Holly was a Chocolate tabby point Siamese cat and when she was eighteen months old I mated her to a stunning red point champion and nine weeks later she had a litter of five kittens. At the same time my Burmese cat Mabel had a litter of four kittens.

Over the first week of the kittens lives four of the Siamese died leaving Holly the mother with only one, Isobel. Holly and Mabel shared caring for the kittens, feeding whichever kitten was nearest. It was heartbreaking losing the little ones but Holly did not seem to miss them too badly and after looking for them for a couple of days she settled down with the other kittens.

When the kittens were four weeks old Mabel, who was not a very good mother decided to pop out and came back with a broken leg having been hit by a vehicle. We rushed her to the vet and unfortunately she died under the anaesthetic while her leg was being set and Holly then took over the care of Mabel’s four kittens and her own one.

Holly looked after all five kittens and reared them all successfully and we found loving homes for three of the Burmese and kept Holly’s kitten Isobel and one of Mabel’s kittens which we named Daisy Mabel.

Holly then returned to her show career! We had shown her a few times since she was four months old and she always did rather well. My heart nearly exploded with pride when at one show she won the best Siamese Cat and went on to win the best of the Oriental group and eventually was chosen as Best Cat in Show. She won a huge rosette and trophy. She took it all in her stride, quite happy to be displayed to the audience as Best In Show and then to settle down in her basket for the drive home.

Holly won many prizes and became not only a British Champion but also an International champion, judged by people from all over the world. She retired aged six and enjoyed a pampered life with my other cats.

Holly was an odd little cat who became very eccentric as she got older. She refused to eat from a bowl unless it was on a tray in my bedroom. She would also only drink from a mug on my bedside tale. I know, I spoilt her. Well, you can spoil cats can’t you? She also slept with me and rarely left my side.

When she was twelve she began to show signs of kidney failure and the age of 13 she was receiving treatment including saline drips for the dehydration she suffered. I also found a vet her practiced holistic medicine and we tried that but eventually it became obvious that Holly was not going to get better and that her quality of life was deteriorating so I had to take that awful decision that all pet lovers have to take unless our pets die from natural causes. Is it the time to let them go? Holly was still purring but she did not want to eat anymore and I knew that I could not let her go on any longer so called the vet to our house where I held Holly on my lap sitting where she liked to spend her time in the conservatory, as he gave her the fatal injections.

Can there be a worse thing to have to go through? Knowing that as you hold your precious pet you are killing it. I have her ashes in a small wooden box and even though many years have passed I still recall that beautiful little cat with the chocolate striped face and points and I can almost hear her purr.