Ah, the never-ending question of Maruman and what colour he is - it's one of my favourites! I love that everyone sees him as something different; it just goes to show you he's a very versatile cat.
For me, I share Sionainn's image of Maruman as a scruffy looking stripy ginger cat. My version was based on the most disreputable cat I knew at the time: my family cat, Casper. He was a ginger whose fur was always slightly wiry and who disliked being patted anywhere but his head. He went on random adventures all the time, too - no wonder my imagination chose him as the model for Maruman!
I think I've always thought of him as a tabby/dark smokey tabby - though depending on the book/context sometimes my mind tries to "amend" my mental picture to that particular point.
For example, the first book I ever read was actually Ashling. I was very confused with all these names flying around until I checked out the cover and realised it was book 3. It asn't until the end that I realised Rushton wasn't as old as I was imagining him (in his 30's).
For every other book I think he is closer to the age that Isobelle describes but for some reason, whenever I read Ashling, I'm fighting my original image of him being a lot older than he is!
Lesson in this? Always make sure you read book 1 first!
Oh those are perfect, Heather! Very close to how I imagine him.
definitely with the tabby markings on his face. they just seem more expressive
It always envisioned Marumam as my adorable British blue. I had her from about the time I started reading the series in the early 1990s and she lived for 19 years. As she got older she became a little shabbier... When she was about 17 she had unfortunately had to have one eye removed. Then she further resembled Maruman. I wish I could post a photo but I just don't know how.
Aha, yes I remember Old Tom, perhaps also Garfield made you think of an irascible cat as a ginger cat?
I think I just thought of him as a Tabby cat or similar.