Going through some photos this morning, I found these two of our cat Bertie that I took 10 years ago in November. Bertie was a cat we adopted when the British couple who had got him as a kitten decided to return to the U.K. He was 4 years old when he came to live here, and he died last spring at the age of 17. Because he and our dog, Callie the border collie, never got to be friends, he often was on the outside looking in, as in the photo on the right.
He slept in our unheated garage for 7 or 8 years. On really cold nights, he would sleep in the utility room, which was warmer. In autumn and winter, he loved to sit out in the afternoon sunshine off our front terrace. I imagine his black fur got pretty warm, and he liked that. After Callie died in 2007, soon after we brought Natasha the Sheltie home, Bertie spent more time in the house. He and 'Tasha often slept side by side on the sofa up in the loft. He enjoyed the end of his life, I believe, and passed away peacefully.
Awww, I do so love seeing pictures of Bertie. I'm so heartened to know that he and Tasha enjoyed each other.
ReplyDeleteI can remember when he came to live with you. A lifetime of blogging.
ReplyDeleteBertie was a nice addition to your family and you gave him a good life.
ReplyDeleteWe did, I think, give him a good life. He certainly stayed with us, and got to be friends with the neighbors too.
DeleteIsn't it funny how he got along with one and not the other? The dogs were basically the same item. Maybe its the timing of them being introduced.
ReplyDeleteCallie was bigger than Bertie and didn't accept him. Tasha had never seen a cat before we brought her into the family. She was younger and smaller and less aggressive than Callie. It was as if Tasha didn't know that dogs were supposed to chase cats. Or herd them.
DeleteI thought Bertie was a great family addition and I agree with Diogenes, timing must have been a factor as Tasha was welcomed by the existing pet, Bertie. It must have been a gracious feeling to see the two pets enjoy each other's company.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the two of them sleep side by side was heart-warming.
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