Cloudbusting -- Kate Bush In Her Own Words

Pets

Why did you call your cats zoodle and pyewacket?

: Paddy says that Zoodle is a German word for snoot, and I got the name from him. I don't know where the name Pyewacket came from - it just seemed a good idea at the time, as they say. We actually call her Pye. [Kate may or may not be speaking candidly here, but for the record ``pyewacket'' is the name of a very popular fictional cat, the ``familiar'' of kim novak's witch-character in the 1958 film bell, book and candle, from the play by van druten. Based on the wonderful atmosphere and subject of this movie, and the really important role of the cat in the story, it seems very likely that kate got the name from this film, or from the play on which it is based. - ied] (1979, KBC 3)

What breed are zoodle and pyewacket, and what colour are they?

: Zoodle and Pye are - I think you call them ``moggies'' One is black with one little white toe and the other one is black and white. (1980, KBC 5)

Before we end the interview, one more quick question. What do you feed your cats?

What kind of food?

I know you like animals and I hear you keep cats. I wondered how many you have?

: I used to have two cats. Zoodle and Pyewackit, but I'm afraid that Zoodle died earlier this year. I was very upset, but she was eleven and had a good life. She was a beautiful cat. Pyewackit is absolutely fine, although she missed Zoodle at first. A few months ago we adopted a stray, feeding her and letting her live in the garage, and she had three kittens. We now have the 3 kittens. They are called Rocket, Sparky and Torchy. And although Pye didn't like them all at first, they all get on really well now, and we find them cuddled up on a chair together when we get in. They're such good company for her, and they all have such different personalities. It's so entertaining just sitting watching them play. It's bringing out the kitten in Pye: I've noticed her springing across the floor and leaping onto ledges that are far too small for her. She does things she hasn't tried for years and seems to be enjoying it all. I guess we're all young at heart, but sometimes it takes something to rediscover it! (1987, KBC 21)