In memory of Oddsy (formerly Odds & Sods)

Oddsy was adopted from Cats Protection in November 2020 as a lockdown home delivery cat who had just turned 14 on 5 November. I took his carrier upstairs and he miaowed to be let out. He got his wish, explored the house, then sat on my lap for three hours to stake his claim. Always very confident, Oddsy had free run of the house, being very good at flying leaps to wherever he wanted to be as well as being supreme master of the stairs. When he was allowed outside after three weeks we often walked together, and when he went out alone he made several cat and human friends. We often received home visits from several local cats. Even to his last day on 12 February 2024 he walked with me and visited a neighbour, and was still able to leap like an athlete. He would still be here now but for his breathing problems when lying down to sleep, which were getting worse, and I kept my promise never to allow him to suffer. The vet was unable to help so we decided that kindness to Oddsy was best, and he slipped away. Oddsy had already beaten jaundice in 2021 when he stayed at Vets for Pets for four days, and he also received a monthly injection of Solensia for arthritis in his front legs. The only time he made a real fuss was having his claws trimmed. I must thank Oddsy's other carer Adrian, who appears in one of the pictures, for looking after Oddsy when I had to be away, especially after an accident which kept me in hospital for 12 days. Oddsy had care visits three times a day during that time, and when I returned home he became Nurse Oddsy who ensured that I moved around the house enought to ensure recovery. Thank you Oddsy for being such a magical cat!

by Michael Couchman