It is becoming a regular thing.
Between seven and eight in the evening the little black flash with white hairs in his ears trots in to the kitchen and after a quick munch, heads for the chair by the fire–which I happen to be occupying.
He nuzzles his way up between my left trousered leg and the arm of the chair, tries out various positions located in or around my lap, and finally settles himself.
It’s impossible not to stroke this beautiful ball of shining black fur that’s snuggling down so close and contentedly. Gentle stroking elicits a deafening purr.
The kitten has landed and expanded.
Shadow–the name bestowed on him by brother, Jack, who spotted how he would “shadow” the older cats–has filled out. Kitten–no longer!
He turned up one evening last August. We were alerted to a faint high-pitched mewing.
It seemed to be coming from the edge of the field that runs down to the road that passes by our driveway.
We waited and watched.
A little face peeked through the undergrowth.
Meredith called him and left food–but he retreated when she approached.
Clearly abandoned by someone who knows this to be a cat friendly house–it is not the first time this has happened–they left him with nothing but an instinct for survival and a spirit strong enough to take two steps forward, one back if necessary.
He playied grandmother’s footsteps without knowing it for days. Something told him to press on, persevere. His stomach most like.
Even as he crept closer, the pitiful mewing continued.
The other cats were in the picture and tolerant; he showed no fear of them–it was us he wasn’t sure of; one of our kind abandoned him, after all.
Midnight shows Shadow the perks of life at St Martin
It took weeks for him to accept the outstretched hand.
That early caution is gone now.
“For the birds,” he cries as he stalks them–showing a less agreeable instinct to be alive and active. So now wears a red collar with a little warning bell attached.
Now It’s more like: “Here I am! What’s for supper?”
He’s the lowest on a totem of six so has no shortage of examples to follow.
That’s the new kid up in the right hand corner while the elders dominate the chairs.
Our cats are some of the best fed on the planet and have developed a certain air of entitlement –which he has had no trouble adopting.
He is a curious youngster–cats have that reputation. Usually their fabled nine lives allows them to survive any unwise delvings.
Meredith tells me he is intrigued by the cat videos that are legion on the Internet.
I was watching TV the other night with him beside me when he jumped up on the arm of the sofa beside the TV set and began a forensic examination of the moving image. Puzzled by the glass barrier that was preventing him touching the seal that he was seeing.
Last night on our way to bed Meredith opens the front door to corral the cats indoors and finds a black cat convention in full swing.
Midnight, Blackie and Ben are sitting around in the courtyard, no doubt discussing how Brexit will impact their lives.
A heavy padding down the stairs announces Shadow. Keen not to miss out, he heads for the front door lengthening his body in a stretching movement to pass through the door and insinuate himself into the group, in one remarkable movement.
He “fell into the butterdish” here.
We feel happy that he’s joined our group–no insinuating movement needed.
We love him.
❤️❤️
Robin Ellis 
To Robin Ellis. Having just read your interesting tale about your cats, including the latest arrival back in August. It reminds me very much of our house over the years.. There are always people who move house but do not think it necessary to take their cats with them and somehow, they always seem to head for our door, where instinct tells them, there is a welcome home here . We have also adopted a number of lovely Catherine years and it sounds as if your h k me is the same, lovely. I would just like to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year., Jill.
Thanks, Jill and the same to you.
Gorgeous. I had one similar to Shadow, Merlin was his name. His habit was to sit in my lap with his paws up on my chest, whilst being stroked. If i stopped for any reason, he would gently reach his head up and nip me on the chin! ‘Back to work, human!’
A lovely cat rescue story! All of our cats have been rescues, mostly from people dumping the poor babies on our rural road.
I love the cat stories that you and Meredith share with us and the butter dish your rescues fall into is very large, indeed. I had to put down my beloved cat last August after 18 years of laughs, exasperation, and love, and I am just starting to think about my next cat. For me, choosing the next will be difficult, as my Neige is a hard act to follow. Shadow, Ben, and your others chose so well, or at least, luckily. I do wish my next one would figuratively walk into my garden and be the chooser—a fait accompli, so to speak.
Thank you. I needed that delightful story today.
What a lovely story. Every sentence oozes the love you feel for your cats. And they must feel it too, otherwise they would look for a different home. I accept strays, but my cat Aimee doesn’t. It’s her house and her human. In the evening, as I watch EastEnders, she comes down (I’m sure she recognises the tune) and jumps on my lap, and then crawls up to my shoulder. She used to do this as a kitten, but now she’s 10…….
I’m wishing you and Meredith a Happy New Year from the Netherlands, Mr Ellis.
Nel
Thanks and the same to you, Nel.
Wonderful! This has cheered me up no end! I love black cats.
How wonderful for Shadow that he has a proper home. Glad he has a bell collar – my collarless cat caught four finches this year and released them in the house for me to rescue. Admonishment does not work with cats.
