Three months ago, the specialist vet described Sophie as 'a very sick pussy cat'.  After a raft of tests, we worked with our regular vet and, finally, after three months Sophie is now collar-free and (so far) not over-grooming.  She will be on meds for the rest of her little pussy cat life, but she seems to be happy and, overall, healthy.

When I took her with me to church on Christmas Day (the vet said she should on no account be left at home) I wondered how much longer we might have... as we pass Easter, I know she's a senior cat with conditions that will eventually catch up with her, but she has a good quality of life, at least for now.

Maybe that's some sort of parable or something - about not changing the overall trajectory but at least making the most of the the here and now - and maybe it's just an excuse to put more cat photos on the internet which is, after all, why it was invented.