I work with a very inspiring young music teacher called Kate Robinson. This is her beautiful cat, Millie. I just love her pretty pink paws. This is what Kate told me about her pet:

“Millie was sold to me quite illicitly via Gumtree from a lady in Newcastle. She is a geordie girl! When I went to visit Millie she looked at me with her big, then blue, eyes (mid-playfight) and the inappropriate price being asked for her didn’t matter anymore, because I completely fell in love with her! She is a very cheeky little girl who loves bathwater, toy mice (she can’t catch real ones) and trying to sleep under the duvet with her mummy! She is now nearly 2 years old.”

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My husband John spotted and snapped this cat when he was out and about. That’s it really…

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The lovely Lynda Dixon has recently embarked on a new phase of her life, leaving an old job behind and starting up her own business. It’s at unsettling times like this that the services of a friendly cat are much needed. I hope beautiful Fudge is stepping up to the plate and providing cuddles and purrs on demand. It’s his duty as a feline.

Claire Donlan has sent me some photographs of her cat, Cleo. She arrived from the cat orphanage 7 years ago when she was about three. Unless I’ve made a wine-induced mistake, she is about ten now…

Claire tells me that Cleo is ‘small and determined and although she likes sitting on laps and being stroked, she also likes to scratch people’s legs and chase dogs!’

Furthermore, she has very pretty white socks.

Today’s image is the first of two beautiful pictures which my friend Corinne has sent me from France (I’m saving the other for another day). 

Corinne’s son Thibaut took this picture one fine Saturday on a walk in Bruniquel, near to Caussade where there is a beautiful castle.

J’espère que j’ai raconté la bonne histoire et merci à toi Corinne! 

Today is an In Memoriam post about a fabulous cat called Amber who lived with Lynne McBoyle in Scotland. It’s best to read Lynne’s own recollections of her much-loved pet:

I have had cats who were passionate about shoes, boots and handbags. But I have never had one who followed me to school! How wonderful Amber must have been.

Today, in late March, I made my first attempt at photographing a friendly cat I met in the street. This black and white female was very happy to come for strokes and a chat, but didn’t know how to pose for pictures. This photo was the best one, after she got bored and strolled away. Oh well …
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I have waited since January for a photograph of my friend Helena Butterfield’s cat Phoebe. She emailed this picture of her out the blue tonight. I’m tickled that she took Phoebe’s picture just as she was making herself comfortable beside Helena’s laptop. It’s just how I have always imagined Phoebe. I hope Helena takes and sends another photograph soon.

Today was our final day in France and I’m just trying to squeeze all my French goodies into my suitcase. My Cat A Day blog seems to have interested my French friends and colleagues. They think I’m maybe a little odd, but they like to see their cats on the internet. I’m hoping even to be able to show the Head Teacher’s cat as a guest one day soon. In the meantime, I’m delighted to show another photograph of Minette, who lives at the house where I am staying. I must also mention again how kind my host family, Michel and Genevi??ve have been. I will never forget my first raclette!

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Platon (French for ‘Plato’) belongs to Corinne David, who is the Intendate (sort of Bursar) of our French partner school. Corinne has kindly hosted teachers on the exchange for two years in a row. We love to stay with her because she is kind, fun and a great cook. PLUS, she lives AT the school, so if you stay at he appartment, you can sleep late. Platon prowls round the school playground and buildings all night and rules the place with a furry grey paw.
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