We only had a short time with Saffron. Just under 2 years, however, we really grew to love her dearly in this time.

She came to us after she caught my eye on the VicDRG website. We had recently lost our great love, Dominique, a feisty tabby cat, and although I was still grieving I was fascinated by this ginger girl and arranged a meet and greet.

I found out that Saffi had been surrendered back to VicDRG at around 9 years of age and that she had been rescued by them as a kitten from the Melton Pound as was originally named Amaranthus.

When I met her Saffi had spent some months boarding at a local vet and I remember walking in and thinking how little she was and that she seemed a little haunted. Saffi was very wary of me and definitely did not want to be picked up, which I gathered straight away from the squeaks she made when I attempted to do so.

We originally arranged to foster Saffron, but decided to adopt her after a month or so. She was a very different cat to Dominique (except they were both food obsessed). Saffi had some behavioural issues, she was quite stubborn and liked to do things her way, including how she showed affection. We had to accept that she would not be a lap cat or be able to ever be picked up and like it, however, she displayed love in other ways by the way she smooched and rubbed up against us (especially when she wanted to be fed) and how she always wanted to be in the room with us and waited anxiously at the window for us to come home.

Saffron often made us laugh and one of our and other’s favorite memories of her is how she would eyeball us intently if she wanted our attention and if she did not get it in the time frame she wished she would get up on her back legs like a Meerkat and beg us. There is a photo attached that captures this. I have never seen a cat do this before.

Unfortunately, Saffron had some health issues that probably also impacted her behavioural issues. It started around December 2024 with hyperthyroidism and we ended up getting her radiation treatment which actually cured the thyroid issue, however, due there were other underlying issues that we are still not 100% sure about, but different health issues occurred with a diagnosis of diabetes in March/April 2025 and suspected pancreatic issues also.

Saffi had a turn on June 2nd, 2025 and the decision was made to put her out of her suffering. My husband Ed and I were both with her when she passed away.

We really loved Saffron. She was complicated which was understandable as she had been through a lot. I know we gave her the best life in her last few years. She was so fussed over and loved. We did everything we could for her and she was a great cat.

I wish we had more time with her. RIP Saffi.