Felix and Wolfie were feeling sad.

Dad had moved out 3 days ago,

And they missed him a LOT.

There was a big space in the house.

Where he used to be.

Mum felt sad for them, what could she do?

They had both tried, but it hadn’t worked out.

Suddenly the cloud of sadness was pierced by a loud wailing.

It was coming from the street.

The kids had been looking out the window, hoping Dad might return.

But it wasn’t him.

It was a tortoiseshell cat standing outside their gate,

Peering through the railings,

And yowling! EEEEEEEEOOOOOWWWWWW!

Now most cats MEOWW

But this cat just EEEEEEOOOOWWWWWED at the top of it's voice.

It must have lost it's ME somewhere…

Perhaps it got stuck in it's throat.

“Mum, Mum, there’s a cat outside our gate.” shouted Wolfie,

Peering down from the window.

“Yes, I can hear.” called Mum from the kitchen,

Where she was making supper.

“It’s got a collar.” added Felix, ever observant.

“Well then, it must have an owner.” replied Mum.

“I think she’s lost” called Wolfie “can we let her in?”.

“No darling, she needs to go home.”

“EEEEEEEEOOOOOOWWWWWW!” came the wild wailing again,

Seeping in through the letter box now.

“Please Mum. She’s hungry” pleaded Wolfie.

Running down to the kitchen to see what Mum was making.

“No darling, we don’t want to encourage her, she needs to go home.”

“Some water wouldn’t hurt.” suggested Felix,

Playing the wise child.

At 8, Felix was 5 years older than Wolfie

And now that Dad had gone,

It felt like it was up to him to be the Man of the House.

“Or some milk?” Wolfie suggested.

“No, milk isn’t good for cats, darling, it can upset their tummies,”

Mum explained, “Like it does mine.”

Felix and Wolfie looked sad. Mum felt bad.

“Ok, if you want you can put out a saucer of water.

But please don’t open the gate.”

So Wolfie carried out the saucer and Felix a glass of water

While Mum followed them to the front door.

“EEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWW!” the wail was really loud now,

As the straggly cat kept trying to poke it's head through the railings.

Wolfie put the saucer down and Felix filled it with water.

“We mustn’t encourage it” said Mum

“Remember we’re going on holiday on Saturday.”

Felix pushed the saucer under the gate.

The cat lapped up the water quickly,

“See, I told you it was thirsty.” said Wolfe,

Shaking her head at Mum.

Felix had a quick look at it's collar.

It was old and worn and without a name.

He then waited for the cat to finish,

While Mum went inside,

And Wolfie continued to peer out through the letterbox.

“There’s nothing on it's collar, Mum.” Felix pointed out.

Mum was in a quandary, what to do?

She was on her own now and had enough responsibilities,

With the kids, the house and work.

So she decided she’d call Iris, their adopted Granny,

Who lived in the next street.

She was good with animals.

Mum had grown up in boarding schools, with little experience of pets.

And Dad had been allergic to fur,

So while they were together, they couldn’t have a cat or dog.

They did have a goldfish called Bert but he kept dying.

Mum would come down in the morning,

To find him doing a ghostly back stroke

On the surface of his fishbowl.

She’d quickly nudge him with a spoon

Before the kids came in for breakfast,

So it looked like he was swimming.

Then on the way back from school Mum would buy another Bert.

She did this 3 times, until Felix spotted Bert was a very different colour,

So she had to confess that Bert the first, second and third had all died.

Next they bought a gerbil called Frances,

But they didn’t have much luck with her either.

She developed a hernia from going Olympic on her treadmill.

This upset the kids who didn’t like touching the wiggly intestine

Sticking out of her tummy.

The vet said she could operate but as Frances was in good spirits

It might be better not to as there could be complications.

So in the end Frances went to live with Iris.

Mum called a halt to pets after that.

Since she always seemed to be the one looking after them,

As Dad would have a sneezing fit if asked to clean out the cage.

So Mum called Iris for advice,

“I’m not sure what to do, Iris,

This cat is wailing away outside but it has a collar,

So it must belong to someone.

And we are going to Dorset on Saturday,

Sure you don’t want to come? `’

It was growing dark and the wailing was quieter now.

