Foss

Foss was Edward Lear's beloved cat, who appears in many drawings and sketches.

Foss only had half a tail; it is said that a servant cut it off in the belief that doing so ensured the cat would not stray.

By most accounts Foss was not a particularly attractive cat; yet Lear doted on him and sketched him often.

One legend claims that, when Lear built a new house, he instructed the architect to design it to be exactly like the old one, so that Foss would not be too upset by the move.

THE HERALDIC BLAZON OF

FOSS THE CAT