Heavenly Beverley : Oh, My Giddy Aunt! Chop and Suey Are All Grown Up

Early this year, our very elderly and much beloved apricot, grey and white tabby cat Ruby passed to her final resting place. Wherever cats go. Ruby had become slower and sleepier as she grew to a great age. Due to her galloping blood pressure, she had become blind in one eye. Along with dodgy kidneys (a common affliction in senior cats) and a swaying undercarriage, Ruby continued to live far beyond what we considered to be her age limit. However, one morning we made the decision to end her existence on the planet as she had grown skeletal and weary.

I missed her terribly. Not that she'd really been my cat. Callum was her first love, followed closely by Michael. She had a busy life - a kitten in Karrinyup, moving to Queensland and back again, stints in Marangaroo and the House that Rocks before entering her twilight years at Station House. I really wanted to have another kitten once more.

Our Veterinarian to the Stars, Graeme Penno provided me with a possible solution to my kitten craving. A phlebotomist named Tonya had been caring for feline brothers that she had saved from almost certain death. Four months old in March, she was offering them free of charge. They had been vaccinated and sterilised and had been named Chop (due to his shortened tail) and Fury. I accepted the challenge of becoming their slave with alacrity.

Renamed Chop and Suey, the boys have become an integral part of our household. Pip, our sixteen-year-old Jack Russell tolerates them. Stella has a full time lover in Chop, who adores her and will rub himself enthusiastically on any part of her anatomy. She has responded with confused resignation that this small black and white intruder has taken to her with undying affection. Chop also takes every opportunity to sprawl across the floor, reminding me rather uncomfortably of the Sphinx.

Suey, on the other hand, plays his cards very close to his chest. He has only recently learnt to hold his ground with Stella and is not adverse in giving her the old one-two if she pushes the envelope a tad far. Pure black with startlingly golden eyes, Suey enjoys all of life's luxuries - our bed during the day, the bath mat at night. Suey's true personality is on show whenever either of us sit on the loo when he will appear out of nowhere and demand a body rub, whilst producing a purr that rivals a steam engine.

The boys also enjoy play fighting with each other and have explored the courtyard and beyond. Now responding well to their names, we bring them inside at night so they do not prey on any wildlife. They have also begun appearing on the laneway as we come home from a walk. This was a lifelong trait of Ruby's and I do hope the boys keep this habit too.

Fortunately, like Ruby, they seem content with dry food most of the time. However, totally the opposite to her, they adore wet food so that has become a extra culinary delight now and again. They share the same bowl which makes feeding easy and I have recently discovered that a pair of pottery dishes work well as their water bowls. However, Suey in particular, prefers running water as his ultimate treat, so we usually end up turning on the tap to a trickle if we are in the bathroom or kitchen.

Michael, initially hesitant about the kittens has grown to love them and enjoy their entertainment value. Chop has taken to sleeping in the boudoir with us, along with Stella and Pip, so occasionally the bed is rather crowded at night. He quite likes nibbling Michael's toes if he wiggles them. Suey has only joined us there on very cold nights. He is much more the Cat who walks by Himself.

Stay tuned for the boys' ongoing adventures. They recently turned one. Their coats have remained short and although bigger than Ruby, they are not huge creatures capable of inflicting major injury , they have become Stella's playmates (although Suey is still hesitant) and they have fitted exceeding well into our world. May the boys' lives be long and mischievous.