Hi - I haven't been on here in a few months - all work and no play. On Wed we lost our oldest boy Maxie - he was almost 14 and had heart failure as well as being blind and very arthritic. We couldn't watch him suffer any more as over the last few weeks he had stopped spending time with us and would finally only sit on the hard utility room floor under the radiator. His breathing had become really laboured and although still eating his quality of life was virtually nil so we knew it was time. He will be sadly missed as although he was blind he was still such a character and was just such a messy cat - he played in his water fountain constantly so the floor and his paws were always wet not to mention the water itself always being full of mud or food! He could pee for England so the litter trays (he used all 4 of them) were forever being emptied and there was always a trail of litter wherever he'd been. I won't miss the mess but we do miss him being at our feet all the time we are eating - he was like a little dog and my husband had ruined him by feeding him titbits of food - his favourite being fish obviously but he also enjoyed toffee yogurt, soup, virtually anything really (I know - totally the wrong thing to be giving him!). Our other two cats Alfie and Daphne seem to know he's gone - they've not known life here without him so they must realise something is different and I know from experience that it will take them a little while to adjust. The very odd thing though is that Mr B has now moved in! He is a big black boy who we have been feeding for a couple of years and who has really been living rough in our garden and summerhouse most of that time although he does disappear for a few days then returns so he probably shares his time with someone else! On Wed night he came in, laid down and started rolling around playing with toys on the floor and just generally making himself right at home. He has since moved on to the conservatory and lies on the sofa, is allowing me to stroke him and I believe I could actually pick him up if I tried. It's almost like the vacancy sign went up and he took advantage of the free space This is actually not the first time I've had this experience so I just wonder if there is some sixth sense in cats which lets them know they have found their new home. Suffice to say we are destined to be a 3 cat family as we have been for the last 30 years
Spooky isn't it? We are just the same. I think we have an invisible kitty 'vacancies' sign on the gate. Either that or they have the same system some tramps have of leaving marks that say 'good food here' or 'avoid this place' or, as in our case, 'suckers live here'.
Sorry to hear about your loss of Maxie, but so pleased to hear your big black boy has moved in! It sounds to me like he felt the house was Maxie's and Alfie and Daphnie were no problem... cats have an uncanny ability to negotiate these things without any visible communication! Now that Maxie has gone, and he obviously senses this, your boy is happy to move in and assume his place on your sofa, lap and hearts. I wish you many happy years with your lovely boy. I have a big black boy who used to roam the neighbourhood who has now moved in - isn't it wonderful! And in time for winter too.
I'm sorry you lost poor old Maxie. I recently lost my 19 year old Minnie, and I know what you mean about not missing the mess (she was very doddery and had a dodgy tum), but somehow the fact that they needed so much looking after almost makes you miss them more when they do go. Rest in peace Maxie.
Cats are incredibly perceptive, aren't they! I recently had to rehome a foster that started to bully the rest of my gang. They had all started hanging out in my little office, and even when I tried locking him away upstairs they wouldn't come out. The day he went, within hours, they all trouped back into the living room and took up their usual spots again!
Thanks - I think he may be off me for the night as I managed to give him a dose of flea drops earlier on so he's run off but I'm sure he'll be here in the morning. Something really weird happened a couple of hours ago when I found a tiny piece of cat litter in my dressing gown pocket. I'm pretty sure that wasn't there when I took it off this morning and as i threw it in the bin it suddenly came back to me that exactly the same thing happened almost 4 years ago after i lost my beloved Harry. Back then I took it as a sign from him that he was letting me know he was still with me as we had such a close bond - now I think maybe he sent another piece to let me know he's met up with Maxie and they're forever kittens together again
sorr fr your loss but I wonder if they do know ha. After my cat Ernie suddenly passed Jimmy was meowing at our door not long after and just strolled in and made himself at home and that was that LOL
This is actually not the first time I've had this experience so I just wonder if there is some sixth sense in cats which lets them know they have found their new home. Suffice to say we are destined to be a 3 cat family as we have been for the last 30 years 