‘Supper, kids’.

After her chat with Iris, Mum outlined a plan.

“If the cat is there tomorrow when you get back from school,

Then we can take it to the Cat Refuge on Saturday morning

It’s on the way to the coast and Iris has a dog box we can use.”

The Cat was outside the gate the next morning as they set off for school.

“I can ask the neighbours, see if they know who it belongs to.”

Mum suggested, looking down at their worried faces.

“It’s lost, Mum.’ they cried in unison.

“Ok, I can give it some food and call the RSPCA” she added,

Trying to reassure them.

Saturday morning came and there was the cat at the gate, wailing,

The kids gave it some cat food while Mum packed up the car.

Iris came round with the dog box so Mum packed up the Cat too.

Iris was pretty sure the Cat was a female.

The kids took their raincoats and wellies,

As they spent most of the time on the beach,

And it was usually raining.

One good thing was that the Cat had distracted them a little 

From missing Dad.

They took it in turns in the back of the car to pet her through the grill.

“I did ask the neighbours, but no-one knew her.”

Mum shared as they drove out of town.

It was hard to talk with the continual EEEEEEEOOOOOWWWing.

“I called the RSPCA but no-one had reported her missing.

Since there is no name or phone number.

We’re doing the best thing,

You’re probably right, Wolfie, she must be lost.”

“I told you Mum.” Wolfie mumbled,

Her mouth full of peanut butter sandwich.

She offered some to the Cat but she wasn’t partial.

So they dropped her off at the Cat Refuge

Before heading down to the Coast.

It rained most of the week.

The cloud of Dad sadness hung over the holiday too,

But the kids were distracted talking about the Cat…

Mum had a think, she realised that they could have a cat now

And maybe it might fill a little of that sad space Dad had left.

It was a lot for her to manage on her own,

But if it helped them feel less sad, then it was worth it.

So on the ride home Mum broached the subject.

“Kids, would you like a kitten?

Or we could go past the Refuge and see if the Cat is still there.”

“We must get the Cat, Mum.” the kids cried in unison,

Without a moment’s hesitation.

Mum was very proud of them.

They hadn’t been tempted by the idea of a sweet little kitten.

They were loyal to the Cat.

“Can we call her Strokie?” asked Wolfie

“That’s a good name.” agreed Mum.

“Well, I like Michaelangelo!” argued Felix,

After his favourite Ninja Turtle.

“That’s a bit long darling, imagine calling that in our street.”

In the end Felix gave in and Strokie was named.

“Please don’t get your hopes up though.” cautioned Mum,

Her owner may have already picked her up.”

But when they stopped outside the Refuge,

They could hear some very loud wailing coming from inside.

“I don’t think so.’” laughed Felix.

The kids ran in and Felix asked the volunteer,

“Do you remember that Cat we brought in last week?

Is she still here?”

“OH YES!” laughed the volunteer, “Can’t you hear her.”

And sure enough her EEEEOOOOWWW was the loudest wail of all.

The Vet at the shelter had checked Strokie out.

And declared her in pretty good health for an abandoned cat.

It turned out she was indeed a female,

And had already been neutered.

She was between 3-4 years old,

So the same age as Wolfie.

Mum duly filled out the paperwork,

And then they very happily took her home.

Strokie soon settled in with the family.

Mum was a little worried that she might scratch Wolfie.

“Darling, you really mustn’t pull her around,” Mum explained.

Felix agreed “No, she won’t like that.”

Wolfie only wanted to give her a hug,

But after Strokie gave her a swift paw pat on the cheek,

Wolfie soon learnt not to squeeze her too hard.

First, Strokie slept on Wolfie’s bed,

But Wolfie was a such a kicker.

Strokie usually ended up on the floor

Then she’d go and find sanctuary in Felix’s bed.

Until Felix stretched out his legs,

And Strokie would be swept onto the floor again.

Strokie soon learnt the safest place to sleep was on the pillow.

So Wolfie often woke up with a mouth full of fur.

The kids would go and stay with Dad most week-ends.

Strokie missed them but enjoyed the choice of beds to stretch out on.

Strokie quickly became the 4th member of the household.

