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Recently, Mum had to have some work done to her bathroom.  Future-proofing it, whatever that might mean.  She knows that Gibbs is very frightened of men and feet, and as most men come with feet – some of them massive –  and they also have a ‘man smell’ - she thought we might like a little holiday.  She sat us both down and discussed it with us, to get our opinion.  She’d spoken to a friend of hers who runs a cat hotel and the friend had said that we could either have our own apartments next to each other, or we could bunk together.  Whatever we decided. 

Gibbs and I discussed the merits of having a holiday.  As you know, Mum has been on this ‘yellow’ thing for a few months now and I take care of her every day.  Although I sleep for maybe 18 – 22 hours a day, I felt I could do with the rest.  Gibbs isn’t usually as paws-on with looking after Mum, but he agreed that the stress of watching me take care of her had made him unusually more tired.  The consensus was that we would go on holiday for maybe a week, possibly two – depending on how long it took these men with feet and their smells to future-proof the bathroom.   The decision was made.   

It didn’t quite work out like that though.  Let me ‘splain.

Mum put our carrying baskets on the sofa and sprayed the inside of each one with Feliway® which is a natural pheromone that cats have on their faces.  It’s meant to make us feel relaxed, chilled out.  I went into my basket without any fuss.  Gibbs saw what was going on and ran upstairs and hid under the sofa bed in Mum’s office.  She left him for a little while in the hope that he’d forget about it and come downstairs of his own accord.   He didn’t.

Time was running out.  We had to get to the cat hotel by six in the evening.  Mum tried one last time to get Gibbs.  He flew through the cat flap so fast that neither Mo Farrah nor Usain Bolt would have caught up with him.  Upset now, Mum was worried that Gibbs had run away, never to return, but as time was of the essence, she and Dad decided to take me and hopefully bring Gibbs the following day.

We arrived at the hotel.  It was set in a beautiful large garden, with fruit trees, a pond, and plenty of wildlife to watch during the day.  The apartment was clean and spacious and came kitted out with all the requirements a discerning feline, like what I am, would ever need in one lifetime, let alone nine.  I did feel a bit anxious without Gibbs and left Mum a huge stinky poo as a present to remember me by.  Some people send postcards, I’ve been told, but I improvised and used what I had at my disposal.

Mum’s face, not quite as yellow for a change, looked sad as she took her leave of me.  She said what she always says: ‘Be a good boy, Casey.  Mummy loves you.  See you soon.’   Dad just said: ‘See you later, Casey.’  And then they were gone.  And I was left to explore my new ‘home’ for the next couple of weeks.

Hopefully Gibbs would arrive the following day and we’d be on this experience together.  It would be fun.