The Cat and the Frog

I heard a most unusual story recently which I want to share with you.

Some people who lived in a large house in the country had been leaving out food regularly for a frog.

As winter approached the frog took to making its way indoors and laying out in front of the open fire.

It was not long before the cat of the house also started to lie in front of the fire, alongside the frog.

Strangely enough they seemed to accept each other and it was not long before the cat allowed the frog to nestle up under its cosy fur.

This became a regular nightly feature throughout the whole of the winter, the frog was quite unafraid of the cat, and the cat seemed to adopt the role of protector.

Has anybody ever heard of anything similar to this?

I have two lovely girl kitties now, Pixie and Sasha - but my little hero was my first girl, Tippy.I got her when she was 8 weeks old, along with her brother Ben and right from the word go it like I was her real mum. She was a very small cat all her life, she was tortie and white with a little white tip on her tail which she always carried bolt upright.She was always with me and she used to lie in my arms and suckle on my shoulder and knead me. I read somewhere that it was extended juvenile behaviour (like suckling for mamas milk), maybe because she was so young when I got her, although Ben never did it. But it was so sweet and I've never felt closer to a cat than I did with Tippy.She was the feline love of my life and I was so upset when she was diagnosed with a tumour when she was 15. She carried on for almost another year when I knew the end was near, even though she was still fairly active. I had booked an appointment at the vets on Monday 15 March 2004, thinking that it was going to be the end. Well, I had to pop out for a bit that day and when I came back I found she had passed away. I found her in the kitchen and I have never forgiven myself for not being with her at that moment. I still miss her and her little squeak to this day, she was just so special to me.
__________________Heidi - owned by Pixie and Sasha RIP Ben, Tippy and Simba xxx

I would like to add an "animal hero" - this is not an animal but a person. A friend of mine has been trapping, spay/neutering and feeding colonies of feral cats for over the last 10 years (he keeps records and says to date he has had over 800 cats fixed). he pays for everything out of his own money and he lives on social security and a small pension so it is hard for him but it means the world to him so he does without a lot of things for himself to care for these poor babies. he is my hero. I also have a friend who recently started a non-profit to find homes for the many previously domestic cats and dogs who were abandoned by owners who were foreclosed upon and had to suddenly leave their homes. You can find a link to this foreclosed upon pets site from my website Cat Jewelry Gifts. My pet heros are so numerous! I recently had to put my little Peke to sleep - she was 15 and blind, deaf and could hardly walk. I adopted her at 11 and she had no eyes - but she taught me how to appreciate the world and life even when you have hardship and handicaps. My best friend, Scottie (cat) was my constant companion for 13 years - slept with me every night, followed me around the house like a puppy - he died of cancer and was so brave and loving till the very end - he was my hero. There are so many, each one so special and amazing and each one has touched my life and brought so much joy - and then so much pain when it is time to let go. But all are loved and will never be forgotten.

I heard a lovely story over the weekend which came from a stables not far from where I live.

As well as having a number of horses at the stables, they also have a pet Newfoundland dog who seems to have struck up quite a friendship with one of the horses.

Whenever the groom starts to saddle up this particular horse the Newfoundland lies down nearby with his nose between his paws, watching what is going on.

As soon as the horse is ready, the dog jumps up and takes hold of the reins in his mouth, and leads the dog out of the yard to where the master is waiting who is going to ride the horse.

When the horse comes back after his ride the dog is given the reins and he leads the horse back into the stables. If the groom is not there then the dog barks constantly until the groom appears and is able to unsaddle the horse etc.

In his own way I think that dog is a little hero, at least to his friend, the horse.