Foreword - Why I decided to write these Memoirs

From November 1996 to Christmas 2002 I rescued cats on a regular basis, assisted in the first few years by my former boyfriend. It is only when I look back that I appreciate what we achieved. Although I thought I would home only a small number of cats, I went on to home quite a few. In retrospect, I can see how lucky I was to have found a number of 'special people' who not only wanted to take on a feral cat but were also prepared to devote their time to let their 'new' cat acclimatise to a different person and home.

Candy and me in quarantine

I always felt compelled to write a book after my primary school teacher told me… 'Julie, you really should write a book' but the realisation was starting to dawn upon me that the only thing I had not done was just that! To have written one! After rescuing quite a number of cats over that ten-year period, I felt inspired, at long last, to write my Cat Rescue Memoirs. These memoirs are an insight into the ups and downs I experienced, along with the process required to tame and rehome feral cats after rescuing them from the wild and taking them to live inside each 'catavan'. I have also included the stories about acquiring my own house cats. Hopefully, real cat lovers will enjoy reading about the happy times and manage to endure the unforeseen, sad events I experienced during those times.

Tiger in the cat flap

Being a cat lover, writing these memoirs was both a terrible and emotional experience - there were many times when I just wanted to stop because I could not face what I knew I had to write! The happy experiences were really joyful to write about but the sad parts were really heart-rending. At least now, I can look back and see that I achieved something by helping a small minority of cats.

Thank you for taking the time to look at this foreword. I know that those of you, who do decide to go on and read the book, will come to understand just what it meant for me to rescue some of those 'poor lost souls'. It would also confirm to me that all my hard work writing these memoirs would have been worthwhile. Additionally, if it will encourage some readers to go on and help them rescue a kitten/cat or any other stray animal in the future, then that would be even more rewarding.

Zak

God bless you! I hope each and every reader will always treat their own and other pets with the same love, care and affection as they would a relation of their own!

Have you seen my beloved dog Maurica?   Please click here for more details