thanks krista

the big impression i have from this cat is boredom. he comes across very relaxed. he vegges out for a bit, then gets up for a snack [always available] then bites the base of his tail a bit - as if he just wants something to do, coz life is SO dull.
he would be a great character for shirley to 'communicate' with.

you are right about the lack of cleanliness - he is too fat to clean himself properly and has all- over skin flakes. at the same time, i don't think he has fleas because he is injected with 'program' and the owners are scrupulous in the house. also it's the inside of the tail, near the base, but not around the anus - in no particularly dirty spot, that he bites out fur.

qu. what do you do about leaving food out if you have one thin cat with a low appetite and one compulsive snacker? [he was prophetically named after a famous snack brand]

qu. what are the side effects of program on cats?