Skip to content

Mr Pussy Gives His First Interview

October 19, 2013
by the gentle author

Recently, Mr Pussy was featured by Tom Cox as ‘Literary Cat of the Week’ in Under the Paw.


Name?
Mr Pussy
Nicknames?
They call me ‘Rosemary’ as a tease sometimes –  it is the name my first owner gave me as a kitten when she thought I was a girl. Hence the gender confusion.
Theme Tune?
Maybe it’s Because I’m a Londoner…
Age?
Twelve
Owners?
My first owner was a kind old lady called Valerie who loved gardening and taught me to love plants, but since her demise I live with the next generation.
Brief biography?
Born on the street in Mile End, then a wild five years in Devon catching rabbits and moorhens, but now back in the East End for good.
Catchphrase?
In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London.
Favourite Habits?
Perching on a window sill and looking down imperiously. Licking up fresh running water in the sink. Sitting in patches of sunlight and on paper bags.
What constitutes a perfect evening for you?
Stretched out before the iron stove in an insensible stupor of warmth.
Favourite food?
I am partial to licking chicken liver pate off a finger.
Defining moment of your life?
The death of my mistress Valerie seven years ago. I search for her every day and still live by the routine that I established with her. I have not given up hope she might come back if I wait long enough. Like Hamlet, I wear my black coat in eternal mourning.
If you could do one thing to make the world a better place for felines what would it be?
Tell everyone to sit still.
If you could meet a celebrity who would it be and why?
William Shakespeare, because we share an instinctive appreciation of the lonely poetry of the night.

Here follows a selection of Mr Pussy’s photography

Interesting street art on Brick Lane

Masterpiece by Banksy

The cat that wrote the dictionary

Attractive public sculpture in Bloomsbury

You may also like to read

The Ploys of Mr Pussy

Mr Pussy in the Dog Days

Mr Pussy is Ten

Mr Pussy in Winter

The Caprice of Mr Pussy

Mr Pussy in Spitalfields

Mr Pussy takes the Sun

Mr Pussy, Natural Born Killer

Mr Pussy takes a Nap

Mr Pussy’s Viewing Habits

The Life of Mr Pussy

Mr Pussy thinks he is a Dog

Mr Pussy in Summer

Mr Pussy in Spring

In the Company of Mr Pussy

and take a look at

The Cats of Spitalfields (Part One)

The Cats of Spitalfields (Part Two)

East End Cats (Part One)

East End Cats (Part Two)

Blackie, the Last Spitalfields Market Cat

17 Responses leave one →
  1. William Sovie permalink
    October 19, 2013

    Mr.Pussy: You handsome devil !

  2. Elizabeth Kales permalink
    October 19, 2013

    I love Mr. Pussy. What a great interview.

  3. October 19, 2013

    This has me feline really happy -at interview and photos! Valerie

  4. Jeannette permalink
    October 19, 2013

    love to you, mr. p. you are the coolest cat.

  5. Jill permalink
    October 19, 2013

    I’ve just turned the Today programme off (too depressing) and read your column. This is real life. Chicken liver pate, eh? Not the Felix kind, I’m guessing?

    Jill

  6. October 19, 2013

    Fantastic start to my Saturday – love his wize and succinct comments – and lovely photos to revel in on a wet morning.
    Paddy

  7. Greg Tingey permalink
    October 19, 2013

    Ratatosk (Lilac-point Birman tom) sends his compliments

  8. Beryl Happe permalink
    October 19, 2013

    Love it….really original.

    PS Congratulations on the Book Launch .. excellent.

  9. Sally permalink
    October 19, 2013

    Darling Mr Pussy – I loved your interview.

  10. Ros permalink
    October 19, 2013

    Well well, I always knew Mr Pussy was a cat of great discernment and a deep thinker, and now I find he takes apt and stylish photos too.

  11. October 19, 2013

    My mum’s cat liked licking sherry, cream and homemade vegetable soup off fingers! Discerning creatures these cats!

  12. Jane permalink
    October 19, 2013

    I hope you only sit on superior bags from the paper bag baron.

  13. Elizabeth cornwell permalink
    October 19, 2013

    Tigger thinks you are a very handsome chap& obviously a very deep thinker!

  14. Teresa Stokes permalink
    October 19, 2013

    By funny coincidence as I cycled through Gough Square yesterday I decided for the first time to take a photo of Hodge. Someone had left him two fivepence pieces in the bronze scallop shell beside him – I wonder how long they will stay there.

  15. October 20, 2013

    Love these photos! The Banksy piece is wonderful. I also was happy to see a sculpture of Hodge. We hoped to find a male cat when adopting our latest just so we could give him this name – there are very few literary names for cats, which as a librarian is of topmost importance! (We ended up with a girl kitty named Pulcinella after composer Domenico Scarlatti’s cat who inspired his “Cat Sonata” by walking on the keyboard – my husband is a harpsichordist so this was apt)

  16. Bev permalink
    October 21, 2013

    Poppet woudl love to curl up by the fire with you Mr P – she thinks you are soooo handsome!

  17. The cat family permalink
    December 21, 2013

    The cat family just wanted to say hello to Mr Pussy. We are a family of seven, one old boy called Willy, a mother cat (age approximately four) and her five (rather large) kittens (three years old with a variety of suitable names. We lived in the East End but have taken early retirement alongside the lady of the house and spend our days messing about by the river.

Leave a Reply

Note: Comments may be edited. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS