18/07/2026
You never really know how a day is going to end.
Yesterday afternoon, our beautiful Lottie suddenly went blind, and within just a few short hours, our world changed forever.
Ten years ago, we rescued Lottie from the scrapyard next door after she had been dumped. She was only about six months old and heavily pregnant. At the time we were building our house, so we couldn't keep her, and she went into foster care. She gave birth to four gorgeous kittens. I made sure she had everything she needed—food, litter, all the essentials—and I visited her and her babies whenever I could.
Once the kittens had grown and Lottie had been desexed, she was ready to find her forever home. We told the foster carer, "Only if you can't find her a family, we'll take her."
Eight weeks later, the phone rang...
"You need to come and get your cat!"
Well... that was that.
Lottie lived in our viewing room at the crematorium until our house was finished, and from the moment she moved in, she knew exactly where she belonged.
Her Dad was her person. Me? I was just the woman who rescued her in the first bloody place. She barely gave me the time of day! Every night she groomed Darren like it was part of her job description. She adored her siblings Bella, Stella and little Oskie, and together they lived a wonderful life. Then come along Thurston and Bea, they loved to chase Lots.
She truly lived like a queen for ten amazing years.
Now, don't let that sweet face fool you. She left cat scratches absolutely everywhere, shredded not one... not two... but three lounges, and every new bed or toy I bought for the dogs somehow became hers. No one dared move Her Majesty once she'd claimed it. I lost count of how many times I said, "Darren, you need to do something with your bloody cat!"
Over the past eight months, Lottie had become increasingly unwell. Then last night, after a video call with our wonderful vet Amanda and a lot of tears, Darren made the heartbreaking decision to let his Queen go.
At 7:54 pm on 17th July 2026, Lottie purred her way across the Rainbow Bridge.
No more rolling herself up in Mum's floor mats.
No more claiming every dog bed in the house.
No more watching the footy with her Dad.
Our lives changed in the blink of an eye.
Vale, Lots.
You may have been that bloody cat, but you were also deeply loved. Thank you for choosing us, for keeping your Dad wrapped around your little paw, and for giving us ten years of laughter, chaos, scratches, and unconditional love.
Run free, Queen. 🌈💜
