We sat down for a cuppa with Connie to learn about her life and routine, living with five cats (and currently, seven kittens)!
So let’s get to it, five cats?! Tell us their names and how they came to be your housemates.
Well, the original is Belle, and then we kept her four babies Bruce, Speedy, Rose and Tiggy. The seven new arrivals have yet to be named. I got Belle at 14 weeks old because her owner didn’t want her. I had moved away from my home town and had to rehome my other 11 cats, so I felt empty. Belle arrived in 2022 and after a year, she gave birth to her first 4 babies, Bruce, Speedy, Rose and Tiggy in April 2023. She now has seven 4-week-old babies. That’s how I met all of my fur babies, it’s definitely a house full. They’re a beautiful mixture of black and white, short and long-haired domestic kitties.
Do you have nicknames for any of them?
Of course, but my favourite has to be Gonzales for little Speedy.
It sounds like a full-time job! Aside from cat care, if you could do anything for work what would it be?
I think I would choose to work with children or animals, the two things they say not to do! But I think they are the most creative and funny beings in the world.
Oh, absolutely. So tell us, what does a typical Saturday morning at home with 12 cats look like?
First up is obviously feeding and cleaning up after the cats. We always make some time to play and get some air then go to see the new babies. Honestly, I spend a lot of time talking to all my fur babies and we have food together and I have a coffee. My favourite thing at the weekends is just relaxing with them all.
If you had £5 to spend on anything over a weekend, what would you buy and why?
Cat treats or cat milk. My cats all absolutely LOVE milk, and I love seeing them enjoy the little things in life. If they’re happy, I’m happy.
We take it you’ve always been a cat person?
Oh absolutely. I grew up around cats and they were always in the house. I can’t imagine being without them.
As a true cat person, what’s the coolest cat thing you have at home?
Well, there’s plenty, so aside from the multiple tunnels and electric cat toys I’d have to say the giant 6ft4 cat tree!
Wow, that’s definitely a winner. Tell us a little more about your cats before we go, what do they love and what do they hate with a passion?
So I know I probably shouldn’t but they love the occasionally sneaky snack of cheese or ham. As for hate, there are a couple of them that loathe the hoover, but in general, any loud noise that disrupts their peace doesn’t go down too well. We try and keep it zen at home.
