Last gifts to this cat

My diary

FINALLY some DECENT music up here!

Move over Sir Strum-a-lot-out-of-tune (Treat) here is the master of scottish Music extroidinaire! Kittibits ROCKS!

I must say it was touching to see the two brothers reunited, and Kittibits did ...
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About me

My good friend Ben´s Cat had kittens when I was around 7 years old, and I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on Toby. He was sitting in a flowerpot on the porch, for all the world like he owned the place! When we took him home I named him Tobermory after the wombles (Tomsk was named the same) but I only ever remember him being called Toby.

There was nothing really physically special about him, he was just a plain little silver tabby cat, with a cute face and an unusual tail. It was thin as a stick, and remained so throughout his life. When agitated, he would thrash it about like a whip, but I never remember him ever fluffing it out like a loo brush....there just wasn´t the fur on it!

Toby was very special in a spiritual way though, because he thought he was a dog. I was an only child up until 10 years old, and used to go on "adventures" about the farm at Legana, and then later in the bush out the back of our house at Claremont. Toby always insisted on following me on these razzles, and suprised many of my friends with his want to join in.

When we moved to Claremont, I was a little older, and used to jump the back gate and explore the bushland and paddocks that ran on for miles. Toby would trot along beside me and even "help" when I went to the creek to catch tadpoles. He would sit on the log accross the creek, let his thin tail drapse into the water and bat at the ripples with his paws. He had tremendous balance, and I never knew him to fall or slip, even when I climbed up VERY tall trees!

In the days before computers, the local kids would all get together and often go down to the creek, or else across the horse paddocks to the old quarry, the dams up on the hill, or way out to beyond the local school. Toby impressed many of my friends by sticking with us all the way, and they would comment "Look at him, he´s just like a dog!"

Often I would get off the bus from school and he would be at the driveway waiting for me. When I was lonely or sad, he was there and even when I was out about the garden or bouncing on the trampoline he would often sit and watch me.

He was a semi-feral cat in some regards, and his endless quest to roam free could land him in trouble. He would often disappear for days and then come home stuffed full of wild rabbit, and covered in fleas! One day he came home without one of his front fangs! Ever after that, his top lip would get caught up on the bottom fang and he would sneer at people. It did look funny!

As he aged, he became increasingly cantankerous and would often hiss at people when they went to let him out or pick him up. I never really had the problem with this...except on the few occasions he was REALLY grumpy!

By now I was in my late teens, and Toby was an old man. He would still follow me about at home and in the garden though, and I was the only one he would allow to fuss him. He still liked to go off on his own exploring, and it was not uncommon for him to be gone many days.

The death knell came when we had to move house again. This time it was to surburbia, and the wild rambling bushland and paddocks seemed like such a long way away. Toby was only with us at the new house for a week before he ran off.

From our porch you could see the rambling hills far away, and I truly believe that is where he went back to. I used to stand there on the porch in summer and remember all the fun we had running around outside and going on adventures, and I am so happy that I never had the chance to actually see him die, as I don´t know if I could have coped with that. I used to imagine Toby stalking his prey on the hills, and living out his twilight years wild, just as he loved to be.

Tegan is the love of my life now, and it is her who I am on United cats for, but Toby is a cat who deserves this tribute...and if his cantankerous soul comes in to United on occasion when there is a new rainbow kitty...well so be it...but this will be a rare occasion.

I truly believe that Toby has "passed over" but I will always hold a very special place for him in my heart.

Together we romped through the days of my childhood. I will never forget him.

Thanks my Toby xx

Favourite food

Rabbit

Favourite toy

Anything that was alive...mice, rats, rabbits etc

Likes

The great outdoors, being wild, following me on my adventures and with friends, stalking people through the kiwi-fruit bush.

Dislikes

Suburbia, being cooped up, the vet, too much fuss from other people.

What makes me special

He was the most special cat to me, who shared the best years of my childhood, and was the most loyal friend I knew.

My personality

Energy

100%

Intelligence

100%

Friendliness

60%

Playfulness

60%

Activeness

100%

Loyalty

100%