She looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, doesn't she? This is my Bella, a Blue Birman, coming up for her 6th birthday. Although she has her own cat-flap into the enclosed back garden, she much prefers 'Front World', which lies beyond the front door, and makes a bolt for it as soon as she sees me heading in that direction. My own front garden is shingle and palm trees, not suitable for my lady Bella's dainty paws. No, she prefers the verdant greenery of Dave-Next-Door's front garden. It would put the Chelsea Flower Show to shame, and, although it's only small, it boasts an immaculate lawn and soft, rich flowerbeds. Bella loves the feel of the grass beneath her paws and has been known to dig small holes in the flowerbeds just to feel the earth between her claws. One morning last week she followed me out of the house and made a dive for Dave's. He was out at the time, but returned while she was sniffing his roses. He's a tall, gruff man, is Dave, who has absolutely no idea how to handle a cat, let alone a delicate, ladylike creature such as Bella. Thinking he was doing me a favour by bringing her back, he stood behind her and picked her up under her front paws, and carried her, dangling like a sack of spuds, along the road back to my garden. Bella showed her displeasure in a most unladylike way and wee'd all over him.
'Oh DIVE!' wailed Sand(ra), his wife. 'She's doin' a weeeeeeeee.'
Fortunately Bella had missed his trousers but his leather loafers caught most of it... At least he won't be trying to pick her up again in a hurry!
The usual way a Birman shows his or her annoyance is by coughing. I'm so glad Bella saved her special anger for Dave ...
