Update: 19 September 2026

Cassie & Elly 🐾DOB June 2011

Elly June 2011 to 2 - September 2026

15 years old (2026) | European Shorthair / Tuxedo sisters

Cassie and Elly are sisters from the same litter and the very first cats I ever adopted. They were born in a friend’s garage to a stray cat they had been feeding. I knew very little about cats at the time—not even their sexes when I brought them home at about 4 weeks of age.

Despite being sisters, they couldn’t have been more different.

Elly was friendly, sociable, outgoing, and loved people. She was incredibly vocal and had no problem screaming at me in the morning until I got out of bed. She loved a vigorous bum pat, could be quite the bossy girl with the other cats, and was very jealous when she was getting attention from me—anyone else trying to join in would promptly be swatted away! Elly was medicated for hypertension and was FIV+.

After a very brief illness (less than a week) Elly was put to sleep by my vet. She had developed very sudden vestibular syndrome, resulting in ataxia and the loss of certain functions, including the ability to swallow. She had a brain tumor. She didn't suffer for long at all and wasn't in pain, she was just very dizzy. Her loss is a very sad one for me.

Cassie is the complete opposite: über-shy, sensitive, and deeply attached to me. Anyone coming into the house—or even knocking on the door—will usually send her straight into hiding inside the sofa. She is very nervous and has sometimes self-harmed during periods of stress. Yet with me, she is incredibly loving and very chatty. She tells me the most earnest little stories, and I only wish I could understand what she is trying to say.

Cassie suffers from severe separation anxiety and her favourite thing in the world is, apparently, *me*. She is always watching where I am and what I’m doing. She enjoys her evening walks around the terrace, and will only come out of hiding for two other people: my mum and my friend Graciela. She especially loves visits from my mum, whom she completely trusts and will happily go to for cuddles. Cassie also loves making biscuits on my chest.

And despite their very different personalities, both girls had one thing in common: they liked to sleep as close to my face as physically possible. I miss Elly on my chest every night but I still have Cassie on my pillow next to me. ❤️

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