Her presence slowly began to heal some of the kids sadness,

And dissolve a little of that cloud that had hung over the house.

She was so full of distractions and forever wanting attention,

That she kept them all very busy, attending to her needs.

Besides being a cat of many colours

Strokie also turned out to be a cat of many moods…

She loved ACTING!

One morning she was sitting outside on their front garden wall, wailing.

Her version of Opera… ‘Oh Sole Mio’ was her favourite,

Well it was fish!

When a worried elderly neighbour stopped,

“Are you hungry, dear?”

Haven’t they fed you?

POOR kitty cat!”

Strokie put her paw up plaintively,

With an appropriate ‘Paw Me’ expression.

So without more ado the old lady went over to the chip shop

And spent her hard earned pension on a tasty piece of plaice,

Returning with it wrapped in newspaper.

Strokie rubbed up against the old lady, very excited as she smelt the fish.

But just then Mum opened the front door.

“Strokie, what are you doing?” Mum asked.

“Your poor cat!” scolded the old lady,

“You haven’t been feeding her.”

Yes, I have,” replied Mum,

“She had a bowl of cat food an hour ago.

Oh dear, did you buy her some fish?”.

“Yes, I felt sorry for her.”

“Strokie, that’s very naughty” said Mum crossly.

“Please do keep it.

Have it for your tea.

She really doesn’t need it.”

Mum picked up Strokie, who looked longingly back at the fish.

“Really Strokie!” admonished Mum, carrying her inside.

“You need to remember you’re not a street cat anymore.”

Other days she would be in her FRISKY mood,

Then she would slip and slide up and down

Along the corridor floor,

Before rolling herself up in the rag carpet.

Only to yowl loudly

When she got stuck and couldn’t get out.

She also liked to play hide and seek,

Her favourite HIDE was in the airing cupboard,

She’d nestle down into the clean towels, at the back above the boiler.

And fall asleep, twitching a little before snoring gently.

She got quite cross when Mum found her,

Looking for the tea towels.

Then there were her NEEDY days,

When she would wander round the house

Like an abandoned orphan,

Remembering her past life, feeling all forlorn.

Wailing loudly as she kneaded Wolfie’s pillow with her claws.

Wolfie only had a half day of school,

So Strokie would lie on her carpet after lunch,

As Wolfie tried to distract her by playing cooking with her and Fudgy Bear,

Strokie did attempt to eat the mashed potatoes and peas

But wasn’t impressed when it turned out to be plastic!

Especially if Mum had forgotten to add some dried cat biscuits,

To keep her interested.

When Felix got home at 4pm, Strokie would circle round his legs, yowling,

Following him into the kitchen as Felix raided the fridge.

Felix would make a bowl of cinnamon crunch and carry it upstairs,

With the needy Strokie tucked under his arm, eyeing his cereal.

(Hopefully, it's not plastic this time!)

Strokie was so full of contradictions,

One minute she was the biggest scaredy cat,

Frightened of her own shadow, or some tiny sparrow.

The next moment she was in HUNTER mode.

And would sit on the fence in the garden,

Before leaping off as she tried to catch a passing blackbird.

The blackbirds had made their nest in the jasmine bush, 

Above the back door.

Mother and Father blackbird were very proud of their 3 little chicks,

And flew tirelessly back and forth searching for juicy worms for them.

Strokie almost caught Mother blackbird once,

On one of her feeding missions,

As her wings drooped from exhaustion.

So Mum had to keep Strokie indoors to avoid any bloodshed.

Then all Strokie could do was sit at the kitchen window

With her head moving to and fro, and her tail flicking,

Watching with great frustration as the blackbirds flew past.

Mum did her best to protect the chicks

Who as they grew bigger started to practise their flying,

Which was more of a frantic flutter,

Then a Big Plop onto the terrace below.

Mum would quickly run out and pick them up,

Putting them safely back into their nest,

Saving them from the menacing Mister Tom cat next door.

Poor Mother and Father Blackbird had big rings under their eyes,

From sleepless nights and busy days searching for food.

Parenthood was really taking it's toll.

Unfortunately, Mum worked and couldn’t guard the babies 24/7.

