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Magic, Henri IV and Gaby are probably the three most pampered pussy cats in France. Having lost Peri, then Jolie and Sophie, we make the most of our time with our cats. All three get a walk round the patch at sundown and really complain if they don't get it. Magic and Gaby used to stay in at night, whereas his Majesty would roam outside, unless it was really cold. Last year Henri IV grew lazy and put on weight; he's now back to his fighting weight - or he would be if he wasn't such a wimp. All three have been on a régime, but Magic is still very podgy and Gaby needs a girdle.
Three large cats on our bed just got too much to bear, not just for the space but for the drifting fur. Now they're shut in the verandah overnight, where the food bowls are, so they're quite content.
They get on very well together; Magic tolerates Henri IV more than Gaby, who gets a paw round the ear if she's cheeky. All our cats adore being at Tessel Bas - the space and the tranquillity plus little excitements such as voles and moles to catch.
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Magic has settled down very well since she moved to France at the end of 2004. She now miaouws fluently in French and can "ronron" at least as well as she can "purr". She is still officially the best behaved and blackest cat in the universe. A soft, glossy coat belies her age of over 15 years, she still has occasional kittenish phases and clearly loves the freedom, the space and the fresh air at Tessel Bas. Recently she's started to suffer when it's cold with a touch of arthritis - she now has some anti-inflammatory medicine to lubricate the joints a little. Ian has resisted the temptation to try it himself...
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"Henri IV" is a stupid joke - Henri Quatre = Henri Cat (groan!). It's an appropriate name for this area, which was the stamping ground of Henri IV. He's a very pretty cat with ginger and white patches and a beautiful nature. Every winter he grows his winter coat with a fluffy, lion-like mane, then loses it all over the house when it warms up!
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Gabrielle d'Estrées, Marquise de Monceaux, Duchesse de Beaufort, was Henri IV's favourite mistress. Our Gaby is probably the most intelligent of the three; she's very talkative with a large vocabulary of "prrr-miaouws" and can be very loving. But she can also be naughty; sharpening her claws on our best Chinese rugs doesn't endear her to Mummy and she's the greediest cat, often going out of her way to have as much of the others' food as she can.
If the three were to be likened to celebrities, then Magic is definitely Judi Dench; dignified, but warm and can be quite kittenish on occasions. Henri IV would be Hugh Grant; pretty and attractive to the ladies but a little thick. Gaby is the Kate Moss of Tessel Bas; attractive in a louche sort of way, but can be very wicked on occasions.
Les Chats de Tessel Bas