While The Cat and Sprocket were caring for their new families on the terrace, the humans were watching with interest.

The kittens emerged from their den in order of size. The Cat’s kittens were a few days older and she was an experienced mother, so it was no surprise that her four kittens emerged first. But this was Sprocket’s first litter, and her kittens were smaller, so, while Sprocket was caring for The Cat’s kittens Oranjiboom, Tippex and Prince who were now out in the open, Sprocket’s own kittens were still hidden away, presumably being nursed by The Cat.

The humans knew only that there had been eight kittens to start with, but sadly only seven at the end of the first week in the garden. We had no idea how many kittens had made the journey to the terrace at the age of two weeks, and could only guess from the different squeaks we heard coming from the pile of branches.

Two days after last of The Cat’s kittens emerged, Little Bang was spotted. He was very like The Cat’s daughter Big Bang, both being grey-and-white, although Big Bang had a white shawl over her shoulders whereas Little Bang had a grey line of fur over the back of his neck.

And, two days later, Early Lately arrived. He was a tawny orange, almost russet, a very wary kitten who almost crawled commando-style for his first day, until he was brave enough to stand up on his four legs.

The humans thought that all the kittens were now out and about and that maybe the lightest coloured kitten we had spotted in the garden nest had not made it. And then a glance out of the window one afternoon led to the exclamation ‘Whitey is alive!’. She was very small by comparison, blinking in the light, and was given a warm welcome by her siblings. Her given name was Snopake and she was a very dilute calico, white with pale pink and grey.

The little family was now complete.