May God bless you and Mrs. Ellis and your family this coming year.
Thanks, Alix.
Lovely story!
Congratulations on earning his trust and on the new arrival in your family. He is beautiful and must be very happy to be part of the group.
My father had a reputation for taking in stray dogs. In a small town without shelters, he took them in.
My dog Emma is an adoptee and she is much adored.
Happy New Year to you, to Meredith and to the cats.
And you, Marla.
HAVE. 8 ALL ABANDONED AS KITTENS THREE BLACK THE SWEETEST. MY FIRST BLACK CAT I NED HENRY SINCE HENRU PURCELL ONE OF MY FAVORITE. COMPOSERS HAVE FOUND MY BLACK CATS WERE WERE EASIEST OF ALL TO ASSOCIATE WITH MY OTHER HAIRY EMPLOYERS MUCH LOVE. AND PURRS TO UR SHADOW FROM BROOKLYN NY AND ALWAYS REMEMBER “DOGS HAVE OWNERS CATS HAVE STAFF”
CLAIRE AM REMINDED THIS EVERY DAY..
P S. YOUR SHADOW INTRIGUED BY CAT VIDEOS. MY ELEANOR WOULD SIT ON COFFEE TABLE LIKE THE SPHINX AND WATCH ONLY OPRAH. ONLY OPRAH
MY BELOVED ELEANOR WAS ALSO A BLACK CAT WHO SANG LIKE BILLIE HOLIDAY THROUGHOUT DAY
Delighted this kitten has found love. ❤️
Sent from my iPhone
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Lovely story, and congrats to lucky little Shadow for finding a great home!
The newcomer looks like my dear black cat (with white hair in his ears too) Flash, named because he is so swift. Flash is 2 1/2 years old and came to me after he was found as a starving kitten in a garage that had been locked for three days. He’s great company, as I am now alone!
Happy 2020 ro you all.
Dearest Robin, you are a delightful wordsmith. I suggest you set upon the task of writing a cat book, complete with Meredith’s photographs, that would contain tidbits and bits and bobs of the adventures of your furbabies. Serious about this!
I have two rescues, Winston who turns out to be a large Snowshoe mixed breed with blue eyes. Hannah is his, non-stop, companion. Many of our precious babies have gone over the Rainbow Bridge and are dearly missed.
Wishing you and Meredith a very Happy New Year filled with peace and hope.
Thank you–and the same to you, Charlotte.
Smiling…though I’m not a cat person, I *am* a person who loves tales of bravery, perseverance, trust, connection, companionship, joy – which this certainly is. You and the creatures living ’round you, Robin and Meredith, are mutually blessed, yes?! Thank you for this morning’s smile – which will last all day! Best blessings to all of you in this new year. Celeste
And to you, Celeste.
Hi Robin,
This post made me want to come and live as a cat with you and Meredith – alas, my allergies would not allow it. Your beautiful home is obviously a safe haven (or is it heaven) for these lucky lovely cats. Hope you are both enjoying the holiday season with good health and good cheer. Izzy and I send love and wishes for a wonderful 2020.
xxooRandi
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hi Randy!
Same to you and Izzy.
Very happy memories of our stay with you in Santa Fe.
Shadow sends his best–he’s on my lap!
A stray once adopted us. Hubby was adamant, no animals in the house. Guess who eventually ended up with a lap full of cat every night? They know exactly how to worm their way onto our laps and into our hearts, don’t they?
Smart kitty! You are being manipulated. (Isn’t it grand? All you have to do is feed and shelter, and you get a lapful of silky black fur in return.)
lovely … humans owned by their cats are the best!
Lovely!
A sweet story. Your kitties are blessed to be living in such a caring and loving home. Happy New Year to you all.
Thanks, Sandy.
So glad that your blog is back. My “Domino”, aka Kitty Girl, is black and white and has been with me for five years I think. She was a stray I took in but someone had loved her enough to spay and microchip her which was discovered when I took her to Paws, in Taylor, Michigan after having her for about six months. My first cat, Tabby Cat, also a stray, was FIV positive but we had almost two years together. Have you and Meredith read “The Lion in the
Living Room”? It is fascinating-you’ll love it. Happy New Year to all of you!
Thank you Maureen–likewise.
He is a lucky black cat to have wandered into your lives Happy New Year to you Meredith and your extended drone family Brenda Wx
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Thanks Brenda and the same to you.
Hello, Robin and Meredith. My name is Doug Peake. I live in Park City, Utah. I greatly enjoy reading about your lives in France and your cats. I have six cats, myself. Two of them are black and white tuxedoes.
I look forward to your next posting. Thank you.
To introduce myself, this is me >>> https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07BRW2D23?ref_=pe_1724030_132998070
Doug Peake
Grpund Squirrel Entertainment
dougpeake120@gmail.com
Hello Robin and Meredith Lovely to read about Shadow your lovely kitten.
Shadow and all cats smell and sense Loving homes!
