1982 - 2004
It used to be that if you sat down in Jennie's front room you would soon find that your lap had been occupied by a large, gentle, white and tabby cat. You had met Toby. Toby was not a sponsor cat as his Mum also happened to be Jennie's Mum. His story, though, highlights what cat rescue work can do to help people.
When Toby was 12, his Mum realised she was no longer able to live alone. Like so many elderly people, she was fiercely independent and refused all offers of help from her family. She chose to go in to sheltered accommodation: the good thing was that it was just 2 minutes down the road from Jennie. The only problem: Toby was not allowed to go with her. Toby went to live at PussyCat Lodge where he settled in beautifully. His placid nature made him ever tolerant of the continual arrival of kittens and changing feline faces. Jennie's Mum spent every day at PussyCat Lodge which was wonderful for Toby who loved to see her, but she insisted on going home to her own bed to sleep every night. Towards the end of her life Jennie's Mum finally agreed to come and live with her. She passed away 6 years ago. From the day she moved in with Jennie, Toby slept at the end of his Mum's bed and he was there with her at the end.
Toby with Whinge
In January 1998 Jennie and George (who sadly passed away 4 years ago), having lived together for 29 years, finally decided to tie the knot. The wedding ceremony took place in their home, PussyCat Lodge. I don’t think that anyone who was there will ever forget how Toby walked across the register just as they were about to sign it, leaving behind a couple of muddy paw prints - Jennie's Mum's seal of approval!
Last year Toby returned home with his tail in a terrible state and it looked like it had been shredded. No one will ever know for sure as to what happened. He was rushed to the vets where he had the majority of his tail amputated leaving him with a short stump. It was a very worrying time. At such an age anaesthetics are not administered without some concern. Luckily Toby sailed through his ordeal. Like so many older cats, Toby led a very peaceful life, happy to lie in the sun or by a warm fire or radiator and stay very close to home. At 21 years of age, Toby is the oldest cat at PussyCat Lodge.
Pauline Lake, February 2003
Toby was almost 23 years old when he died making him the oldest resident of PussyCat Lodge ever!
