Not too long after Pea Cat had left the garden, Ana became big brother to Ginge, Tabby, Splodge and Blackie. Blackie was the runt of the litter and Ana would patiently stand next to Blackie at feeding time, keeping the other siblings away until Blackie had eaten his/her fill. The following year, Ana was spotted kitten-sitting Pedal, Ratchet and Sprocket in the garden – for all his alpha-male traits, Ana had a very soft centre and The Cat was happy to leave her new families in his care.

Content though Ana was in the company of his younger siblings, he was also not averse to making his presence known and demanding the respect due to him and could occasionally be spotted keeping his younger brother Pedal in check with a gently placed paw on his head, pushing him downwards until Pedal remembered his manners.

Ana’s intentions when he was guarding our neighbours’ aviary were probably not as friendly, but, as the aviary was enclosed, all Ana could do was to observe and occasionally lick his lips.

There was even the day when Ana’s tail was spotted disappearing into the bedroom in the house. When observed, he entered every room, checked around, and then headed back out of the back door, once he was sure everything was in order. He took to lying on the humans’ windowsill in the morning, and under it in the afternoon, turning into a very good guard cat.

He even (almost) perfected the art of hide-and-seek on the terrace which he was particularly keen on when there were tasty cooking smells coming from the kitchen door.

Fortunately, Ana did not seem adversely affected by The Tail Incident, although the shortening of his tail led to lengthening of his name as he was now called Ana Half-Tail, Warrior Cat. He would make a late afternoon patrol in the fields, sometimes not returning until the next day.

His territory was still increasing in size; other cats set their sights on the garden (in particular Mr Grey who had had his eye on The Cat for some time) and there were some nasty fights. As Ana’s territory grew, so did his reputation and his name which eventually settled at Ana Half-Tail, Warrior Cat, King of the Culvert.

But Ana and his mother were as close as ever. However far he might roam, he was always her Number One Son.