Cuckoo & Piglet

Cuckoo: Not Known - 1st September 2005 Piglet:  October 1997 - 17th November 2005 Cuckoo, Piglet's special friend, sadly died quietly at Clarendon House yesterday, curled up in a ball as though asleep. He was found by one of Jennie's neighbours in his shed with Piglet outside crying. The neighbour was unable to contact Jennie so took Cuckoo to the vets. He had been there for a few days behaving strangely. The vet believes it was a brain tumor. Cuckoo will be cremated. He did have a long, loved life and experienced a bond with soulmate Piggy that few people ever get to experience. He did not seem to be distressed towards the end. Jacqui Duly & Lauren Grace, August 2005   Sadly, Piglet never got over the death of Cuckoo and she died on 17th November 2005. The following is a message from Jennie: Sad day for me: I lost the 2 & 1/2 month fight to make heartbroken, bewilderd, Piggy feel safe and well and of course loved. She just could not get over the death of her beloved Cuckoo. It's been so heartbreaking. I have done my very best for her, but she just had no will to live without her "other half". I can't begin to tell you how sad I am. She was George's baby, of course, but loved by all who met her, especially dear Cuckoo. Her kidneys failed; her lungs were not well either. Blood tests showed there was no coming back. I cuddled her as she "went to sleep" purring and, I'm sure, dreaming of her darling. Their ashes I shall lovingly place on the grave of dear George. "Together forever now."   Below is Cuckoo & Piglet's original story as it appeared in Sponsor Cats.

Cuckoo with Piglet (Affectionately known as Hinge & Brackett) Though they had very different beginnings, you could not possibly tell one's story without the other. There is an invisible cord joining these two. If ever I see one without the other I go into panic mode and do not relax until the missing one appears. Thankfully that's never a long time. Cuckoo: Approximately 6 years ago, an orphaned tiny pure grey feral kitten was taken to PussyCat Lodge. Luckily for him there was a very obliging ginger Mummy cat who had a litter of four kittens of a similar age and she happily fostered this little orphan and brought him up as one of her own. The little orphan really stood out from his adopted siblings, as they were all ginger, hence Cuckoo got his name. Jennie had recently lost a dearly loved family pet that had looked uncannily like Cuckoo. She decided he must stay. Cuckoo thrived but remained rather timid. As he grew older he preferred to spend much of his time outside living amongst the pampered garden cats. At an early age he lost nearly all his teeth. One that did remain developed in to a long protruding bottom tooth that sticks out over his top lip. Possibly the size is in compensation for the lack of other teeth, it does make him look a bit of a bruiser. Though never a lap cat Cuckoo is certainly very loving and affectionate when he wants to be, usually around meal times! Piglet: Since he had known Jennie, George Hurley had always had a Siamese cat in his life. He adored them. George was dying from that awful disease, cancer. Towards the end of his life all his beloved Siamese had gone due to old age and Jennie was determined to find him another. I particularly remember the time as Jennie had tried a number of breeders with no luck so had asked me to try more, which I did. No luck. Then we realised where we had been going wrong. We would not have homed a kitten to ourselves! We were saying we wanted the kitten for a Christmas present and that the prospective owner did not have long to live as he had terminal cancer. Thanks to one of her many contacts Jennie eventually found a sympathetic breeder who was prepared to listen to the full story and came to do a home visit before giving her approval. Jennie took George along to see a litter of kittens and he immediately fell for Piglet (as she was to become). She was brought to PussyCat Lodge one Saturday afternoon at the beginning of December 1997. George only knew Piglet for 6 months but in that time she gave him hours of pleasure. Better than any TV, George would delight in watching her typically mischievous Siamese antics. As she grew older and bolder Piglet was to be seen less and less in the house. She was forever rushing around in the garden talking to her self in that unique Siamese voice. Then she met Cuckoo, at last she had found someone to talk to. They became inseparable, the very best of friends. Hinge & Brackett: I cannot recall who first named them this but it certainly suits them being the double act they are. Piglet the noisy, bossy one and Cuckoo the strong, silent one. To this day you rarely see one without the other. Though never straying far from home they are constantly busy patrolling what has become their neighbourhood. Neither are lap cats but when one shows a human affection by doing lots of leg rubs, head butts etc the other always joins in. They constantly mirror one another. This pair certainly appears to have the perfect partnership. During the warmer months they adopt Cuckoo's preferred lifestyle, spending much of the time outside in the garden. When not getting up to harmless mischief they are found happily snoozing under one of the many bushes PussyCat Lodge has to offer, no doubt recharging their batteries for their next adventure. As soon as the colder weather arrives Piglet asserts her authority and the devoted pair spend more and more time enjoying the warmth and comfort of Jennie's home. As with all the cats at PussyCat Lodge their happiness and well being is all that matters. It is plain for all to see just happy these two wonderful cats are. The best time to see this adorable pair is early morning. They are always keen to receive lots of fuss and attention before breakfast!