Their time on the terrace came to an end all too quickly and The Cat and Sprocket decided that it was time for the kittens to return to the garden. Sprocket carried them individually across the high wall and down the olive tree, starting with the biggest and ending with the smallest of the brood. The Cat watched approvingly and, the kittens all gathered under a little fig tree in the shade, it was she who led them all to the feeding bowl to start the next stage of their lives.

The pods were Sprocket’s choice of place for them to start their time in the garden. All the kittens fitted in one pod together, in a big pile of ears, limbs and tails – just as they would have been under the olive branches on the terrace.

The pods were high and wide enough for Sprocket to join the kittens, but we soon realised that we would need some shallower feeding bowls for the smaller kittens, especially Snopake.

At around 12 weeks of age, Orangiboom and Tippex went to the local rescue where they were homed together and went to their forever home in another village. The Cat and Sprocket were enjoying having some more time to relax and the remaining kittens were feeling very grown up and exploring the front drive (under the strict but discrete supervision of their mothers, of course) for an hour each afternoon while the other cats were fed in the garden.

The Cat’s daughter Big Bang was now the biggest of the bunch.

Prince was smaller and sleeker but was a clever cat, and the brains of the family.

Sprocket’s bigger son Early Lately was a kitten who didn’t like to be rushed. He was naturally cautious and liked to have time to think things through.

And Little Bang and Snopake made up for what they lacked in size by exploring everything within reach.

The kittens were developing their own personalities and learning all the skills they would need for the future – and they were growing up quickly.