Post by lindenchase on Sept 19, 2008 16:07:38 GMT
I know this was posted (by me) a couple of weeks ago on another thread as well, but once more can't hurt and then I have posted all articles I have been able to salvage so far! ;D
Your Cat Magazine
October 2005
'Top Gear' presenter James May is known for his interest in either very posh or very basic cars and it seems he has similar taste in cats.
Fusker had all the makings of a high society cat. He came from a respectable background and musical one at that; the ideal companion for piano playing James you might think.
Instead he spends most of his time picking fights, upsetting the neighbours or down the local pub. "It all seemed quite promising." says James. "I thought he's be quite sophistacated but it turns out that he is a bit of a pikey. He picks fights with everthing, including the iron, vacuum cleaner, cars and bikes. He's a little sh*t."
It was the wife of James' TV co-presenter, Richard Hammond, who initiated the unlikely partnership. Having spotted James' weakness for cats she sprang into action having heard a litter of kittens needed new homes.
"It is quite well known that I like cats and we had cats when I was a kid but I was slightly wary of having one of my own as they need looking after.
"I was quite keen on black cats and so I was given Fusker (his name came from an old friend who hated cats and called them all Fuskers, a play on another word I think) who is black with a white bib. He looks like he should be wearing a top hat ike Fred Astaire and driving a 1960's coach-built Bentley but he'd be more likely to have an Opel Manta with a loud stereo and big exhaust!"
Love him or loathe him. Living in Hammersmith in West London, James admits the neighbourhood is divided when it comes to Fusker.
"Some are very fond of hm and he often spends the days with the old dears down the road but the other section hates him because he jumps on their bird tables. He's a real community cat and he's always in and out of houses and has his favourite armchair in each. However he's a bit clumsy and likes to chase flies but instead if picking his way through vases and wine glasses he knocks them over. I've not trained him to be like this I just think he's ill-bred, he's a peasant."
Fusker also frequents the church, where he is known to sit and watch the verger polishing the brass, and also the local pub.
James says: "The pub is about 100 paces from my house and I'll go there most evenings to find him already there sitting at the bar!"
This is a far cry from the scaredy cat who after being kept in for weeks in the early days would just have a quick look around outside before running back in.
"I think I was just as worried as him," admits James. "I thought he might run onto the main road and get run over but he seems to have worked out where is safe and where isn't. I also worry about losing him as he like to get into people's cars, although he hates them when they're moving. If I'm washing the car he'll climb in and curl up on the seat which is OK but the other day some guests were leaving a neighbour's house and he snuck into their car and nearly ended up in Leicester."
Soul Mates. While at times their relationship may be rather rocky, James does confess that he wouldn't be without 13 month-old Fusker.
"He's always biting me and having a go at me and is definitely not a lap cat but he's also quite comical. He looks thick because his eyes are quite close together but I'm besotted with him. I feel like I live in his house. When he wants feeding he biffs me with his head, or picks a fight or even sits on my shoulders but once I've fed him he'll bugger off. He seems to want to be with me but most of the time he keeps at arm's length. He also like to be with me when I'm playing the piano and he sits on it or under the still and if I play with the lid up he jumps inside and lies on the dumpers. Trouble is I don't realise until the notes stop working and then I have to fish him out.
"All in all he's not very loyal, he's a ruffian, he's not very bright or well-bred and he's not a very useful cat. However, he has the soul of a lion and I love him.
Copyright © Angela Lowe, Your Cat 2005
Your Cat Magazine
October 2005
'Top Gear' presenter James May is known for his interest in either very posh or very basic cars and it seems he has similar taste in cats.
Fusker had all the makings of a high society cat. He came from a respectable background and musical one at that; the ideal companion for piano playing James you might think.
Instead he spends most of his time picking fights, upsetting the neighbours or down the local pub. "It all seemed quite promising." says James. "I thought he's be quite sophistacated but it turns out that he is a bit of a pikey. He picks fights with everthing, including the iron, vacuum cleaner, cars and bikes. He's a little sh*t."
It was the wife of James' TV co-presenter, Richard Hammond, who initiated the unlikely partnership. Having spotted James' weakness for cats she sprang into action having heard a litter of kittens needed new homes.
"It is quite well known that I like cats and we had cats when I was a kid but I was slightly wary of having one of my own as they need looking after.
"I was quite keen on black cats and so I was given Fusker (his name came from an old friend who hated cats and called them all Fuskers, a play on another word I think) who is black with a white bib. He looks like he should be wearing a top hat ike Fred Astaire and driving a 1960's coach-built Bentley but he'd be more likely to have an Opel Manta with a loud stereo and big exhaust!"
Love him or loathe him. Living in Hammersmith in West London, James admits the neighbourhood is divided when it comes to Fusker.
"Some are very fond of hm and he often spends the days with the old dears down the road but the other section hates him because he jumps on their bird tables. He's a real community cat and he's always in and out of houses and has his favourite armchair in each. However he's a bit clumsy and likes to chase flies but instead if picking his way through vases and wine glasses he knocks them over. I've not trained him to be like this I just think he's ill-bred, he's a peasant."
Fusker also frequents the church, where he is known to sit and watch the verger polishing the brass, and also the local pub.
James says: "The pub is about 100 paces from my house and I'll go there most evenings to find him already there sitting at the bar!"
This is a far cry from the scaredy cat who after being kept in for weeks in the early days would just have a quick look around outside before running back in.
"I think I was just as worried as him," admits James. "I thought he might run onto the main road and get run over but he seems to have worked out where is safe and where isn't. I also worry about losing him as he like to get into people's cars, although he hates them when they're moving. If I'm washing the car he'll climb in and curl up on the seat which is OK but the other day some guests were leaving a neighbour's house and he snuck into their car and nearly ended up in Leicester."
Soul Mates. While at times their relationship may be rather rocky, James does confess that he wouldn't be without 13 month-old Fusker.
"He's always biting me and having a go at me and is definitely not a lap cat but he's also quite comical. He looks thick because his eyes are quite close together but I'm besotted with him. I feel like I live in his house. When he wants feeding he biffs me with his head, or picks a fight or even sits on my shoulders but once I've fed him he'll bugger off. He seems to want to be with me but most of the time he keeps at arm's length. He also like to be with me when I'm playing the piano and he sits on it or under the still and if I play with the lid up he jumps inside and lies on the dumpers. Trouble is I don't realise until the notes stop working and then I have to fish him out.
"All in all he's not very loyal, he's a ruffian, he's not very bright or well-bred and he's not a very useful cat. However, he has the soul of a lion and I love him.
Copyright © Angela Lowe, Your Cat 2005
