Like most people who lose a beloved pet, Nicole Green is grieving for her cat Poppy. The playful tabby arrived in Nicole’s life 15 years ago as a lively kitten and soon became a big part of her family. ‘Poppy was always such a boisterous little thing,’ says Nicole, 38, an insurance underwriter from Epping, Essex. ‘She loved being out in the garden and every summer I’d look out of the window and see her flying through the air trying to catch butterflies. Then at night she’d be so loving and would curl up close to me on my bed. That’s the thing I miss most, our snuggle time.’
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Nicole Green's cat Poppy is one of 1.3m UK cats and dogs with dementia
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Half of all cats aged over 15 suffer from dementia, and 41 per cent of dogs aged over 14
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Janice Care's dog Zoe was diagnosed with dementia last year
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Pets are being stricken by the disease because of rising life expectancy
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Research shows that rabbits, guinea pigs and parrots also suffer
‘Three months ago @placeholder managed to squeeze through a gap in the fence and I found her wondering in the grounds of the local hospital looking lost.