Guest

Referred to as 'Guest' because, strictly speaking, he is not one of our cats. He visits on a regular basis for snacks, sometimes has a sleepover. He visits other people in the neighbourhood too and we noticed that someone has given him a Christmas haircut - he had a clump of something stuck to his head but this has now been removed and he looks very chic.

Even though he's not one of our cats Roland calls him 'Toby'. Guest takes no notice at all when he is called using that name.

'Guest' is also a good name for him as he is a bit mysterious, like the creature in 'The Doubtful Guest' by Edward Gorey: artist, writer, illustrator and 'modern master of the American gothic'. I love his work!

Some of the lines from 'The Doubtful Guest' in particular that I think relate a little to our Guest are:

It joined them at breakfast and presently ate
All the syrup and toast, and part of a plate.

- he has a hearty appetite.

Now and then it would vanish for hours from the scene,
But alas, be discovered inside a tureen.

- he sometimes vanishes for days, but we have yet to find him hidden inside any of our cupboards.

That's Roland, seen through the window. I've just noticed that he looks a bit like Edward Gorey ....