Mr Pussy Gives His First Interview
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
and take a look at
The Cats of Spitalfields (Part One)
Mr.Pussy: You handsome devil !
I love Mr. Pussy. What a great interview.
This has me feline really happy -at interview and photos! Valerie
love to you, mr. p. you are the coolest cat.
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
Fantastic start to my Saturday – love his wize and succinct comments – and lovely photos to revel in on a wet morning.
Paddy
Ratatosk (Lilac-point Birman tom) sends his compliments
Love it….really original.
PS Congratulations on the Book Launch .. excellent.
Darling Mr Pussy – I loved your interview.
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.
My mum’s cat liked licking sherry, cream and homemade vegetable soup off fingers! Discerning creatures these cats!
I hope you only sit on superior bags from the paper bag baron.
Tigger thinks you are a very handsome chap& obviously a very deep thinker!
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.
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)
Poppet woudl love to curl up by the fire with you Mr P – she thinks you are soooo handsome!
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.