As Promised a few of pictures of our dear long departed friends, Tibby and Fluffy.

As you can see from the litter picture they were brother and sister but soon separated when we adopted Tibby the tabby. We had him for about six months when we learned the little tux' cat was about to dropped into the fast lane of the local motorway by the piece of human drek who took her in and proceeded to use her as a football until he got fed up of her.

We weren't having that so took her in thinking that Mr Tibby would welcome his sister with open paws....WRONG!!!

The phrase, "fighting like two Kilkenny cats" does not do it justice as every night was fight night and horribly so.

It came to a head one evening when we both decided the little tux' would have to go no matter how heartbreaking and the tabby could stay as he was first in line.

What transpired next is true on my mothers life and yes I know we tend towards anthropomorphising our little bundles of fur, but the following did occur and to this day I have no explanation for it.

Tibby came into the front room and sprawled himself on the rug in front of the fire, as was his wont, followed by Fluffy who laid down on the rug inside of him whilst he proceeded to groom her!

Over the following week they both displayed nothing short of outright love and affection for each other, which lasted till the end of their days, and grew closer than one could imagine.

Temperament wise Tibby was the bruiser with a big fist and very little brain and Fluffy? My god was she the brains of the outfit!

A small example I recall with much fondness was one when Tibby was perched in the comfy chair Sphinx like and pleased with himself becoming a bit put out when Fluffy decided she would like to join him.

Nooo nooo nooo said the big tabby whilst fending her off with a firm yet gentle paw, my chair dear heart my chair.

Not to be outdone, Fluffy then goes over to the small book shelf and makes out their is something underneath, by pawing and growling at the space underneath. Mr Tabby at this point, his interest piqued, proceeds over to said book case, paws Fluffy out of the way and continues the hunt.

Very slowly but with much method Fluffy slinks off to behind the comfy chair, climbs up the back of it, ensconces herself on the nice warm bit courtesy of Tibby then begins to groom herself whilst giving old fleabag the most condescending look ever!

For the rest of their time with us she displayed tricks such as this many times over leaving the poor tabby mightily bewildered more often than not.

The pictures are of the litter when they first came into the world, another is of the side by side position they often adopted in front of the fire before settling down in front of it and lastly one that breaks my heart even now is when Fluffy became quite ill and took to a box in front of the kitchen heater for some respite only for Tibby to climb into the box and hold her for the rest of the day.

I feel choked up just remembering it so perhaps it's best left in the past which is a different country apparently, a wise man once said.