The Cat’s preference for orange gentlemen was well-known, and, in the years following the departure of The Cat’s son Ana Half-Tail (pictured in the header photo), there was only one period during which there was not at least one orange alpha-male, plus a rival of a different colour, at any given time.

There were certainly some similarities between these orange alpha-males (colour apart), but whether their family trees all led back to the same ancestor is a question which will never be answered.

The reign of these four alpha-males covers the period following the departure of Ana and Mr Grey (Ana’s alpha-male rival) up to one year after we lost The Cat.

Firstly, there was Saturday who was a firm favourite of The Cat’s. He was her first companion after Ana Half-Tail left and, when Saturday disappeared, the position of orange alpha-male was taken by G7. Of all the orange gentlemen, Saturday was The Cat’s favourite (discounting her son Ana Half-Tail, of course).

The Cat was not as fond of G7 as she had been of Saturday, but all the same G7 was around for a while. He was patient with the kittens and fitted in well.

Following the departure of G7, there was a gap in continuity which was probably when NVQ was in his prime. And then Mr Bright arrived and balance was restored. Mr Bright had the longest reign of any of the orange males.

And finally, Izambard the Italian aka Izit who was a little different inasmuch as he was a paler orange, and more of a peach colour. He and Mr Bright were in the neighbourhood at the same time, both strong and ambitious alpha-males with something to prove.

Other orange cats were available, but these were at the top of the alpha-male tree in their time, and, although they were all very different characters, they all had formidable reputations.