The pet I’ll never forget: Chester, the cat who barged into our house and called it home

‘At some point most of our neighbours felt as if he was their pet as well’ … Rebecca Goodman’s cat, Chester. Photograph: Courtesy of Rebecca Goodman

It’s said that some people come into your life for a reason. While it’s a cliche, I’ve found the same to be true of cats, including one in particular – Chester.

This bold black and white moggy first made his presence known in the late 90s. Our beloved tabby, Holly, had recently died at the grand old age of 20, and my parents were reluctant to get another cat because it had been so sad seeing her go. Then, one day, there was a bang on the letter box. When we opened the door, there was no one to be seen apart from a big cat, who barged his way into the house.