Tigger and Moses

A story of a pair of cats that have resided at Chichester Cattery

Mrs Appleton sent in this photo and story about Tigger and Moses.

“Moses came to Chichester Cattery for the first time in the spring of last year. He and his big brother Tigger seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, coming home confident, devoted and, as always with Tigger, a little surprised.

Moses came to live with us in August 2000, a snap decision, made a few hours before I collected him, or knew anything about him, apart from the fact he desperately needed a safe home in which to live, urgently. Tigger, my other ginger cat must have been very lonely, having lost his best live-in cat friend in a road accident a few years ago. He fell in love instantly with a very scruffy, underweight, flea ridden and un-groomed Mosey, and they have been inseparable from the start.

For the first three days I kept them physically apart but they could stare, talk and tenderly hiss at one another through the green wire garden composter that fitted perfectly between a dividing door. In the evenings Mosey would be placed in a cat basket and the two of them would doze beside each other on the garden table for an hour, idly watching shrews. Tigger always stayed close by giving him moral support, and by the end of the week they went everywhere together, Tigger keeping a watchful eye on him for me whenever the went out to play. I think we were lucky. It was a correct blend of personalities all round.

The crunch would come when they had to spend a holiday together. A true test for any relationship. What they actually got up to in the cattery I have no idea! But they were sitting sweetly on the day of collection without a care in the world. Tigger always gets the runs in the car, and he excelled himself on that day. But within an hour of arrival home this photo was taken of them.

It is always much harder for us to go away and leave them, than it is for our cats to go away for a holiday at Chichester Cattery. The change obviously does them good as well.”