Biryani

Dear little Biryani, the Sunshines' cat, went out one morning about two weeks ago and didn't come home for her tea. It had snowed in the afternoon, and they were very worried about her. Days went by. They put up posters, contacted cats' homes and did all the usual things, afraid that she might be hurt or lost somewhere. If she'd found a nice new cosy home they wouldn't have minded, so long as she was safe.

A few days ago they had a call from the council - I suppose they must have identified Biri from her microchip. She had been found dead on the road, knocked down by a car, the very morning she disappeared.

Sad as they are, the Sunshines are relieved to know what happened, and that she didn't suffer. She wouldn't have known a thing about it, and now, in the teeth of the fiercest weather Yorkshire has seen in years, Biri is not stalking things along wintry hedges. I hope she is a heavenly cat asking St Peter to open the gate and let her in. And out. And back in. Purrlease.

It seems very sad that, having finally found her happy forever home, she had such a short time in it. But cats are wise enough to enjoy the present moment, and her present moments with the Sunshines were extremely happy. When I was last staying there she was very affectionate, rubbing against my legs and escorting me to my room at night.

If Biri hadn't had a microchip, we might all still be wondering what had happened to her. The cat we had when I was a kid was a great one for wandering off, and as for Daniel the Spaniel, I'm convinced he looked forward to Wednesdays because there was a pretty good chance of the bin men leaving the gate open. In those days there weren't microchips, but there are now. If you have a pet, please get it microchipped. And think of Biryani.