Hello, my name is Madie, I’m a 4 year old Brindle Tortoiseshell cat and I’ve had quite an interesting life so I’d like to share my story with all cat lovers.
As far as I can remember I lived at Cats Protection’s Nottingham Adoption Centre where I had a litter of healthy kittens which are grown up now. A while later I had the pleasure of fostering some little kittens whose mum couldn't’t manage.
Now in 2009 I moved from the Adoption Centre to another area of the county were I settled quite nicely, until one day on a warm spring morning in 2010 I strayed too far and got locked in a dark place. It was three days before the door was opened and I felt hungry and confused, I ran away and wandered around for a while but I couldn't’t remember where I lived. Now things were getting desperate, I must find food and birds were hard to catch.
I passed through entry gates which led onto back yards, squeezing between fences and over sheds until I came across a high wall, now what’s on the other side of this I wondered. I saw a drive with ponds and a bird table with bacon rinds on it, they looked tasty, hope I can reach them before anyone sees me. Oops! There’s an elderly gentleman wearing a straw hat fumbling around in the garden, he’s got to be deaf so here goes; Yummy yummy, they were lovely I’ll just wash them down with a drink out of the bird bath, hold on! He’s spotted me, he’s coming, and I’m off. That night I slept rough.
The following morning the sun was shining and as it was becoming warm the owners of the house had all the doors open; being hungry once more I decided to have a stroll through the conservatory and into the hall where I spied a cat bowl. Fooood, temptation drove me on but after a couple of mouthfuls a great beast came thundering down the stairs and I fled. I was later made aware that this huge cat was called “Tinker” a female tabby, should have named her TANKER she was twice my size. Later that evening I sneaked into the conservatory and settled on a chair under a table, this will do me for the night I thought, but the old fellow noticed me and put me out before locking the doors, I felt so alone.
During theweek I noticed a lady hanging washing on a line, I tip-toed up and brushed her leg and she stroked me and told me I was a lovely girl, so I ran and caught a bird and dropped it at her feet, like you would a present. She said I was naughty and straight away told the old man to pick up the sparrow and put it in the firethorn bush, there is no pleasing some people. That evening when all was quiet I looked into the hallway and saw a large bag; I decided to have a look inside, it was half full of newspapers so I settled down for a nap. It was late when the old fellow picked me out and put me on the yard, he told the lady that couldn't’t keep me in because I didn’t belong to them.
Early next morning, about 4.15am to be precise I was in the old mans’ shed when I noticed a reflection on the garden wall and although it was raining very fast I just had to investigate. A light was on in the back bedroom and as I took a closer look the old man was at the window looking out, he must have noticed me because minutes later he opened the conservatory door and let me in.
After drying me with a cloth he gave me a bowl of food and placed a pullover in a cardboard box and put it on the mat. I spent a warm cosy night. In the morning the lady gave me some cat food and off I went. In the afternoon I squeezed through the metal gate and saw the man mowing the lawn and when he went up the yard I explored the mowing box. When he saw me inside the box he bent down and stroked my head and said there where better and less dangerous things to play with in the garden and tossed an old bulb toward me. I chased and played until it was lost in the undergrowth and then he would find me another one. That night I went back to the house but the conservatory was locked, what was I to do now; however on strolling up the yard I found the greenhouse door was slightly open and inside I found a cardboard box and a bowl of food, this made me feel wanted.
As time passed by I found that the name of the lady was Mrs Maureen and the man’s name was Mr Geoff, they were very kind and we played in the garden and I used to wait for the post man putting the letters in the big green box. Many times I was allowed in the house but was put out at night, I still couldn't’t understand why.
One day I was given a ride in a van and after a short journey I found myself at the adoption centre again, the staff were very kind as always but I felt lonely, although a few people did come round the enclosures to look but no-one stayed at my pen for long. However after about three weeks I heard a familiar voice, it was Mr Geoff, he came and gave me a stroke and a kind word then went away again. I slept for long periods the next couple of days just wondering what was going to happen, then all of a sudden I was put in the van again and after a short ride I was carried into the house of Mo and Geoff and have been there ever since. There was a period of about six weeks to allow Mr Geoff and Mo to get used to me but after that whoopee! I’ve been all round the property, on the shelves and I have my favourite chair. 
I sleep near Mr Geoff’s feet and wake him in time for an early breakfast then outside I go looking for fun. I like it here, I’m so happy, I shall never stray again. The other cats Tinker and Pickle are good friends so much so they share their food with me. It’s snowing now but soon it will be spring and I will be in the garden playing with frogs and birds who like playing “Chase me”. Probably I’ll keep a diary and record all my adventures in 2012.
By Marvellous Madeline as told to Mr Geoff