A Black Cat Called Ziggy Woo
How a little black kitten completed our small, but mighty family.
I grew up on a farm, I love animals, and I understand them far more easily than humans. They’re very honest and will tell you if they do or don’t like something, no hidden agendas and they love you unconditionally just as you are. I’ve had more pets than I could ever remember, we collected strays or they showed up at our door. Some stayed, some moved on, others we rehomed or rehabilitated. I found rehabilitating animals so rewarding that I wanted to be a vet for most of my childhood. Now and again I wonder how different my life would be if I continued on that path. I wanted to be a country vet and take care of a variety of animals, just like Vicky the Vet in A Country Practice, my favourite TV show in the 80s.
Animals bring an extra depth to life and help us understand ourselves more. They give us space to feel authentically, don’t judge, and love us just as we are. Ziggy has brought us closer, especially during the hardest time we’ve experienced as a family after Conor’s father’s accident and my world imploding followed by Covid lockdowns.
Conor was 8 when we brought Ziggy home as a kitten on the 14th of June 2019, they’ve grown up together. It’s been so beautiful to watch, mostly they’re loving together, sometimes they fight and of course, there’s plenty of playing and giggles. One thing that melts my heart is Conor embraces Ziggy with a goodbye and hello every time he leaves or comes home. If he comes home with Lego or something special to show, oh Ziggy must know! and he proudly shows Ziggy while he sits patiently and listens.
He’s been there by my side on some very dark days, and infused joy and love into some tough days for us as a family. He’s taught Conor about love and emotions, and how to interact with another living being. Ziggy is always included in family discussions. We often talk about the love between us in a circle; Mummy loves Conor and Ziggy, Conor loves Mummy and Ziggy, and Ziggy loves Mummy and Conor. He’s brought so much extra pure love into our lives and that’s the magic of animals.
If my dreams come true, I’ll have my own farm one day and it will have so many animals. I miss having them around me. I grew up with horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, etc. all the animals you’d expect on a farm, plus a bunch of cats and way too many dogs.
Ziggy is my third black cat. I’m not sure why, I only seem to have black cats. Maybe in a past life, I was a witch… My black farm cats were both rescues; Beau and Tabitha. They were true hunters keeping the snake, rat and mouse population down around our home. I’m sure they also chased off foxes. Ziggy is a very different cat, he’s a posh British Shorthair with a distinguished appetite, but he still has an almost dog-like demeanour I’ve found my previous black cats to have. Unlike most cats, he runs to the door when there’s a visitor. He loves new people to smooch on and make friends with.
He has my heart in a big way and I love how he’s always close by, watching over me or sitting with me in the garden enjoying the sunshine while drinking my morning coffee and at night he usually “tucks me in” by fluffing up the blanket I place over myself.
I’m so grateful for my little furry guy, he’s brought an immeasurable amount of love and joy to our home. It’s truly amazing how a creature so little can have such a significant presence and impact on our lives.