A day in the life of Peggy, the resident feline at Stanley House, Elysium Neurological’s care centre in Herefordshire.
Who said ‘cats have it easy’? It’s really not that simple, after all not all the staff and residents here speak or understand ‘Felis catus’. For those who aren’t acquainted with Latin, the language of all well-educated feline divas, it simply means domestic cat.
So you can see how exhausting it can be trying to get my own way, lots of long luxurious rests are the name of this game!
Truth be known, I am actually spoilt rotten. I get to sleep where I want and residents and staff often use activity time to make me fabulous treats to eat and toys to play with, which of course I do deserve.
Even though I am super happy here it’s been a really odd few months and I have felt a bit confused as to what’s really going on, not least because all the staff look the same in their uniforms and masks and then there is the constant hand washing throughout the day.
I can’t see their lovely faces and can only tell them apart by the smell of their feet and that’s certainly not my favourite way of seeking out special friends.
Another really odd thing, there have hardly been any visitors for such a long time although not so very long ago staff put up huge white tents which usually means a special event or party with lots of guests, food, music and what humans call fun.
At such times, I tend to lead my other feline friends off to secret places where we are unlikely to be disturbed, safe in the knowledge that when everything goes back to normal, we will be extra petted and well fed with all sorts of delicacies.
So we waited and waited and nothing happened, no music, no food and no fun until the people who usually bring in the treats started to arrive, but only two at a time. Once they were safely in the tent their relative came to meet them, so many tears of joy were shed at these lovely reunions after many months of separation.
It was clear to see how much they had all missed each other.
The visit didn’t seem to last that long and as soon as it was over the lady who helps with the activities and her new mate ran around like cleaning angels and it all began again.
Yes, it was all a bit mystifying, but perhaps we just have to get used to this way of being and I feel very lucky to have been there to see the happiness and joy that everyone felt; their faces were all smiley, light and beautiful.
It was so moving that even I had to have a little weep into my paws, don’t worry though, it was a great way to earn extra cat cuddles and tidbits.
Time for me to stretch out now and get going with my ground’s sweep, it’s a hard job making sure I keep the humans here safe from other wildlife, especially mice. I can assure you, they will not be moving in.
Meow for now …Peggy
