The last thing I want to do is stoke the endless battle between cat people and dog people, but no one can deny that cats had the upper paw during the first strict phase of lockdown.

Lockdown is heaven for cats. Permanent laps to sit on and staff constantly on hand to fill bowls. Dogs, during phase 5, could not understand why their owners refused to take them out. They protested loudly, if the howling and barking in my neighbourhood was anything to go by.

Cats do not have to be walked. They don’t bark and they don’t bite the postman (well, hardly ever). Also they dispose of their own poop by burying it. ..