The French Connection

Despite misgivings, Chris is lured into a cat-sitting war zone...

- Chris Pascoe

Do you ever move in with the cats you visit?" inquired the prospective client on the phone.

I was about to admit that I'd yet to meet a cat who'd inspired me to quite that level of emotional commitment, but then realised that the question as I'd first understood it would be an unlikely one.

"Do you mean to housesit? As in move into the house to look after the cat?" "Yes, that's exactly right. I need seven Maine Coons and four strays looking after for three weeks at my house in..." Every alarm bell in my head was going off as she spoke - for a start, she was talking about Maine Coons, the leonine giants of the cat world... and not just one, but seven of them.

How could anyone live in a house with seven Maine Coons? How could anyone have room? And four strays as well? Eleven cats! This was a definite no, no, no decision before she could even finish her sentence.