Alfie's Life Before Edgar Road
Author Rachel Wells shares an exclusive short story which reveals for the first time what Alfie's life was like prior to weaving his way along the doorsteps of Edgar Road.
I’m Alfie and you may or may not know that I am a doorstep cat. By that I mean that I have multiple homes where I get fed and looked after by various humans. But you may be surprised to know that before this I was more a lap cat than a doorstep cat.
I became a doorstep cat when my owner, Margaret died, and I went seeking my new home. However, I was lucky, I had spent many years being loved and looked after by Margaret and an elderly cat, Agnes, before I lost them both. And in that time, I was more of a lap cat than a doorstep one.
I was a tiny kitten when I went to live with Margaret. She had a small house in London, and it was just her and Agnes until I came along. Agnes didn’t like me at first, she was really mean, rebuking any attempts I made for affection. And I was just an innocent little kitten and for a while I was terrified of her. She would hiss at me and even hide my toys, but Margaret seemed very aware of her behaviour and would chastise her. For a while it was a tricky relationship and I learnt then that not everyone will love you no matter how adorable you are.
Eventually, with my charm and my persistence I won Agnes round and Margaret, Agnes and I became what humans call family. We were the best type of family too.
We had so much love in that house that no wonder I never really wanted to leave. I lost my cat instincts for hunting or prowling, and I preferred to be curled up on Margaret’s lap, or in Agnes’ basket, basking in the warmth of that little home that we all loved so very much.
Life is a funny thing, both for cats and humans I discovered. It was as if the comfort that I was provided with, equipped me for what was to come in a strange way. My home, my family made me who I was. And that house, I didn’t realise at the time, gave me an education that would be invaluable to my survival.
I didn’t know anything about humans when I first went to live with Margaret. I went from the warmth of my birth mother and siblings to the house where my ‘mother’ was a human. Margaret called herself mum to both me and Agnes and when I pointed out how strange it was, Agnes said that humans thought they were in charge of us cats. Luckily us cats know different. I mean look at a cat’s life. We eat, we sleep, we play. Then look at a human’s life, they buy the food, they prepare the food, they clean up, they work. Now tell me who’s the boss?
Agnes said it was important for me to learn about humans. Some cats had a propensity to be slightly self-absorbed and that wouldn’t do, she told me. So, I was given an education in humans, by three main sources; Agnes who became my mentor rather than my tormentor, Margaret and her friends and Soap Operas.
The first time I saw the television I was so scared I ran and hid behind the sofa. I thought it was some sort of monster that would eat me up. When I had stopped shaking with fear and Agnes had stopped shaking with laughter, she explained that it was just a box with moving, talking pictures on it. It took me a good few weeks before I could actually stop being scared of it though but once I was sure it wouldn’t hurt me, we would all sit together, I would either be on Margaret’s lap or on a cushion, Agnes had her favourite spot, curled up int the corner of the sofa and we would all watch television together.
Anyway, in this case it was helpful because of course I had a lot to learn. And my TV education was an eye-opener. I learnt that humans could be very mean to each other. I also learnt about romance. Margaret had only myself and Agnes but most of the people on television were in couples.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against humans, and I have by now met a great many who I am either extremely fond of and actually love. But then I couldn’t quite put my paws on it; I didn’t really understand where exactly they fitted into the world.
Case in point. Agnes and I were very protective of Margaret and when a man who lived on our street started paying her a bit too much attention we were a little startled. His wife had passed away and although he was nice enough, he was far too old to be chasing women. Apparently, he had even had to get a ‘knee replacement’ so it really was a bad idea. However, he would appear daily, with flowers, biscuits, and one time he brought a Battenberg cake. Agnes and I were ever so worried, I mean it seemed that not many women could resist a Battenberg.
And Bill, that was his name seemed very kind. He bought me and Agnes tinned pilchards once and I almost asked him to move in myself. Well, I miaowed very loudly in thanks and rubbed up against his legs. I pointed out to Agnes that she hadn’t wanted me here at first and maybe we should give him a chance. So after a bit of persuasion when he next visited we had an extra wash, we both stood up straight and greeted him with our best purrs. He seemed completely charmed. But it seemed that it was all for nothing as when he made some kind of declaration to Margaret - he was wearing a suit and had bought a bunch of carnations, she said that she was too old and set in her ways for anything other than friendship.
We never got pilchards again.
There is a very wise saying ‘A cat’s eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world.’ and it’s true. But you have to look and one thing I have learnt about humans is that, not just with cats, they are always saying they are too busy to look, or they look but they don’t really see. It is such a shame. Us cats miss nothing, but I fear those humans miss a lot.
Cats often get accused of being to selfish to love but that isn’t always the case. Cats do know love and I know humans do too, we have that in common. Love and loss happens to us all, it unites every person, and every cat. Even now when I think of Margaret and Agnes, I get a tightening in my chest, I feel so sad and my little cat heart aches. Although I now have love and friendship with my new families, I will never forget my first family and until I see them again, I’ll always miss them. But I am a happy cat now, and for that I thank the lessons I was lucky enough to learn along the way. Of love, friendship, even of heartache and danger. All those contributed to the cat I am today. But the most important thing I learnt from Agnes, Margaret and even those Soap Operas is that love is the most important thing. It really does make the world go round.
And it is even better than Pilchards.
Alfie’s Club
This week Alfie’s Club celebrates a Mama-Cat with her two sweet daughters Nutmeg & Cinnamon. The photo was taken back in august 2016 just after their human friends saw them getting thrown out off a moving van. After witnessing this the humans spent a whole night trying to find the kittens and then a whole week to locate the mother cat as well (they were not going to give up). Six year down the line and these three beautiful girls have had a wonderful life…they are so loving and affectionate, they love a toilet roll tube to play with, as well as yarn when their human mum is crocheting…
They even get on well with the family fur boys (dogs) who live in the house and they have filled a space in their new home and human hearts than didn’t previously know needed filling!
If you would like to send us your pet photo details on what to send and how are can be found on via this link Alfie’s Club.
Plus be sure to include any stories about your cat - particularly the special friendship you have with them - in the comments below.
Rachel Wells