An open letter to my Lily

Dear Lily

I wrote Fred a letter yesterday and I really didn't want you to feel left out so I thought I'd write to you as well.

You chose us really didn't you? We'd picked Fred already and put him in the cat carrier and while we were deciding who else we'd take, you walked straight over to the carrier, got in it and sat down. Decision made!

But then you cried all the way home and when you eventually came out of the box you absolutely refused to purr. No matter how much we stroked you and fed you and made reassuring noises, you weren't going to budge. It went on like that for the whole next day, I even took the day off work to stay with you both, but then very early on the second morning I snuck downstairs and tickled you while you were asleep and you purred! You let go and then there was no stopping you - you became a non-stop purring machine.

You were fierce though. Fred was a little bit shy but you were mega brave and would take on anything and anyone. Remember the plumber came round to fix the boiler in winter and I found you sitting in his tool box?

You've always enjoyed the element of surprise and loved jumping on our backs or scrambling all the way up to our shoulders from the floor. It was quite funny but only when you were wearing jeans and a jumper. When you did it to me that time when I was just in my pyjamas I didn't laugh so much.

Aah yes those claws of yours. Pretty much everyone who has met you has come away with a scratch as a memento. I tell them that you're not doing it to be nasty, you just have your claws set on default to 'shred'. I've tried to get you to play without claws but so far haven't had much luck.

I think what I like best about you is that you're a bit of a wild one. You don't love being picked up but you're incredibly affectionate when you want to be. I love that whenever a total stranger comes to the flat you give them the biggest welcome, winding around their legs, while Fred just hides. (Although you might want to tone the 'winding' down a little bit - you're going to trip someone up soon.)

And then there's the mental look....whilst Fred tends to just look cute in any picture I take of him, you always seem to have just a little glint in your eye...

You love your brother though! Remember how he was the brave one and looked after you at the beginning? No? Well that's because it only lasted a day before you switched roles. It was so funny when he learned to jump much higher than you and you would sit on the kitchen worktop and yell at him to come down. And it's hilarious when you steal Fred's food and then growl at him when he tries to take it back. You love to be around him as much as possible though...

I'm really looking forward to you coming to stay next week. I know that when I sit at the dining table and write my blogs you will be stretched out in your favourite place, along the back of the sofa, just keeping one mental eye on me...

Lots of love

Your (second) Mummy

xx