Prickly pears were abundant in the fields and, for the kittens who had been born and raised there, they were just a part of everyday life. On farming land, prickly pear is often used to mark the boundaries between fields and, once established, the stems or trunks grow thick and woody. The leaves have spines but older leaves are often smoother than new leaves. The cats and kittens particularly liked the prickly pears because of the way the leaves grew horizontally, providing ready-made little shelves and steps, places to nap and play, and, inside the bushes, somewhere cool but safely elevated, away from predators.

So, although prickly pear might seem a long way from ideal to humans, here are some photos showing how the cats and kittens actively sought the bushes out to nap and play.

The Cat’s kittens Drip, Fred and Fickle playing in the prickly pear. This field was their home: they had been born here and, at this point, had never left it.

Phantom’s son Muffin (maybe with feline company), well-hidden in the prickly pear. More of a spot-the-cat than anything else!

She-ba’s daughter Sundown in the prickly pear. There was shade for the hot afternoons, deeper into the bushes.

The Cat’s daughter Flora napping in (or maybe on) the prickly pear.

Visitor’s daughter She-ba in the prickly pear. She-ba and her littermates had been born in the field although their mother brought them to the garden for weaning.

A meeting in the prickly pear – Thundercat, She-ba and NVQ. Plenty of shade for all!

Twilight’s daughter Dawn fast asleep in the prickly pear.