So the foolhardy chicks continued to practice their big plops,

And were very sadly soon eaten by Mister Tom.

Mum was so upset, she really felt for the poor parents.

The frustrated Strokie in the meantime

Had decided to find another hunting ground.

So she would sit on Felix’s windowsill

Which overlooked the garden,

And watch the chubby wood pigeons as they flew by.

Normally the window was shut,

But this afternoon Felix had opened it,

Returning only just in time

As Strokie launched herself out of the window

To catch this particularly juicy pigeon.

Luckily Felix managed to grab her from behind,

To stop her falling out of the window.

Then Uncle George came to stay,

As he had a couple of meetings in town.

The family were off to the coast for a holiday,

So George offered to look after Strokie.

How hard could it be?

Mum wasn’t sure, but he insisted,

And as Iris fancied some sea air,

It meant that she could go too.

So it was agreed, George would babysit Strokie.

Little did they know that Strokie had decided

It was time for her NINJA mood.

George had let her out into the back garden for a pee,

But when he tried to get her to come back in,

She just stared at him,

With a “WHO are YOU to tell me what to do?” expression.

And thinking George looked like an easy human to fool.

She decided why not for fun, to make a run for it.

George had to go to his meeting.

And when he returned it was getting dark,

There was no sign of Strokie.

He looked everywhere,

In the garden

In the street

Under cars

Calling “Strokie… Strokie,”

He felt like such an idiot.

But there was still no sign of her.

They didn’t have a cat flap,

As Mister Tom had a reputation for muscling his way in

Through other neighbours cat flaps.

And Strokie was a bit of a wimp

When it came to defending her territory.

George knew how important this 4th member of the household was.

And was sweating at the thought of having to tell his sister he’d lost her.

Then the doorbell rang.

It was their neighbour Cassie, she didn’t look happy.

“Are you looking for Strokie?” she asked shortly

“Yes” said George.

“Come with me.”

So George followed her into her house,

Then upstairs into her daughter Lizzy’s bedroom.

Where to his great horror he saw the floor strewn with flapping fish.

“Look under the bed”. directed Cassie

George looked down and there in the dim light he could see

Strokie looking wide eyed, the very picture of innocence,

Except for a tell-tale wet arm!

Strokie had fancied some fresh fish for tea

And so ninja style she had climbed through Cassie’s window

And raided Lizzie’s fish tank,

Swiftly flipping out the fish with her arm.

But then to George’s even greater horror,

The flapping suddenly stopped,

And there were now 7 dead fish lying on the carpet.

“She won’t be home until 6.30.” said Cassie

Giving him directions to the local pet shop.

So George took the soggy cat home.

Giving her a good telling off.

“That was really naughty, Strokie, catching Lizzie’s fish!”

Strokie just looked up at him, with innocent eyes,

“Who me?” she yowled.

George managed to buy 7 pet fish before Lizzie returned,

Despite struggling to remember their different colours.

Cassie put them back in the tank.

Lizzie was tired when she got home,

So didn’t notice anything that night.

But the next morning she called Cassie,

“Mum, Bubbles has changed colour!”

“I think they can do that sometimes,” replied Cassie, trying to look casual,

“Bit like chameleons…”

George wouldn’t let Strokie out of the house after that,

Until his sister and the kids returned.

He and his wife had been thinking of having children,

But if this is what it was like, looking after one cat,

No, thank you! Kids would have to wait!

Sometimes Felix and Wolfie would take Iris’s dogs to the park on a lead.

Which gave Wolfie the idea that she’d like to take Strokie too.

Iris thought it might be fun,

So she bought Strokie a cat lead.

Wolfie was very excited.

Felix wasn’t so sure.

They put the collar on,

Wolfie proudly walked out the front door with Felix following.

But Strokie wasn’t having any of it.

As soon as Wolfie tried to lead her out of the gate

Strokie went on strike.

She placed her bottom firmly on the door mat.

And would not budge.

So only the mat moved,

And Wolfie found herself pulling the front door mat

Like a tobogganing tray along the street as Strokie clung on.

“Darling you cant take the mat too.” said Mum, removing it.

