Befriending A Feral Cat Called Girlie

By Elaine Fairfax, founder and managing director of Animal Friends Pet Insurance

Years ago, one of the girls that worked in the office often talked about her friend's pony called "Girlie". I thought it was a brilliant name but little did I know that I would have my own "Girlie" shortly after that. It is a long story but a few years ago I saw a tortoiseshell cat in our garden. She was so scared as soon as you looked at her out of the window she ran away. But she would always appear again the next day.

So, I started to put food out for her and I found out that she was living in our shed. I purchased a little cat basket for her but, as soon as you opened the shed door, she would be off! I put an advert in the paper but it no one claimed her. It was obvious she was feral. I got a humane trap from Cat Protection and took her to my vet to be neutered. I was not sure who was more worried, Girlie or the veterinary nurse that had to sedate her!

The vet aged her at about 3 years and I wondered how many unwanted litters of kittens she had given birth to in that time. Kittens borne by stray and feral cats pose a real problem in some parts of the country and put increasing pressure on the many animal rescue centres which usually end up looking after them.

After a few months of putting out food for her she stopped running away bit she still kept her distance. I then started talking to her. I would step back and let her eat but I would just sit in the garden and start talking to her - even though I was quite a few metres away. She needed to get familiar with my voice. Somehow she knew I would not harm her. She obviously got a tip off that I was the mad woman that owns a pet insurance company that gives the net profits to animal charities. She had really turned up on the right doorstep.

As the months passed by, she got braver and braver and the day arrived when she came running up to me when I put the food down. I did not want to make any sudden movements so I did not attempt to touch her for a couple of weeks. During this time, I had purchased lots of toys for her and she was quite happy for me to throw a ping pong ball and her chasing it. I kept talking to her all the time. However, the day came when she started eating and I did not move away, I just stayed by her side. I dropped my hand down at the side of her and she just continued to eat. The next day, I dropped my hand down by the side of her so that it was really obvious to her I was touching her. 10 minutes later I was stroking her.

Now, so me two years later she is my husband's "Girlie". She adores him and I don t really get a look in! When I drive home she comes running up to the car BUT as soon as she hears my husband coming out to greet me, she does a U turn and goes running to him. I know she loves me but my husband is her favourite. They often spend all day together when my husband works from home. I am just the person that goes to the supermarket and gets her food! She adores my husband and she really is his "Girlie"!