Many years ago in Martinborough there lived a lady named Norma Chapman and her cat Jonah. Norma had been a teacher at Martinborough School for many years and was now enjoying retirement with her beloved Jonah (named after Jonah Lomu). Jonah was no ordinary cat, he loved going for a walk with a collar and lead and then after a while would just follow Norma on the walk. He loved being groomed and would get quite upset if his daily brush was not forthcoming.
However, Norma’s family were moving to Australia and wanted Norma to move with them, but what to do with Jonah? Someone told her that there was a policeman in Masterton whose cat had just died but did not want a kitten. So off to the Masterton Police station goes Norma and Jonah with a list of instructions of how to care for him.
The policeman concerned was Stuart Mitchell whose wife Megan is well known to Martonians as the lovely nurse at the vet clinic in Martinborough.
For 12 years Megan and her family loved and cared for Jonah, following Norma’s instructions. He would rush to the door on the word “walkies” and even helped Megan move sheep around.
In the meantime, unbeknown to Megan, Norma had returned from Australia and was now in Wharekaka. It was not until after Jonah passed away that Megan found out that Norma had been just around the corner all these years.
Today Megan reunited Norma and Jonah after all these years, with the original sheet of instructions, the original vet care booklet and a lovely photo of Jonah. Norma was thrilled that her beloved cat had been so wonderfully loved and cared for even if, as she said slightly disapprovingly, that he looked a tad overfed.
