h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When she's out and I want her in, I can usually whistle at the door, and she shows up (providing she's within earshot).

Last night, I took a stroll with R, and the cat followed us a bit on the way. At one point i chased her homewards, because we were going near a busy road, and she stopped following.

I know she usually stays near where she's been stopped, so I suggested to R that we go back and pick her up. He laughed at this silly notion, but came with me anyway. I whistled at the cat, and she showed up just where we left her! And walked with us the last bit home!

I whistle for my cats and they come (well, two of them do). We take all three of them for a walk every day and they follow us like dogs. We live in a remote village in France and are known as the "mad English who walk their cats!!" That's fine with us! All three chatter, too, meep, chirrup, meow, hiss and moan. There's a particular sound they make when they've caught a mouse which is nothing like anything else. It's saying "hey, mum, look what I've brought you - and it's still warm!" Lovely.

That's the "deep throat moan", isn't it?

Yes, that's the one.

our cats, ted and tim, used to follow us to the pub and wait outside till we came out. then we'd all walk home together

My cat would hear the car coming from miles away and would be standing in the drive waiting. We nearly ran him down many a time.