http://www.yourcat.co.uk 27“To be able to
acknowledge what
Genie has done for
Evie is amazing.”
away from home in
Nottingham and Birmingham.
Throughout it all, it was
Genie who helped her cope.
During her painful
treatments, Evie would watch
video footage of her beloved
pet from her hospital bed. She
says: “I missed her every day
I was in hospital, and my
family could tell she missed
me. She’s my best friend and is
always there when I need her.”
Evie would tell her doctors
all about Genie, and as she
couldn’t have many visitors
due to her low immune
system, she became quite
lonely and relied on Genie
for companionship.
“She’s been absolutely
amazing while I’ve been
poorly,” says Evie. “Even
before I was diagnosed, she’d
come and rub herself around
my right leg. I think she knewthere was something wrong.
“She was moulting as well
when I lost my hair. I’d wake
up and my hair would be on
my pillow, and when I went
downstairs, her fur would be
on the floor in the living room.
It was like she was sharing
what I was going through.”
Tina adds: “It was cuddles
from Genie that helped her.
Genie would come and sit on
Evie’s bad leg and was really
attentive to her; she was
a little star.”
Even when Evie was in
hospital in Nottingham, Genie
would look out for her. Tina
says when they pulled up on
the drive, Genie would come
running to see if Evie was
in the car. If she was, Genie
would follow her into the
house; if not, she’d just run
off again.
“Cats just know when
something is wrong. They say
dogs are in tune with these
things but I didn’t expect a cat
to be,” says Tina.
Evie had her final
treatment in June 2017
and is now in remission.
She has bi-monthly X-rays
to make sure the cancer
doesn’t return, but Tina
says she’s looking very well
and has been undergoing
physiotherapy to help her withher walking, and she uses
a wheelchair or crutches when
she gets tired.A WORTHY WINNER
Evie spotted an appeal
for applications for Cats
Protection’s National Cat
Awards, and suggested to
Tina they should nominate
Genie. They entered her
into the Outstanding
Rescue Cat category, which
commemorates cats who have
been adopted.
Genie went on to win the
title, as well as the overall
prize of Cat of the Year at
the awards ceremony at The
Savoy Hotel in London.
A celebrity judging
panel — made up of writer,
broadcaster, and journalist
Andrew Collins; actress
Anita Dobson; actor Paul
Copley; Olympic clay pigeon
shooter Charlotte Hollands;
The Vamps musician James
McVey; actor Anthony Head;
animal therapist Sarah Fisher;
and TV psychologist Jo
Hemmings — had the difficulttask of choosing the winners.
“We didn’t think we’d get
far, as there were so many
lovely stories, but we were so
pleased when Genie won!”
recalls Tina. “To be able to
acknowledge what Genie has
done for Evie is amazing.”
Receiving the prize for Cat
of the Year, Evie said at the
awards: “I’m utterly stunned.
I really can’t believe it. Genie
deserves this so much.
I was so happy to win our
category, but to win again
is really amazing, incredible.
It’s fabulous; I’m shocked,
surprised, and delighted by
my cat at the same time.
Genie will be getting some
extra treats tonight.”
Presenting the award, Anita
Dobson said: “This year’s vote
was really close. They were all
such worthy category winners
but one had to win; in the end,
it just had to be Genie. None
of us could fail to be moved by
the close bond that these two
share — a well-deserved win.”
Evie adds: “We’re so pleased
she won — I thought maybe
she’d win the Outstanding
Rescue Cat category but not
the overall prize! It was a big
surprise. It was such a brilliant
day at the awards.” —
and has been underggoing
physiotherapy to helpp her withand TV psychologist Jo
Hemmings— had the difficultGenie was rescued
from Wood Green.Evie with
her award.26-27 YC Evie-Real Life CS RACC.indd 27 26/09/2017 15:08