Smew

Smew is our oldest cat - we have had him for almost 20 years. He was found in a pet shop in central Scotland, with two siblings , being kept in a bird cage and was immediately taken away by Cat Rescue. We and some friends got him and his brother and their behaviour quickly emphasised what their markings already told us ; they had a strong streak of Scottish Wildcat in their make up. The sibling was actually impossible to keep in a house but , as a young cat, ,Snew - whose name comes from the noise he has always made - despite spending little time at home was very endearing when he was there, and had a strange habit of sucking people's ears (presumably because he had been weaned from his mother too early!).

Over the years he has quietened down, but is a cat of great personality and something of a bruiser. His age now means he doesn't spend a lot of time out of doors, and we have noticed in the last few months a very dramatic weight loss. He has always had weepy eyes but they are now a bit worse and he is also very slow and very thin - but the other two cats still show him great respect. In fact when we got back yesterday there was a plump mouse laid out on the floor in front of him, as he slept on the sofa - clearly a present from Toots or Gizmo to their old mentor .