Sanjeev Bhaskar reads a letter about a reluctantly rehomed cat

One afternoon in 1960, a balding cat named Blackie was thrust upon novelist John Cheever by Josephine 'Josie' Herbst, an old friend who while visiting for lunch explained that she could no longer keep him. Cheever reluctantly homed the cat and renamed him Delmore after the poet Delmore Schwartz, the former wife of whom had once owned the cat in question. Alas, Cheever and Delmore didn’t get on; so much so that Cheever’s friendship with Herbst soon deteriorated and they ceased contact. The rift finally healed in 1963, when Cheever sent her an update by letter.

Sanjeev Bhaskar read this letter at Letters Live at the Freemasons Hall in March 2016.

[Anonymouse]

Cats will definitely let you know if they disagree with something. People who lived 3 streets away from me had a fantastic cat named Frank. When Frank was still young the people he lived with would go on a two week holiday. Frank didn't agree with being abandoned with a cat-sitter like that, so he took a massive dump on the doormat and ran off, showed up at my place and forced his way in through an open window. My own cats were very territorial but they somehow completely and utterly accepted this intruder, which is odd, when i woke up the next morning i found them snuggled up on the sofa with this strange cat in between them. Every time i gently chucked him outside he'd force his way in again so I asked around in the neighbourhood if they knew this cat and looked around everywhere if someone was missing a cat, but no luck. He wasnt chipped either, i couldn't figure out where he came from. Some three weeks later i found a note hanging on the door of a local store about a missing cat and when i rang the number it turned out to be Frank, they were so delighted to have their cat back. Every year for the next 14 years whenever they'd go on vacation, the cat would shit on the door mat before leaving to go live with either me or my direct neighbours (the rest of the year i'd not see Frank around at all lol) and every year i'd get a Christmas card from the people saying thank you for looking after Frank. Frank passed away a few years ago but i still get Christmas cards and we have a good laugh about it. He was amazing, it was always a lot of fun to have him around in the summers. I'd just text them to let them know Franky was at mine so their catsitter wouldnt worry and they'd be like 'Oh okay, i guess our doormat will need hosing down again' haha. Cats are the best. :)

[vickilindberg]

So nice to hear these classic British actors in a less formal & more humorous setting.

[IlGattonero]

My sympathies lie with Delmore. RIP, you poor misunderstood creature.

[mariannegeraud]

Cats are like no other creatures
They will always let you know exactly how they feel.... ignore them at your own risk!!!

[MelissaThompson]

With vigilance, Delmore will soon have John completely trained, but he is well on the way already.

[dorothysmith]

A letter about cats read by Sanjeev Bhaskar, one of my favorite English actors. Heaven. 🐈‍⬛

[blacksquirrel]

He really has that New England WASP banker persona nailed.

[mayday]

Cats will show you what they think of you. A friend was going away on vacation. Her travelling bag was standing on the floor with a pile of clean clothes in it and the lid open. Her cat jumped up on top of it and peed on the clothes, all the while looking her straight in the eyes.

[hunterGk]

If someone drop-kicked me I wouldn't forgive them either

[eh]

John Cheever did speak like this! He has not just the accent, but pretty good on the delivery, too.

[tommunyon]

An even more fun point of view: Letter 'from' a rehomed cat.

[jimpayne]

"I shall not overlook my own failures in this tale." 😄

[fins]

I've had 2 disappointing dogs but I have nothing but respect and love for the several cats I've had & the one I still have in my life.

[queenslanddiva]

I love Sanjeev and wow, that accent! Well done

[flannerymonaghan-morris]

His American accent is surprisingly good!

[stephjovi]

Absolutely brilliant 😂. Had to share this in a cat group. I hope some people will watch it and maybe it's a gateway drug to letters live 😻. Wish I found a link to only Elisabeth Taylor s letter to her missing cat. To post in cat groups

[naomihatfield]

I had a mouthful of cereal when he said “attempted to unscrew her eyeball, ” emphasis on *had.*. As one with a semi-low opinion of cats in general, this was a dangerously hilarious rendition of feline/human interaction.

[iandaroyal]

They should just try calling him by his given name

[rjwh]

I had a bad cat named “Bill.” Once he pooped in my open guitar case.

[WindTurbineSyndrome]

Cats are very territorial and often are not thrilled at being rehomed.