Potemkin’s Likes
Potemkin likes his master St John Screech. In fact, he adores him though of course he doesn’t often make his feelings known. He enjoys Celia’s presence and is happy to show approval if she does something to please her brother. Whilst he is a house-cat by choice and has a flat of considerable proportions to roam around in, he does occasionally enjoy sneaking out of the window and basking in the sun on the window ledge. He has been caught in the act on two occasions and Screech has taken to keeping the window mostly closed. This has not prevented him from taking in the sun but means it is bit of a squeeze to get out as he, like his master, is inclined to plumpness.
Potemkin is a cat of taste and appreciates the finer things in life, mainly food. He prefers fresh food – wild salmon (not farmed), ham (organic from the butcher’s in Crawford Street), prawns (fresh not frozen) though he understands that Screech’s busy life prevents him from providing him with freshly prepared food on a daily basis. He will tolerate canned food of the gourmet variety as long as it is enhanced with a prawn or two but, as all cat owners know, just because he likes a brand one day, it does not mean he will the next. Potemkin loves milk but it invariably makes him sick.
Potemkin’s favourite position is on Screech’s lap and his second favourite position is lying across his master’s feet in bed.
Potemkin’s Dislikes
Potemkin dislikes all other people. In particular, he loathes Sergeant Bruce Bravo, who has had the unenviable task of looking after him while Screech was away with Cecilia and Vladimir in St Petersburg. Potemkin spent the first few days under Screech’s bed and only came out, late at night, to grab a bite to eat. The experience of sharing Screech’s flat with Bruce Bravo was so distasteful to him that he decided he would rather go to a cat hotel than spend a moment more with his master’s Sergeant. He suspects the feeling is mutual.
Potemkin dislikes any sudden movements or noise or when, on the rare occasion, Screech loses his temper. And he absolutely hates to be unceremoniously thrown off his master’s lap in the midst of a pleasant dream or when in a trance-like state. This only happens when Screech has had a sudden revelation or a moment of inspiration but unfortunately it happens rather often. Potemkin does not enjoy being shut out of the kitchen either when Screech is cooking but realises that there is a serious danger of being stood on and he does understand that getting under someone’s feet may be a source of some irritation.