JOULES has brilliant green eyes – just like emeralds – hence her name !  She remained very timid.   We became concerned when she began to lose weight and decided she must go to the vet for a check-up.

She was kept in for the day so she could undergo a thorough examination.  She winced when her tummy was examined.  A "mass” was found, possibly enlarged lymph nodes, and tests revealed a very low B12 level (B12 is one of the man constituents of the blood.)

She was diagnosed with pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. When a cat's pancreas becomes inflamed, it allows digestive enzymes to escape, causing damage to both the pancreas and the nearby liver.

She was given antibiotics, a B12 injection and medication to help control the diarrohea and put on a bland diet. She would require a B12 injection every week until the B12 level had returned to normal.

She was put in the isolation unit as it was very important that she had only the correct food.  She was lonely and missing her friends Cassie and Violet so we decided to transfer Violet into the isolation unit to keep her company.

Slowly she responded to the treatment and the condition was brought under control.

The Golden Oldies Home and garden  was created in 2014 and when a vacancy occurred we transferred Joules and Violet there, even if they weren’t golden oldies !   Over the years they became affectionately known as the Chalet Girls.

When she lost Violet, her friend of 10 years, Joules was very sad and lonely. But she continued to run around the enclosure and eat her food and it wasn’t long before she was following Beverley around and allowing her to stroke her. Soon she allowed 2 other volunteers to pet her.

 

One morning she slipped out of the golden oldies pen and set off to explore the garden.    We have even seen her running up the garden with a mouse in her mouth squeaking happily.   Her highest number of mice caught in one day so far is 5 !!  Fortunately she has a "soft” mouth and Beverley is able to remove them from her mouth alive and restore them to their home in the bushes opposite the cottage.

As she grew in confidence she approached the cottage and even ventured inside where she met Toby .   He gave her a cursory sniff and went about his business  .The door of one of the sheds had been left open – she ventured in, spotted a cosy rug, curled up on it and went to sleep.    We have now had a cat flap fitted and she sleeps there every night.

One morning she was in the kitchen waiting for her breakfast.

We think, given time, she will be brave enough to become one of the Bear Cottage gang.

We are delighted that, with a little help from her friends, she has made a new life for herself..