EVEN for a nation of animal lovers Sarah Walker seems to have an uncanny connection to her pet cat.And as Sarah recovers from an eye-operation today her long-suffering cat will be hoping the worst is over for his own sake.

EVEN for a nation of animal lovers Sarah Walker seems to have an uncanny connection to her pet cat.

And as Sarah recovers from an eye-operation today her long-suffering cat will be hoping the worst is over for his own sake.

Because a bizarre set of coincidences has shown how the couple seem to share each other's pain.

It appears that every time the 35-year-old gets ill, her cat suffers a similar fate - but only much worse.

In a case that would neatly slot in to an episode of the X-files, Ebony is now wandering the village of Saxmundham on three-legs, with no teeth and only one eye to keep a look out for danger.

The 12-year-old jet-black moggy may not win first prize in a feline Crufts but Sarah loves him all the same.

The relationship is strengthened even more by what can only be described as more mysterious circumstances.

The strange events began five years ago, just a month after Sarah broke her leg after a motorcycle accident.

One day Ebony did not come home as normal. He was found barely conscious lying by a bin.

Sarah said: "We think he was hit by a car and just dumped by the bin. He was so seriously hurt the vet had to amputate his right hind leg."

After moping around for a couple of days, Ebony quickly got used to walking on three legs and was soon back to his old self.

"People are amazed when the see him balancing on just two legs to clean himself with the other. He is so good at it that I have to point it out to them," Sarah added.

Then a couple of years later Sarah started getting pain in the back of her mouth. After consulting a dentist she was advised to have her wisdom teeth extracted.

Shortly after the operation, Ebony contracted gum disease and had to have all his teeth out.

Sarah said: "He looked very uncomfortable at first but again he quickly recovered. The vet said he would have to eat soft food only from now on, but he still manages to eat his favourite biscuits after sucking on them for a while."

Ebony never used to hunt other animals before his operation so his lack of deadly weapons should not inconvenience him too much.

But that was not the end of his torment. Last month Ebony had an eye removed after an ulcer on it failed to heal.

In an almost unbelievable coincidence Sarah went into hospital last Wednesday to have an operation to correct a squint in her eye.

Sarah said: "After so many strange coincidences people are starting to wonder why we have suffered such similar problems. I haven't got an answer.

"But Ebony is such a happy cat and I think that that is amazing considering all that he has been through. He has shown tremendous courage to fight back in the face of adversity."

N Do you know of any strange animal related coincidences? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk