Some fun photos of the furry friends around the house. Gigi is the young lady who joined us two weeks ago. Butyok is the 'little one' making my days a little brighter - so I thought it was time to return the favor and bring home a friend for him.

As you will see, some time had passed since the photos you just saw. Bütyök, the adult male in the photos above, had since passed away. He was my very favorite cat and he is very much missed.

The new addition now is the black kitten. She came to us as did Ferko, she was ill and I could not resist taking care of her. Naturally, we could not return her after she was cured. Her left eye will never be 'good' but she is miss personality plus. At the time we took her in she was too young to tell the gender so she was named "Tom Thumb" or "Hüvelyk Matyi". The doctor later pointed out that Matyi is a young lady. By then the name stuck and she is now "Matyi girl"

Sad entry - the day before leaving on vacation, my favorite beautiful little Matyi Girl had to be put to sleep. I'm told she had something called leukeosis. Untreatable and highly infectious that kills within a month. I've noticed that all three of my cats eat very lightly but they go through phases. Matyi was also spending quite a bit of time with her mother in the attic so I've not really noticed how much weight she lost until the day she died.

Now I'm watching and waiting to see if the other two had been infected. How do you deal with losing all three of your furry kids? It can't happen! - can it?

There is such irony in Matyi's passing. In the spring a stray showed up in our garden. Took him to the vet as he looked as though there was nothing can be done for him. Skin and bones, diseased and a disjointed hind leg. Passed him on to my cousin's family so as not to disturb my cats again with a newcomer.

The cat had disappeared from her house the same night and we figured that was that. A couple of months later while making a stop in town I saw a cat on the sidewalk and as is generally the case I meaowed to it. There was no reaction of any kind so I went closer and realized that it was the same stray cat...if possible, looking worse than the last time I saw it.

Brought him home and began getting him treated. There were 7 shots (antibiotics and vitamins) and he was given food every time his plate was empty. Very friendly cat but terribly frail. It appears that with the exception of the hip he is now fine. His fur looks like fur again and he put on enough weight to look normal. Because Matyi's ailment was said to be untreatable, at least I know that he didn't bring the disease into the territory - but that is small comfort.

Our new cat had been given a name as it appears he will be staying - "Simbad" as he must have had his share of adventures.