Saturday disappeared around the same time that Sunday reappeared. Maybe those two facts were connected – maybe there was a fight out in the fields, maybe there was a division of territory. Either way, it was out with the orange and in with the grey.

So, knowing The Cat’s predilection for gentlemen of the orange persuasion, it was hardly a surprise that her interest was piqued by the arrival of Mr Bright – a mature, orange alpha-male, well-built and strong, with impressive jowls.

He was obviously not a stranger to the neighbourhood and had already set himself up as the main rival to NVQ, as Sunday’s influence was on the decline since the years were taking their toll on him. Mr Bright and NVQ had one thing in common – they struck fear into the hearts of the younger males.

Mr Bright had a companion out in the fields – and orange and white lady friend. Mrs Bright occasionally came to the front path to eat but was completely feral and terrified of humans, and never visited The Cat’s garden; this is the only photo we have of her.

On the only occasion that she spotted a human in the front path while eating, she leapt over the wall into the drive (a drop of over 20 feet) and bolted over the next wall into the field. The humans could only watch with their hearts in their mouths. Thankfully she was uninjured.

And then there was Shadow who came to eat for exactly three months and then disappeared as mysteriously as he had arrived. Maybe his usual feeders were away and he had to seek sustenance elsewhere. Once again, he was feral and never came close to us.