We had just said goodbye to our beloved Poppy when Pip appeared. No warning, no explanation — he simply turned up, as cats do when they have decided something, and made it quite clear he was staying. Nobody knew where he’d come from. The cat distribution system, as ever, had its reasons, and we have long since learned not to question them.
He was a cat of strong opinions and an excellent instinct for character. He adored little Tess, who he tolerated with the fond indulgence of someone who has a particular soft spot for the very young. He and Bella worked out their arrangement quickly and kept it — a companionship of mutual respect and shared warmth that was lovely to witness. As for my husband — well. Pip assessed the situation and reached his own conclusions, and he was not a cat who reconsidered.