My Pet: ‘Tom is the boss and looks after all the others. It’s clear that they have a huge amount of respect for him’

When Tom walked into the lives of Monica Meehan and her family in Lissycasey, Co Clare, little did they know that one skinny scaredy-cat would soon be the source of six adored pets

My Pet: Tom, who belongs to Monica Meehan in Co Clare

Tom (also known as Tomzie, Tombomb and The King) wandered into our driveway eight years ago as a skinny, hungry, scrawny and scared cat. We gave him lots of food and attention, and he kept coming back. For the first few days, he would call on his own. Then after about a week, he brought his girlfriend with him. We named her Nala.

Soon afterwards she had five kittens, and three of them are still with us. Nala brought a further two kittens to our door, and they are in situ also. Nala never felt the need to stay with us, but would call for breakfast and dinner each day. Sadly, she went to her eternal home in January.

Now, our family of cats includes Tom, Cheeky, Geri, Pudden, Snowy and Baby. They emerge from their slumber at around 7am each morning and greet us at the front door with a chorus of meows for breakfast. They lounge around all day, and all will be present at the front door patiently waiting to fill those big tummies when dinner is served at 5pm.

Tom is the boss and looks after all the others. It’s clear that they have a huge amount of respect for him. He is kind and caring, and has a very special relationship with our daughter, Zoey; they are best buds. He loves a shoulder massage, which Zoey eagerly gives to him on demand, and lots and lots of head butts and fist bumps.

He is one of a kind, The King himself. We love him dearly and wouldn’t be without him.

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