In which we meet an old aquaintance

Last year we met a small black cat in the garden.  Actually I was cleaning the interior of the car (well someone had to) and he popped up beside me and tried to jump inside.  We have had a very strict rule of “no cats in the car” ever since Tora (who was a snow Bengal with cream coloured fur), totally ruined the upholstery of our Landrover with a combination of clawing and shedding.  So the little black cat wasn’t allowed in and he gave me a bit of a disdainful look and moved on.  He seemed to be one of those cats who basically can take you or leave you; neither friendly and purring, nor frightened, nor aggressive.  Then we did not see him again for six months and we thought he had just wandered into the area and had wandered back out.

But today I was working in the garden (as ever) and he was back.  I think he is a neutered male, but he is still small and skinny.  I don’t think he is a stray because he has lovely glossy fur and he also did not seem hungry.  He had a roll in the flower bed and allowed his tummy to be tickled.

Saphy and Amber watched him from the porch but seemed unconcerned.  Then he sauntered off and with a huge feat of agility (which leads me to believe he is in great condition) he sprang up a tree and on to the wall.  In the picture you can see him if you look closely.

He seems a nice little cat and he is welcome in the garden provided he doesn’t start bothering the ladies.  I am NOT starting feeding him though – he is someone else’s cat and that way disaster lies.  I nearly said “belongs to someone else” but in the context of cats, that is of course nonsense.