owned many cats in my life and one thing they have all shared is a love of warm spots!

So I went to our local pet superstore and bought a pyramid bed. Of course, it's designed for indoors..but it has a deep soft washable cushion and it's enclosed on all sides. I also bought a fake fur 'lap blanket' for added warmth and a proper cat bowl (just a cheap plastic one) together with some nutritious food because living in the cold she would need lots of energy. I lined it with natural wool insulation under the cushion as protection from the cold stone. And placed it partially inside a folded down black plastic sack to keep it as dry as possible. Then I took it, with the filled bowl, to her 'place'...

and here it is, in situ. She loved it from the very first minute and has made it her retreat and her nest. I am so happy! She is used to living outdoors so is more acclimatised to the cold than an indoor cat would be. But we have had some bitter nights and days. So  a few days later I bought some very small hot water bottles, well insulated with fleecy fabric...

...as you can see, they are barely bigger than my hand. So during the extremely cold weather she has a hot water bottle, wrapped in the fake fur blanket, tucked into her bed at twilight - and on very bleak days, a replacement first thing in the morning. Food twice a day. Freedom still to come and go and live her life. I feel happy that we can do that for her. 

You can just about see her here - she's almost camouflaged, but her little white moustache just shows! Full disclaimer: I actually went back and bought a second, identical bed. So that if one gets wet or too grubby (which happened in the snow) I can swap them and wash the bedding. Certain neighbours think we're mad (Paul can often be seen padding to the bed early in the morning, full bowl in hand!) But on nights like this one, when I can hear the bitter wind whipping through the still-bare trees, I am certain that we sleep more soundly for knowing that a little cat lies, barely more than twenty steps from our door, in warmth and comfort.... xx