With the fruit trees in the garden, the olive and pomegranate trees and the garden walls, younger cats were naturally proficient climbers. Some, like She-ba and her family, seemed to have a natural inclination to be high up, but maybe in their case it was because most of them were not comfortable with humans too close and felt safe higher up.

So today please enjoy photos showing She-ba as a young cat, and then her oldest daughter Mini and younger offspring Sundown, Moonstruck and Cosmos, all enjoying the trees, plant ledges and the garden wall of The Cat’s Garden.

First, She-ba who was born to mother Visitor Cat in the fields. She-ba was never friendly although she tolerated humans for the sake of a good feed. Here she is in one of the fruit trees in the garden where she felt safe.

She-ba’s daughter Mini was so-called because she was so like She-ba in character and appearance. As a young kitten, Mini was constantly at her mother’s side only joining her litter-mate and sister Lychee in the garden when she was several months old. Mini’s younger sister Sundown (pictured here behind Mini, high up on a plant ledge over the verandah) was strongly bonded with her big sister and very similar in disposition.

Moonstruck was the odd one out when it came to character. She was probably the runt of the litter and remained small in stature; as a kitten she had fleas badly and had to be socialised so she could have a flea treatment. Luckily, Moonstruck turned out to be a friendly and charming little cat and on day two of my socialisation efforts, I was able to administer the flea treatment. Moonstruck continued to be affectionate and friendly – very different from her siblings – but all the same continued the family tradition of seeking out high places to sit.

Cosmos was the most wary of them all. At the merest sight of a human he would run to the garden wall where he felt safe. He eventually made his home in the fields, returning occasionally to eat (probably when there were no humans around).

With the exception of Moonstruck, the whole family remained wary and cautious and made their favourite places high up in the trees, on the walls, and plant ledges where they were safe from the humans.