Wolfie had another go at leading Strokie

But the cat just pirouetted round like a prima ballerina

Getting herself twisted up so many times

She nearly pulled Wolfie over.

“This isn’t going to work, Wolfie.”

Felix said, looking at the spinning cat.

“Strokie doesn’t want to go,

“I told you she wouldn’t like it.”

And shaking his head he went back inside.

Poor Wolfie was very upset.

“Come on Darling, I think we better take her in.” said Mum

“Why not practice in the house or garden first,

Until she gets used to it?”

Vainly attempting to soften Wolfie’s disappointment.

But Strokie never did get used to it.

So Wolfie ended up leading Fudgy round the garden instead.

Sometimes Wolfie would put on plays with her friend Sybil,

It involved a lot of dressing up in magical cloaks,

(Mainly Mum’s blankets!)

The performance was held in the sitting room.

Mum would watch in between making supper,

While Felix pleaded homework.

So Iris would come round and play audience,

With Strokie sitting happily on her lap,

Until the plot became too confusing,

And Strokie fell asleep,

Only to be woken by Iris’s appreciative claps.

Then one day Mum let Strokie out into the garden,

Usually, she was soon yowling at the back door.

But this time,

Nothing.

Mum called for her first in the garden, then in the street.

But there was no sign of her.

And she had to go to work.

By the evening Mum was getting worried.

The kids ran up and down outside the house,

Calling her name.

But there wasn’t even the whisper of a Yowl.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be back in the morning,” reassured Mum.

The kids didn’t look hopeful.

“Maybe she’s lost, Mum”, said Wolfie woefully.

“Like she was when we found her.”

“She has her collar now, darling,

With her name tag and our phone number.

So if someone finds her, they’ll call us.

I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

The kids returned from school.

But no sign of Strokie.

After 3 days, still nothing.

Mum called the RSPCA but no-one had brought her in.

So she and Iris put up missing posters in the street.

The Kids were very upset.

It was 6 days now.

Felix was old enough to walk around the neighbourhood,

While Wolfie and Iris walked around the park at the end of the road,

Calling her name.

Then neighbour Cassie offered to ask at the local school assembly.

Where she worked part time.

And miracle of miracles, one little girl piped up,

“My Nan says there is a very noisy cat down her street.”

Her Nan turned out to live on Kendall Road

Only a few streets away.

So Mum and Felix walked up and down Kendall Road calling her name.

Nothing.

They were just about to leave

When Felix who was standing next to a skip full of rubbish.

Called Strokie’s name really loudly,

STROKIE!!!!

And whose head should suddenly pop up from under an old mattress

But Strokie yowling at the top of her lungs

As soon as she saw Felix.

(Had she been playing hide and seek? Who knows!)

Wolfie cried for joy when she saw Strokie in Felix’s arms.

But Strokie really needed a bath first.

Then Iris came round, and they had a celebration tea,

With Strokie as hostess.

Mum had bought a posh tin of cat food, much to Strokie’s delight.

And Wolfie found a Xmas cracker hat which Strokie kept trying to pull off.

“We better not make too much fuss of her,” laughed Mum,

Or she might think it’s a good idea to run away again.

To be fair, her name tag, had come off.”

“Sorry Mum,” grinned Felix

“But I don’t think Strokie is the cleverest cat,

She was only 5 mins away from home.”

Wolfie would hear none of it.

“Don’t say that! She’s a Super cat!”

Strokie agreed, yowling loudly,

Delighted by all the fuss.

And they all burst out laughing.

Mum already knew how important Strokie was for the family,

She was like a love transfusion for them all,

To cuddle with, give hugs to, and laugh at all her skittish ways.

But now she realised this cat was more like a love glue

That really helped keep the family together.

In the winter months, they had a little gas fire in the sitting room,

Which Mum lit and then put a fire guard around.

It didn’t give out much heat,

So Strokie would sit very close and when no one was looking

She’d try and slip inside the fireguard to get warmer.

Until the time, when like Icarus, she got too close,

And set the tip of her tail on fire.

Wolfie quickly poured her water on it,

As Felix rolled the tail in a damp cloth.

While Mum rubbed lavender and aloe on it to heal the burn.

