All cats are different, just like humans, but one thing that stood out from early on was that The Cat was a very long cat. She was definitely not what you would call ‘compact’ (like She-ba or Cheese), but long, sinuous and slender. And her body shape was something that some, but not all, of her offspring inherited.

And one who inherited it was Blackfur. In fact, all three kittens in that litter were long, but maybe it was because Blackfur was the last born and the smallest that he seemed noticeably longer than some others. Or maybe it was because, from only a few weeks old, his favourite sleeping position was upside down, meaning that we saw a lot of his belly. This was something that lasted right through his life, although not something he would do if he was not relaxed and comfortable.

So here are some photos from the first eighteen months of Blackfur’s life, showing him asleep upside down.

Just four weeks old, and the signs were there…

Sixteen weeks old, and littermates Whitefur and Greyfur were doubtless quite used to their brother’s antics…

One year old and not a lot had changed…

Fifteen months old and in ‘I-can-sleep-anywhere’ mode…

Twenty months old, and Blackfur was looking more like he had at four weeks than ever…