I was getting ready to go to bed. The time was 2:30 am. While I stood brushing my teeth, I saw out of the corner of my eye a shadowy figure pass the passageway outside the bathroom door. My heart took a leap. I froze. I looked around but saw nothing. Carefully I walked into the lounge with toothbrush in hand. There I saw him. It was Chester, the dark figure set against the lighter grey carpet. It seemed he too had been unable to sleep in the heat, also become restless, in need of company. He came up and brushed against my legs and licked my feet, a thing he never did in the past. I was trying to concentrate on brushing my teeth. He’s no touchy feely cat but only used to meow when he was hungry, only stopping when he had been given pellets to eat.

When he saw I had finished doing my teeth, he manoeuvred me through to the kitchen then started to seriously meow until I had placed a plate of pellets before him. He then settled to crunch them. I had only given him a small helping, so I was distressed to note that he’d left some! I hate it when he wastes any. I do not like to have to throw them away.

A large moth caught his eye! It flew into the bathroom. Though Chester seems an old, slow and heavy cat, I had never seen him jump up so eagerly and attack his prey with so much energy. He balanced on the rim of the bath with his head following the movement of Moth as it flew in circles around the ceiling light. It amazed me the way his brain processes the sensory information it receives allowing him to remain sure footed, despite his head weaving from side to side, up and down, around and around. I switched off the bathroom light and switched on the light, outside, in the passageway. This brought Moth down to Chester’s level. He immediately attacked it as it flew into the washbasin.

Moth didn’t like Cat’s aggression. It flew out into the passage, and on towards the insect killer light trap in the kitchen. Chester dashed to the kitchen. With agility, he hopped onto the work surface next to the hob. Moth flew higher, so once more I turned out the light. Cat’s eyes are so sensitive. As Moth descended, Cat was able to watch his every move. Cat stealthily crept forwards, turning the corner where I keep the small bottles of olive oil. I pushed these aside to prevent any accident. By this time Moth had tucked himself behind the hanging implements next to the insect killer light trap. Cat mounted the hot air fryer but was still unable to reach his quarry.

Frustrated, Cat gave up and for the first time ever, I saw him go back to finish off his meal of cat pellets! I then busied myself, preparing for bed. Although I called him gently, he slunk off in a huff to find easier prey out in the dark of night away from my interference and prying eyes.