In his last 3 years and in colder weather, Oedipuss would stand right by the woodburner and look at you in a way that said he expected it lit. When you did light it, he would stand sort of hunched facing it and appearing miserable until it put some heat out. He’d then flake out in front of it, moving back when he got too hot. From then on, if the stove was going well, he’d alternate between cooling off and lying down very close to it. He’d never opt for a mid position.

Mewan’s favourite indoor daytime spot at the moment is the windowsill in my parent’s bedroom. It can be good in 2 ways. The radiator is under the middle part so she can get some heat that way and it gets the sun (when we have any) until late afternoon. She will position herself left, right or middle depending on which part is the warmest.

She does like a bit of time outside in the afternoon if the weather’s fair though. The current ritual is that Pip unlatches the bedroom window, walks round the house, opens the window from the outside and the cat climbs on her shoulders. They then make their way to the bench in the field where the cat is given a treat. They sit together for a while then the cat makes her move. This can vary between her expecting to be carried back in to her wandering off and perhaps if its sunny, staying out for a couple of hours.