Bye bye Mr Chu

I found Mr Chu, my lovely, huge cat dead in the middle of the kitchen floor during the early hours of the morning. The whole day he had been quiet and subdued and there was no loud mewing for dinner at 7pm. He had spent the whole day curled tight in his bed.

Mr Chu was very fine looking with the most gorgeous big and round green eyes you have ever seen and had a black Zorro-style black mask around his eyes. His fur was so soft and he was soo cuddly and big. He was also very friendly and loved to sit next to you.

We rescued him from the animal shelter. Inside a small cage, he was the longest resident there (around 5 months). His "problem" being that though he was absolutely gorgeous he was a complete loner and hated all other cats - females included.

So he came to live with us in our first house. The first 48 hours saw him hiding in the magazine shelf of a built-in cupboard. Every day he grew braver and braver until eventually he owned us. I remember having a Sunday lunch with guests and everyone looking horrified as he leapt up into the air and brought down a magpie. Mr Chu also never managed to lose his "hobo" roots. His favourite spot for a nap would always be ontop of a pile of newspapers and never a fluffy cushion.

Through the years he kept his dignity even with the arrival of Harvey the crazy Cocker Spaniel and then the arrival of two small, screaming humans.

We love you Mr Chu, with the dicky heart, thank you for being in our lives for the last 8 years.