Strokie yowled a lot as she licked it better,

Especially as lavender was not her favourite flavour.

Luckily it had only singed the fur,

But she wore her ‘Paw me’ expression for several weeks.

Life went on, the kids were growing up,

While Strokie was growing older

She was almost 13 years now.

Mum had noticed that her left eye wasn’t looking quite right.

So she took her to the vet.

It wasn’t good news…

“It looks like she has a tumour in her left eye.” said the Vet,

We won’t know what it is until we operate.”

Mum agreed to the operation as the vet said it was the only option.

Mum was dreading telling the kids,

So she stopped in to share the news with Iris.

“The vet says because of her early life on the street,

She’s not very strong.” Mum said tearfully.

“Don’t worry,” said Iris always the optimist.

“She’ll pull through.”

Mum called the surgery that afternoon,

Before going to pick up the kids from school.

The Vet said the operation went well,

They’d caught it early.

And she could pick her up the next day.

“What’s the matter Mum?”, asked Felix

When he saw her expression.

“It’s Strokie, she’s had an operation on her eye.”

Wolfie burst into tears,

“Will she die, Mum?”

“No darling, the Vet said it went well.”

Giving her a hug.

Strokie returned home with a black patch over her eye.

“She looks like Burglar Bill” said Wolfie.

Giving her a cuddle.

“Be gentle darling. Careful of her stitches.”

Everyone made a big fuss of her,

Mum got her favourite food.

Strokie loved all the extra strokes and cuddles.

Her only problem was her balance wasn’t that good anymore.

Normally she would sit on the fence between the gardens,

And if any bird came past she would launch herself into the air.

But now she was far too wobbly

And kept falling off Into Mum’s lavender bush

This was good news for the birds.

But not good news for Strokie or the lavender.

Life was changing for the family.

Felix was 18 and planning to travel abroad,

Wolfie was a teenager now,

And getting more adventurous.

The house was filled with her sleepovers.

Strokie instead, was becoming less adventurous,

As she began to wind down.

She would sleep on the sofa or the kitchen chair.

Not wishing to share her pillow with several wild girls...

She still loved her cuddles,

But apart from odd acts of rebellion

Like shredding the sofa arm to sharpen her claws.

She seemed to have withdrawn more and more,

Into her own private world.

Then came the day Mum had been dreading.

Strokie no longer skidded on the carpet,

Chased the blackbirds,

Stole the neighbour’s fish,

Now she slept more and more and ate less and less.

She was nearly 15.

Then one day she slipped quietly away.

This wonderful, noisy, needy, frisky, skittish, ninja, hunter cat,

Drew her last breath.

Wolfie, Felix, Mum and Iris were so upset,

Strokie had been so much loved by all of them, in their different ways.

No one underestimated how much this abandoned tortoiseshell cat,

Had become such a wonderful source of love and companionship 

For them all,

And though this story may start and end with some sadness,

Strokie had brought so much fun, joy and laughter with her crazy ways,

For those ten hilarious years of her life in between.

“Rest in Peace, dear Strokie,” said Mum,

“Thank you for choosing our family.”

For there was absolutely no doubt,

That this wonderfully eccentric cat had most definitely CHOSEN them.

For Wolfie, Strokie was a cat of many lives and contradictions.

An endless source of unconditional love and warmth.

The purrfect playmate, a kindred spirit and a cosy comfort blanket.

For Felix, Strokie was a source of love and unexpected comedy,

An agent of positive chaos in their lives.

An eccentric delight who made every day a bit richer.

And for dear kind Iris, Strokie was a much loved part time companion.

As they both generously gave their very much needed,

And very much appreciated love and warmth to the family.

“Thank you dear Strokie, for all your wonderful love.

Thank you for enriching our lives,

We know you are watching over us.

From cat heaven.”

Hmm, was that the wind in the trees

Or a faint whisper of an answering eeeeeoooowwww!?

For if Strokie could speak human,

She would definitely say ‘Thank You’ too.

For this abandoned cat who had not had the best start in life,

Had found a wonderfully cosy home with a family

Who gave her lots of love, cuddles and food,

And always kept her feeling safe.

So “Thank eeeeeeee you ooooooo wwwwww! “