Introducing Cassidy

I thought it was about time I introduced a little someone who’s been mentioned a few times on this blog and who has also been seen a few times on my social media.

Everyone, meet Cassidy.

At the time of writing, Cassidy is 7 months old. She’s a small, compact little cat with a big voice and a sweet personality. I got her at the end of July, on the day I published Otaku Trash. I’ve wanted a cat for ages – ever since I moved into my house 5 years ago – but the circumstances were never right. Then when I came back from my career break, the timing finally felt right. I also felt that I didn’t want to come back from my break and have my life be the same as when I left, so it was the excuse I needed to finally bite the bullet.

I’ve grown up with cats all my life. My parents had a cat called Willow when I was born. He died when I was young, then we got Simpkin, who unfortunately died of cat HIV when he was just 5. While Simpkin was still alive we got Holly, a part Norwegian Forest cat. And after Simpkin died we got Ralph – a black part Persian cat. Holly and Ralph passed away in 2013, within only a few weeks of each other from kidney failure. Then in 2014, my parents got Lulu and Percy.

Now, I have Cassidy.

We’ve always got our cats as kittens, and with Cassidy I wanted to do the same. I love watching kittens grow into cats. It’s my favourite part of the process, watching them develop into their adult selves, both physically and emotionally. Cassidy was not the easiest of kittens – the first night she cried all night long at having being taken away from her family, and then after a couple of rounds of bottom problems, it turned out she had a parasite in her gut that has caused a bit of damage to her insides. Nothing awful, but it means that her bottom will always be her weak spot if she’s ever unwell – which my poor carpets are finding out!

But she’s a cuddle monster, and will take a lap at any opportunity. She loves napping on my chest under my chin and also jumping up onto my shoulder for a ride. She’s also very nervous, but is growing in confidence the bigger she gets. I’m pretty sure she’s part Devon Rex – her character traits and physical appearance make me think that is the case – so I’m expecting she’ll always be on the smaller side, but I think her personality is going to make up for it.

Expect to see and hear a lot more about her in the coming months. Hopefully nice things, and not fustrated stories about her continuing health problems…