First Kitten in my life when was 5 was a black cat with a white tuxedo chest born in neighbour Eleanor garden shed. Given to mum Audrey as she had cats before.
We have fostered for the cats protection for three years a lot feral and cats needing homes,
Our friend Dave has two black cats .
Thank you for your post
Sweet! Love hearing this about the cats.
So pleased for you both and Shadow. I too adore black cats, I have three black and six others. Also have a Midnight, and in the past a Ben, I sponsor a Midnight in Romania who I would dearly love to bring over here but husband says nine cats are enough, we also have two large dogs. I did rather land each one my husband Alan saying we were collecting one when it was three. The last one was a tiny black kitten I named Belinda which was the name of my very first kitten when I was around 10 who was also black. She arrived on my 70th birthday last December. You and Meredith sound like the author Derek Tangye who lived in a tiny cottage called Minack near Lamorna in Cornwall, with his wife Jeannie. All of their cats found them. I met him and had teas with him about three years before he died.
Have a great 2010 all good wishes – Thelma x
What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing all your kitty tales!!
What’s not to love! Our most recent pet is also a cat we’ve named Shadow. Finding him as a kitten trying to eat bird seed out of a feeder it was clear he was abandoned and starving. It still took a little while to coax him to trust us, but he, too, is very entitled at this point. Your cat family is beautiful and I’m envious of the space you have to offer them. If our dog will relax and make friends with our new little “invader” perhaps we can expand our family in time. 🙂
We gave a new black kitten too. His name is Alex, and we have a red collar on him! He likes watching TV too!
Hello Robin and Meredith, After reading your delightful post about your feline family, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from one of America’s finest writers, Mark Twain (real name Samuel Clemens) “A home without a cat — and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat — may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title?”
Thanks so much for loving and caring for those precious cats. I love them all and if I could I would take them all, but I can’t. Loved reading this post and looking at the photos.
I love his interest in the TV. Way back in the day, my kitty Milton was fascinated by the Flying Toasters screen saver. He would try to catch them on the screen and as they flew off the screen he looked for them behind the VDT.
Such smart little critters!!!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of Shadow’s good fortune and yours! This is dangerous for me, though. Any cat rescue story wakes up my Inner Crazy Cat Lady. I have one cat, Elby (for “L.B.” from left behind when his mom moved her litter from my patio and forgot him) who is a tuxedo and now 6 years old and sassy.
So when he came to take over, he’d been born outside and was a little bit freaked out to be in my kitchen unable to leave. He spent the first night mewing, hiding, and hissing when he saw me. The next day it popped into my head to talk to him so I did…I mewed, and he came right to me. I guess he thought that I was some sort of oversized hairless breed of cat, but understood that since I spoke cat, I posed no threat and was probably not going to eat him or do him in.
I had not had a cat for 10 years before him but I just accepted that the Universe was telling me that it was time for me to have another cat. The last cat I’d had before Elby was Aimee, who looked exactly like your wonderful Shadow and also a rescue. If i could manage it, I’d have more cats. They are endlessly fascinating.
As the saying goes (I think Colette said it): “There is no such thing as an ordinary cat.
Lovely story.
They are ALL different.
Such a gentle loving story of a little cat who found a loving home.
Happy New Year Robin and Meredith xx
Thanks, Arlene and to you too.
I’m so glad Shadow has found such a great home! Happy New Year!
Peace, Andrea in the US
Thank you Andrea.
God bless you for giving a home to all the beautiful cats. We had three, sadly down to two.
You’re developing quite a cat-putation in the neighbourhood! Very cute kitty! 🐈🐾
Lovely story. Thank you. We once by chance ended up with 3 black cats. They would sit side-by-side on the sideboard looking out the dining room window. The neighbours thought we were a coven of witches! I hope you have a joy-filled and healthy New Year.
You too, Roxy.
I was wondering if that little one had hung around after the summer! Glad he’s got a good home with you folks. I wonder if he’s related to the other black cats who’ve come your way??
Hope you all enjoy a lovely New Year….and I think there’s a birthday coming up soon, eh? 🙂
Cheers & hugs–
Gene & Dianne
Thanks, Dianne–he’s well settled!
We are blessed.
Same good wishes to you and Gene.
Loved Shadow’s story. For those of you who love cats here are 3 books I recommend:
1. The Silent Miaow: A Manual for Kittens, Strays, and Homeless Cats by Paul Gallico | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/305230.The_Silent_Miaow
2. Uncle Whiskers by Philip Brown | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15728794-uncle-whiskers
Goodreads has no details but there are member reviews.
3. All My Patients are Under the Bed: Memoirs of a Cat Doctor by Louis J. Camuti | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/542736.All_My_Patients_are_Under_the_Bed
I’ve enjoyed “All My Patients Are Under the Bed” and it’s part of my permanent library. Will check out the other two books you recommend. Thanks!