The Gravy Incident occurred when Pedal and Sprocket were around five months old.
Despite being a good size, healthy and strong for their age, they were still spending a lot of time with The Cat and she was still happy to interact with them as she had done since they were born, grooming them and letting them nuzzle her belly.
It was mid-afternoon and they were all in the drive together. Not unusually, The Cat was grooming her ‘kittens’ – something which she and they really enjoyed – but, for some reason, taking a long time to clean Sprocket’s face. And then, in her eagerness to encourage her mother to keep washing her face, Sprocket tipped her face upwards and it was clear that the normally white fur around her mouth and under her nose and chin was a dirty brown colour. The fur looked matted and lumpy and Sprocket looked less than happy as can be seen from this series of photos which tells the story.
…here, let me wash your face, child…
…good heavens, what’s all this nasty sticky stuff in your fur?…
…it’s everywhere – it’s even under your chin…
…hold still, this might take some time…
…I’ll do your ears as well, just in case you managed to get any in there…
…do you know where she’s been, human? How did she get into this state?…
…Mamma says I have to stay in the garden until I look normal again…
By the way, we never got to the bottom of it!
