We had thought that Greyfur might be the last grey-and-white kitten in the garden as The Cat’s final litter comprised Flora (calico) and Furrileesa (black). But it was not so as, the following year, Visitor Cat’s daughter Cracker surprised us by bringing three kittens to the garden for weaning. Sadly, two of them were quite ill and only lived a few weeks, but the third, Clover, pulled through.

He was a handsome grey-and-white boy with his mother’s gentle disposition, and, once settled into the garden, he struck up a sisterly friendship with Flora’s daughter Souci who was around the same age. Clover’s siblings were Dandelion and Daisy, and Dandelion was also grey-and-white, so it was poignant that Clover had survived and could continue the grey-and-white theme on behalf of his brother.

Clover grew up into a lovely adult. He was not an aggressive cat, not alpha-male material, but more easy-going and relaxed, and he was a pleasure to look after. He got on well with everyone, and he and Souci, who were both sole survivors of larger litters, had a playful relationship, just as they would have had with their brothers and sisters.

Our first-floor terrace was one of Clover’s favourite places and he would come and nap in peace and quiet, away from the garden, enjoying the afternoon sun and hurrying up the humans for teatime in the garden.

And so grey-and-white cats continued to be part of the Garden Family, roaming the fields, and coming to the garden to eat and relax in safety.