After two weeks of living on the first-floor terrace in a pile of olive branches which had been pruned off the tree, The Cat and Sprocket and their kittens returned to the garden.

The primary reason was so the kittens could be weaned, as there was always a bowl of fresh water on the terrace, but no food. But there were other reasons too – to be taught toilet training, and to learn how to wash.

A few days after the families left, we moved the olive branches out of the corner, they went back approximately 2 metres to the end of the terrace and the wall behind.

It was with a certain degree of trepidation, as we knew for sure that eight kittens had been born, but only seven were alive. But once the branches were lifted, the tiles underneath were spotlessly clean. All there was were some dry olive leaves which had parted company with the branches; there was no sign that nine felines had spent two weeks living there.

The kittens were ready toi enjoy solid food; here Sprocket is sharing a bowl with Little Bang, Early Lately and Big Bang.

The kittens were quick learners. To start with, they slept in one of the pods and used the soil in the corner under the olive tree as a toilet. The pods were elevated on wooden pallets and the space underneath was just the right size for small kittens to explore, as Prince and Little Bang were doing here.

As the days and weeks passed and the kittens grew, their mothers introduced them to the different parts of the garden. But to start with, the pods were the focal point of the kittens’ lives, eating, washing, toileting and sleeping in and around them.

Washing was both a solo and a team sport. Big Bang (above) was enjoying a wash on her own, but family grooming remained part of the groups’ routine.

It was an important time for bonding and reinforcing relationship, and even in later months, The Cat and Sprocket enjoyed allogrooming.