Thundercat was one of the three cats who arrived together from the direction of the other garden across the fields, where cats were also fed. Of his two companions, Ghost Cat might have been related (possibly a sister, or even his mother), but this is just conjecture; BBC, however, was completely black and completely different in appearance.

Thundercat was used to having humans around but not friendly and, despite visiting for several years, never became sociable (although with more time, he might have softened).

He was adult when he arrived, probably a couple of years old, and had ambitions to work his way up the alpha-male ladder. His first few visits were with Ghost and BBC, but once they had been to eat a few times, they started visiting independently. This is Thundercat’s ‘excuse-me-is-this-where-the-food-is?’ photo.

Despite being an ambitious young cat, Thundercat was not overtly aggressive cat and, after a settling in period when he was naturally very wary, fitted in well with the garden family who readily accepted him. He had an extraordinarily long tail which was even more obvious during the summer months when he moulted and looked skinnier than when he had first arrived in the winter.

He was at home in the garden, napping in the troughs and even joining the Garden Family on the water tank after breakfast – something that very few Visiting Cats did. He had first arrived when The Cat was still around; her liking for orange gentlemen meant that he was well-tolerated, even if he was a younger cat and around the same age as The Cat’s daughter, Flora. It was probably a bit like bringing your new boyfriend home for your mother’s approval – either way, Thundercat was welcome in the garden.

Over the time Thundercat visited, he matured, although his younger years meant that he still had a playful streak (not that he would have liked any of the other alpha-males to know his secret).

As the months and years passed, Thundercat remained lean and agile and never became solid and stocky like some. He seemed to know which battles he could win and which were not worth starting – and maybe he was a little more cautious than some as he had only partial sight in his left eye. We were always careful not to approach him from his left side in case we took him by surprise, and his sight probably accounted for his close encounter with a car on the road when he jumped over the gate to avoid Mr Bright, and ran straight under a car. Luckily, although we heard the rear wheels hit him, he carried on running and escaped with some bruising to his ribs. Hopefully it made him think twice about running out into the road again.

He was a self-contained cat, he had his own agenda and plans, but also a softer side which made him seem approachable and more amiable than some of the other males.

All in all, he was a free spirit, he came and went as he pleased, he knew he was always welcome and that we respected his boundaries, which made him feel safe.