Real lives
When Smokey left, I was heart-broken. Who could help me to heal?
AsI got into bed, I felt a familiar thud by my feet.
My cat Smokey was taking her usual place at the bottom of the bed.
She was my absolute world and was always up for a cuddle.
‘You’re like a baby,’ I said as she lay in my arms on her back, four paws knitted together as she purred.
Then one day, Smokey wouldn’t eat her dinner. It was so unlike her. Over the next few days, she got worse — sulking round the house and meowing constantly as if she was trying to tell us something.
Mum and Dad took her to the vet.
‘It’s not good, Clare,’ my mum said when they returned. ‘Smokey has mouth cancer.’ I was devastated.
She was given injections to help her manage the pain and they seemed to help.
After each one, she’d bounce around the house — playing with her orange fish toy before wolfing down her food.
But it couldn’t last… Smokey was nearing the end.
My parents took her back to the vet.
‘I can’t see her go,’ I told them, but I pulled her in for one last cuddle, burying my face into her fur.
‘I love you, Smokey,’ I said. After Smokey died, my mental health really suffered. For days at a time, I couldn’t get out of bed.
I’d always been into beauty pageants — but now the thought of putting on a dress and some make-up filled me with dread.
Then one day, I felt as if I could sense Smokey in the room.
I’d always been a bit spiritual and it was like I could sense her spirit.
So I pushed my body out of bed, and a few days later, I was sitting in the garden when a black cat with a little white face trotted towards me.
‘Hello,’ I cooed. It was one of the local cats. I decided to called him Funny Nose due to his unusual markings,. Over the next few weeks, Funny Nose became more confident, occasionally coming into the house for food.
‘Hello, cutie,’ I would say, when he appeared.
Then one day, Funny Nose was exploring the lounge when he pulled Smokey’s old orange fish toy out of nowhere.
A tear formed in my eye as I watched Funny Nose playing.
‘I think Smokey sent Funny Nose to me,’ I told Mum. And she agreed.
Since then, Funny Nose comes around often and likes
