Eight cats and a dog join our UK-bound trip, and Dexter has a bath

After collecting Duchess and Maisie, Animalcouriers continued towards the French border, picking up more passengers along the way.

You may remember the story of Bandit — Christine had left her three cats, Cookie, Molli and Whiskey at a cattery in Javea, but sadly the cattery owner died. Lesley from Kittycare Cattery in Onil collected the cats and took them for microchipping and rabies vaccinations so they could get pet passports. However, Whiskey turned out not to be Whiskey at all, but a clever lookey-likey who’d spotted the opportunity for a new home.

Cat-lover Christine opened her heart to this intrepid stray, named him Bandit and decided to adopt him. Lesley dashed back to collect the real Whiskey, who travelled with Cookie and Molli last month. Now that his passport is ready, Bandit is on his way to join his new family.

Jodie is another cat-lover — while living on Ibiza she befriended a family of five cats — three kittens, their mum, and another young male. Jodie has moved to Wales, and the famous five are now on their way to join her. Jodie’s friend Ana accompanied them on the ferry to Denia, where she was met by Casa Antigua kennels and cattery who looked after them until we arrived.

Further north we picked up Catherine’s beautiful dog Floc in Girona, who’ll be met by Catherine’s daughter Debbie in the UK. From there we continued into France and spent the night near Narbonne.

Our first stop this morning was in Ruffec in the Charente to collect Pushkin. His family have already left for the UK and their neighbours are kindly overseeing Pushkin’s departure.

Then it was off to Rochechouart in the Limousin to collect tabby cat George. His owner, Jenny, has gone on ahead to the UK and George has been waiting for us at Caring Cattery, run by Barbara, an old friend of Animalcouriers. George is an affectionate fellow who greeted us with a ‘scratch my head’ sort of tone in his voice. Jenny was quite concerned about George travelling, but Barbara has reassured her. George himself seems pretty chilled out about the whole business.

Bandit — who could resist that face?

Fluffy, friendly Floc

Tanq and Elsa — Elsa is the mum of three cute and playful kittens:

Tortellini…

…Safi and…

Hendrix (with Tortellini)

Dexter’s handsome, colourful head

Dexter’s nosh — chopped veg and live worms!

Dexter looking refreshed after a good night’s sleep

Pushkin, today’s addition to our black-and-white cat contingent

This is the view Pushkin has left behind

Friendly, chatty George

Barbara’s lovely peaceful cattery at Rochechouart

Flowerpot men keep watch over Barbara’s cattery, so we know the cats are always safe and well cared for

Because Dexter’s eaten today, we were advised to pop him in a shallow bath — here he is in our hotel handbasin