Although The Cat was no longer with us, things had to carry on as normally as possible as there were garden family and visiting cats who required food, water and attention daily.

The position of matriarch of the garden should naturally have passed to Whitefur, The Cat’s older daughter. But, despite being born and raised in the garden, she had chosen to make her home in the fields opposite, returning to eat and nap, as had her brother Greyfur.

So, as Whitefur had no personal interest in the garden, the position of matriarch fell to The Cat’s younger daughter Flora, who spent most of her time in the garden and raised her kittens there. Flora’s daughter Pippin (pictured with Flora) was also bringing her family up in the garden, so The Cat’s descendants still accounted for a high proportion of The Garden Family cats. In terms of character, Flora resembled her mother in many respects. She remained feral at heart, but, unlike her mother, she never softened towards the humans, remaining aloof and wary.

The Cat’s son Blackfur still visited several times a week. As one of the dominant males of the neighbourhood, he roamed the fields but was still reluctant to cross the road since his accident.

Flora’s older daughter Souci and Pippin’s sister Calypso were also still based in the garden. They had always deferred to their mother, and Calypso in particular had been close to her grandmother, The Cat.

And then of course there were Flora’s latest kittens…

…who had been joined by Pippin’s (as The Cat had become a great-grandmother a month before her passing, with the arrival of Pascal and Pascha).

So, despite her passing, The Cat’s line continued and the humans were kept as busy as ever.