There were always enough food bowls at feeding time for each cat to have their own, but some liked to share (and some were just curious and wanted to know whether the other bowls contained something different, or tastier!)

Kittens were usually happy sharing, being motivated by each others’ interest in the food, which encouraged late starters to solid food to give it a try. And kitten food, specially designed to meet the needs of kittens, was irresistible to adults and there were times when it was impossible to stop kittens from trying out the most unsuitable grown-up crunchy food while their mothers devoured the high-protein (expensive) soft kitten food and formula milk.

Sherpa had never been short of food, having joined the Garden Family when he was brought to the garden for weaning by his mother, Dawn. Yet he was obsessed with food. It was impossible to set a bowl down without him leaving whatever he was doing (even if he was eating), to investigate. This photo is typical of Sherpa, and Moonstruck could only watch as he tucked in to her bowl.

Mini (below, on the left) was the sort of cat who was easily intimidated by other cats, and we tried to feed her separately to make sure she got enough food. She was particularly strongly bonded with her younger sister Sundown, and it was nice for Mini to have company at mealtimes from someone who didn’t intimidate her (even if Sundown preferred Mini’s special pâté to her own food).

Even at a young age, kittens found that they had preferences when it came to wet food or dry food. Flora’s kittens here were making their choice (and of course Sherpa (being Sherpa!) had to have his own extra bowl, otherwise he would have eaten their food too).

So, whether cats were sharing through curiosity (as Linnet was, as she sampled both Pascha and Raven’s food in the header photo), sharing because they liked someone else’s food more than their own, or sharing a bowl with litter-mates, feeding time was a sociable time when silence was golden and meant everyone was content.