The olive tree was rooted in the garden but its branches stretched over a high wall, out into the drive. The cats used the tree to get from the top of the high wall down into the garden (and back up again) and, as trees go, it was a busy and popular tree for adults and adventurous kittens alike.

In the spring, sap used to come out of one particular branch; some cats found this sap utterly irresistible. The first cat to rub her face along this branch in ecstasy was Visiting Cat Twilight, followed a couple of years later by her daughter, Dawn (pictured below).

The following year it was Twilight’s grandson (and Dawn’s nephew), Tumbleweed’s turn to rub his face on this branch. Although there are explanations as to why the sap is so irresistible to cats, it did seem strange that it was only the members of this one family who seemed to be attracted by it.

Other cats like Swift used the tree as a hammock, somewhere they could literally hang out for their siesta in the shade of the leafy branches with an all-round breeze – a smart move in the heat of the summer.

And once again, the other cat who was snapped hanging out in the tree that summer was related to Swift as it was her brother Checkers.

And demonstrating ably the correct way to descend the tree is Blackfur, The Cat’s son. The header photo is kitten Sherpa bravely exploring the tree, and practising his climbing skills.

So the olive tree was primarily a well-trodden feline thoroughfare – the equivalent of an ‘A’ road for the cats – and strict rules existed, governing the tree’s highway code and which cat would give way to who on which branches. Rules were made to be obeyed, and they certainly were.