Try to imagine …

Having a quasi-feral mog; one from a litter of strays that were all going to be put head down in a bucket but were saved by a soft-hearted woman (you’re quite correct – it was not I) who passed one of them to me, needy as I was of a cat. No way I could’ve shared a dwelling with a person; but a cat ? – perfect.

Imagine him growing under my “care”. This alternated, I will admit, between giving him squashing hugs and loud kisses, and shouting at him to leave me alone. I don’t think this would’ve...