Fred is an adored family cat (now deceased) who slept all the time - on the ironing board, on the washing, on top of the fridge, on cars, dustbins, walls and particularly on beds - although he took a little time off to sit on laps purring and to eat. Only after his death do Sophie and Nick discover that, by night, he was the Elvis of the cat-world, Famous Fred, the most famous cat in the world, with hordes of devoted fans.