My senior cat was named Kyat Momi Mousse au Lait by her breeder because she is a beautiful chocolate point Birman, but, before I had even seen her, I decided to call her Moonlight.

When I told an Australian man in Papua New Guinea with whom I was corresponding at the time that her mother’s name was Kyat Oktedis Miss Sophie, he told me that Ok Tedi means River Tedi, the name of the river in Papua New Guinea on which the mine where he was working was situated. He also told me that there was once a half Australian bushman who roamed the area whose name was Moonlite.

Moonlight is 12 years old now and has bad arthritis in her hips, but she has been true to the home-loving reputation of the Birman breed. He nickname is Whooska, because she has such magnificent whiskers.