purrfect pals

Whether it’s your classic breed of pets such as dogs or cats, or your more adventurous types like snakes and snails, as humans we all have a favourite animal that we innately click with. For me it’s cats. They could be wild, feral or household; I've always joked that if a lion came running towards me, instead of running I would go all cooty-coo and try petting them instead.

I’ve always grown up around cats, so it’s ironic that later in life I’ve discovered I’m allergic to them. It would explain a lot about the sinus and allergy issues I’ve had over the years. However, just as the doctor who told me about my allergy said, ‘we don't necessarily advise patients to get rid of their animals’ and to be honest, even if they did advise me to get rid of my cat, I don’t think I could do it. 

"My name and birthday just kind of fall into place with their connections to cats."

Call it coincidence but I've always believed it to be fate that cats would be my Patronus - yes, according to Potterworld mine is a tiger. Who am I to argue! (I did the test twice just to make sure). However, going back in history, to Greek mythology, Zeus's mother, the Titaness Rhéa, had a chariot pulled by lions and when she sat on her throne they always accompanied her. Growing up I hated my name because no one could ever pronounce it but when I discovered this about the goddess I fell in love with it. Cats are my protectors.

Also, whilst reading into Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel’s life I discovered her obsession with lions. I’ve always had a love for everything Chanel growing up so when I discovered she was a Leo too I was very happy. I am a leo myself. Why did she call her Chanel No.5 perfume No.5? Yes, it so happened that at her perfumery when testing samples her favourite one was numbered 5 but Leo is also the fifth house of the zodiac. Guess what? I was born on the 5th myself. It all just connects in my mind!

So can you blame me for being slightly obsessed with the feline species? My name and birthday just kind of fall into place with their connections to cats. The only cat I will argue with is Catwoman. I'm still more interested in Poison Ivy than I am Catwoman to be honest, so there’s one cat I’m slightly not keen on. What about you? What stories do you have with your favourite animal?

Rhéa x