Chilli

This is a photo of Janet Frame's last cat Chilli, with Chilli's own adored toy cat.

Janet adopted young Chilli from the SPCA after her beloved cat Penny died.

The name "Chilli" came ready-made with Chilli, and at first Janet tried to find a better name for her, loaded with the usual multiple meanings and significances, but Chilli wouldn't answer to anything else, even names that sounded similar to hers ("Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang" was one of the attempted new monikers, although whether that had any particular literary merit I couldn't say).

Chilli bonded closely with Janet in the few months they had together - she was a perfect companion cat for an invalid; she seemed content to stay on the bed with Janet and liked to lick her hand as if offering comfort.

Chilli seemed quite bereft when Janet died, but before too long she found a loving new home with a new friend, and she's well and happy these days. Although the toy cat was chewed to death long ago!