August was a masterclass in local neighbourhood patrols. The month brought a solid 6 cats to the tally, proving that you don’t always need a cat café when the local Devon felines are out enjoying the summer.
The Marldon and Dawlish Encounters The month kicked off with a greeting from a lovely kitty my in-laws have named Blackie over in Marldon. Shortly after, the classic ‘fence kitty’ strategy paid off once again in Dawlish, where a beautiful white cat was perfectly positioned for a mid-walk petting session. Fence cats truly are the unsung heroes of this mission, saving us from having to crouch on the pavement.
Kingskerswell and the Ellacombe Steps Over in Kingskerswell, I crossed paths with a wonderfully scraggly black-and-white kitty. But the real surprise came back at the local steps. After finding a tabby and a Ragdoll there in July, August delivered an absolute giant: a Maine Coon! It seems the steps are rapidly becoming Torquay’s premier hotspot for high-quality feline encounters.
Back Lane Discoveries To round out the month’s patrols, I found a lovely ginger tabby lurking down a local back lane, and finally, a classic tabby enjoying the day. A highly successful, entirely local month of fieldwork.
The Tally So Far:
- Previous Total: 478
- August 2026: 6 cats
- New Total: 484 / 1,000
With 484 officially on the board, the true 500 milestone is just 16 cats away.