Good bye to a furry friend

Our much loved cat fell from the window last night. He had been in the family for about 12 years and was Russian. We found him in a Benetton shop in a big shopping center in Red Square Moscow, when my wife was posted here about ten years ago for one year. He was just a kitten when we found him sitting in a ladies changing room in the shop.

He survived the Russian streets before we found him then went to the UK in London and survived six months quarantine, then survived Slovakia where we lived for five years, then he survived the trip back to Moscow, only to die here. Its been so hot here and the flat is in direct sunlight from noon till dark and gets very hot. My wife opened the window fully rather than just half way and he went out onto the window ledge, we tried to catch him but he fell 6 floors. I stayed with him and he died after 20 minuets. It was very sad and very painful for him and us.

When moving to Moscow, make sure if you have children and animals that your windows have locks on them and are twist and turn, the type that open in and half way. You can also put nets on the outside as a double protection and to stop flies getting in. We persuaded the flat owner to put locks on and nets onto some of the windows but flats are still very dangerous places. I grew up in a house with a garden, so they are not really my thing but needs must when you live in a big expensive city.

I hope he is up there sleeping in the sun, eating a nice piece of fish or if there is such a thing as reincarnation, that he comes back as a happy person and has a good long life. He was a much loved friend.