The next area on our tour was the front path.

This was accessed from a narrow pavement next to the road via a small, slatted gate and a few steps. The cats generally jumped onto and over the gate, although kittens and smaller cats could squeeze through, in between the slats. Straight ahead, the path ran along the side of the house to the front door. There were plants in pots and planters along the wall, and water in a bowl near the gate and also further up the path, opposite the front door.

This photo shows Kiwi on the wall with NotNVQ halfway down the path, and Mr Bright and NVQ having a frank exchange of views at the top of the steps.

Coming through the gate and to the left, the path, a trellis and plant troughs on the outside separated the front of the house from the road. Smaller cats and kittens could squeeze through the trellis, although we discouraged this as the road was outside and the pavement was only narrow.

This photo shows Madam Kiwi with her son, Stardust.

The main food bowl was near the front door and, in bad weather, was placed inside a pail so at least the food stayed dry even if (most of) the cat didn’t.

Our model here is Twilight; her head was dry, the rest of her was getting wet, but at least she wasn’t eating food swimming in water, or soggy kibble.

The header photo shows Phantom at the feeding bowls in better weather.

The wall opposite the front door was the chosen napping place of some of the more friendly cats who liked to spend time in the path; the more feral cats who avoided human contact would come and eat, drink, and then leave.

Modelling their evening look on the wall for you are Madam Kiwi and Gypsy, two of the three ‘ladies who lunch’ (Phantom being the third).

The plant pots on the long wall were favourite places for some of the cats, and there was no point in trying to dissuade them, and could you be annoyed when the cats were as beautiful as siblings Stardust and Ariel? Never. Nap away, we could always plant new plants, in any case.

There were also limestone blocks which the cats liked to sit on, and a trough on its side inside the gate which gave shelter for the food bowl nearest the gate, here demonstrated by Thundercat who was obviously in hungry mode.

It wasn’t a particularly spacious path, but there were several disparate areas which meant that cats who were feral could eat or drink without coming into contact with humans (or other cats), if they so desired.