It was a confusion of ideas between him and one of the lions he was hunting in Kenya that had caused A.B. Spottsworth to make the obituary column. He thought the lion was dead, and the lion thought it wasn't. Whether you're a fan of cats, dogs, lions or even gnus, P. G. "Plum" Wodehouse has got your back. A lifelong animal-lover, he even founded a shelter for strays – in addition to the pack of pekes, dachshunds, wolfhounds, cats, parrots and canaries that overran his home. Which is not to mention the cassowaries, gorillas, horses, snakes, rabbits, chimpanzees, alligators, newts, swans, and pigs that populate his masterful comedies. The sixth of Paul Kent's occasional essays on matters Wodehousean features the entire menagerie. But it's the dogs and cats (along with their respective owners and staff) that are the real stars. Whichever claims your loyalty, with Wodehouse you're bound to see their funny side.