Here is a video extract from the Graham Norton television show in which John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, discusses cats with Taylor Swift, the American celebrity, who cares for two cats one of which is a Scottish Fold judging from appearance. The cricketer Kevin Pietersen is also present. He also plays a role in the discussion. He is allergic to cats he says and does not like them. Pietersen has that typical approach of people who don’t understand domestic cats.
Graham Norton is a well-known personality in the UK and his late-night show, Graham Norton Show. He is popular and humorous. The show is a bit manic. He deliberately makes it like that 😉
Here is the video:
Cleese makes offensive remarks with the intention of being comical and interesting. I see that but one commentator on YouTube says this:
I’m not sure Taylor gets British humor? She was wildly offended.
I agree with that to a certain extent in that she does seem a bit confused. She understands that Cleese is trying to be funny and she does enjoy the banter I believe. She is not the dumb celebrity that some people make her out to be. We know she loves cats. For me that is a big recommendation 😉
When Cleese sees Ms Swift’s cat Olivia he asks:
“How did it have the accident?”
He was obliquely remarking on the flat ears of the Scottish Fold.
What is interesting is that Cleese appears to be the owner of a Maine Coon and a very large Maine Coon at that. I am guessing the breed but Cleese says his cat is American and the Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat. I think, also, you can just hear a reference to Maine Coon in the video. The image is poor quality but I see ear tufts (a Maine Coon trait).
Below is a screenshot of his cat being held by his younger wife. Cleese likes to be married even if it has cost him millions in alimony – £12 million poorer just to his 3rd wife. He is on his fourth wife…..He has to work to make the payments and he is in his 70s.
You can’t beat Maine Coons. The smartest cat there is.
I love Maine Coons. My favorite cat breed.
I watched this on YouTube, although it was on BBC-America a few days later and I get that she was caught off guard by his humor, but she did catch on. Did you notice how she moved further away from the cricket player as he said how allergic he was? Was that out of politeness? I think it was, but it looks as if she’s trying to get away from him and Cleese, always thinking on his feet, pretends to scoot over a little! Loved that. Funny stuff. Swift is just a kid, she’ll get over it and her cat does look a little funny.
That Maine Coon is absolutely HUGE! I’m surprised his wife doesn’t collapse under the weight! 😉
I totally agree. John Cleese is smart and has a dry sense of humour which Taylor picked up on quite quickly. She’s not a dumb celebrity.
I believe she moved away from Pieterson he cricketer in jest as a bit of fun in response to his dislike of cats (she has this wry smile on her face). It was amusing. She wanted to be amusing. And then Cleese moved over to the very edge of the sofa! I think he was just copying her. There was a lot of subtle fun going on.
You know, I think you’re right! She did have a smile on her face. It was just as much a play for the audience as a go at Cleese. Very funny scene. I saw it in the BBC America email newsletter the other day. It’s amazing how quickly something like this spreads around the world.
Poor Taylor, well out of her depth with their British soh! lol
Such beautiful cats, well all cats are beautiful to me.
I love John Cleese, not usually keen on comedians but Fawlty Towers was hilarious.
I loved Benny hill too Ahsan and also Charlie Drake, did you ever see him?
Your English is better than some peoples who were actually born in England!
No…Not actually…Charlie Drake may be old in 60s perhaps or before that time, I was born in 1971 actually.
So I missed Charlie Drake 🙁 but I wish to see his comedy if get a chance here.
Actually I spent my whole life in Denmark’s library. After school I did not stay at home, never slept in day light, and I just used to move on to library. It is somehow very interested fact that I became “the extreme books reader” within months and librarians were astonished that I always read all kind of stuff, from religion to dirty sexuality psychologies, from prophets to Rasputin and so on. But This readings paid me off by knowing many things of the world without getting my self involved practically and knowing what is EVIL and what is TRUTH n RIGHT PATH. I have spent my time in good people and always avoided the maniacs.
The library made me know what dogs, cats, corn snakes and other species means to this world and how we ever could have one or two at home as pet. But there you see…always parents first and then the whole ignorant society makes it difficult to fulfill the inner wishes and then comes a time when we are on our own and able to decide what we can do within our capacities and I decided the path of PROPHETS, to do the welfare of human beings and tiny animals. This is it and I will share as many as possible to PoC to let the world know the TRUTH.
