Long, hot summers and cool, damp winters took their toll on humans and animals alike, and the cats were no exception.
For some, their appearance in the summer months was quite different without the benefit of their thicker winter coats as, like The Cat, under all that fur there was sometimes surprisingly little bulk.
Of course the passing of time also had an effect and there were cats who we observed go from adolescence through adulthood and into old age, the changes in their appearance and body being less due to the seasons and more down to their advancing years.
The four males featured today all had periods when they looked worryingly scrawny, followed by periods when they filled out and regained their condition.
Thundercat in the early summer looking thin and out of condition…
…and Thundercat in the autumn, fur thickened up and carrying more weight.
BBC in the early summer looking under par. HIs usually fluffy coat was unkempt and his eyes were watery…
…and BBC six months later in the autumn, sporting his luxurious fluffy coat and plume of a tail.
Izit at the start of the hot weather looking lean…
…and Izit in the winter months, carrying a lot more weight and with his fur thickened up against the cold and damp.
Muffin in the summer, his body underweight and his fur looking thin…
…and Muffin in the autumn, carrying more weight and with his fur providing more protection against the elements.
One things was for sure – there was always something to worry about when caring for outdoor cats, but thankfully much of the time, the humans’ worries came to naught.
