side-effects of spring

The useful thing about having a cat with white bits is that he shows the dirt.

Of course, were he a carpet or an item of upholstery, this would be a bad thing. But, in cats, him showing the dirt means I have a reasonable chance of detecting it before he jumps all over my carpet/upholstery. Like this morning, when he returned (contented) from his trip outside, with dark grey paws instead of his usual white. I managed to crashtackle him, and dunk his feet in the sink before he wandered through the house scattering dirt everywhere.

I did end up with a shirt covered in fur, and a ruffled, wet-pawed cat retreating behind the curtains to sulk... but that was hardly unexpected.