Sorry for a long reply but I need friends who can understand what my SPIRIT is speaking and cats and kittens are my LIFE. Thank you Ruth <3
We understand your spirit. We really do. It is the same as ours.
I am a big fan of JOHN CLEESE comedy style and since FAWLTY TOWERS (One of my favorite). I bought the DVD set in 2006. as mentioned in the photo below.
Well I may say that it was really relaxing to watch the show and how all the celebrities were acting.
I may say that DEE is somehow right that Olivia looks alike sick to me, too. The reason being how she is sitting with the front hands. My big TUM TUM used to sit in this posture when he has some health or psychological stress problem, I don’t know because I am not the vet or expert, its only judgements which I have. Some times he sits with bent arms and looks at me like Olivia in the picture above. Well! she is a beautiful cat and really everyone can love to have such a cat. She looks to me like a fairy tale cat. Beauty of all the times <3
Thank you for sharing the article, Michael. 😀
I am pleased you are a fan of Cleese. How many Pakistanis living Pakistan have heard of John Cleese? Just a guess. Is he well-known in Pakistan?
At the time of 70s and 80s Fawlty towers was a best English comedy drama but only educated people of Pakistan could really enjoy that, still now only educated (I mean real educated, not those 70% people who even don’t understand how to make a sentence in PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE lol) people can understand the comedy LEVEL of English style. Like Mr. Bean, too. Benny Hill was my all time favorite. Love him as he is dead now and I cried over his death.
In Pakistan, ignorance is the worst punishment for people. My mom is MASTER DEGREE holder in ENGLISH language. We have spent our whole life in EU countries as my DAD was a diplomat. So, my beloved mother was very focused and strict with me regarding English language. That’s why we could walk side by side with the west.
Interesting. Thanks for clarifying. Education is the key to better cat welfare too. The violence against cats is primarily due to ignorance and stupidity.
I like this article, Michael. That Maine Coon is one cool cat! Maybe you’ve already done this [I’ll peruse the archives], but would you do an article on those breeds who carry few genetic ‘defects?’ Personally, I prefer Rescues, but their are a few decent good breeds out their that sometimes pop up in the shelters/humane societies and need adopting.
By the way, my red tabby Shrimp <3 is on of the coolest cat I've ever had the pleasure of bonding with– and he's a Moggie!
Nice to hear you again 😉
There is a well-known page of mine that has topped the charts for years on genetic diseases in purebred cats and it is here:
http://cat-chitchat.pictures-of-cats.org/2008/09/genetic-diseases-in-purebred-cats.html
It is a long page. The Siamese and Persian are the worst. Not all the breeds are listed and the ones missing will have few genetically inherited health issues.
Moggies are considered (in general) more healthy than purebred cats as is commonly known these days. I am pleased with your special bond with Shrimp.
The Maine Coon they care for is one of the biggest I have seen judging by the photo. This cat has to be a Main Coon at that size. Although occasionally moggies are this size.
A cute video really. But, Olivia looks sick to me.
She looks a little unsure to me. Not sure why you think she looks sick.
Thanks for the link Michael. I think it highly reprehensible;e that such cats with problems should be
bred and presented to the public as something special and pure. But that is typical of the cat fancy
isn’t it though? I dislike the CFA, and their commitments.
There is more to his comments than is first apparent. The Scottish Fold has the typical ear fold because of a genetic disease called osteochondrodyplasia. It is not just a cute characteristic it is a symptom of a dangerous disease which causes deterioration of the cartilage and affect the joints and causes pain and disability. There are far too many querky breeds which people think have cute things about them but the reality is much more sinister.
Correct! Thanks for reminding me Harvey. I have a page on that and more:
Written by a guest and commented on:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/officials-in-dallas-wont-kill-dog-belonging-to-nurse-with-ebola.html
and here (written by me years ago):
https://pictures-of-cats.org/scottish-fold.html#Genetics_-_health_-_breeding