Most of the Visiting Cats came from the fields and returned there after they had eaten. They were generally wary and less likely to be comfortable around the humans, but some who came more regularly eventually became less nervous.

It was generally the Visiting Cats who came to the food and water bowls in the front path, and, as the more wary tended to come when there were no humans around (for instance after dusk or during the night) there is no record of their visits.

But a few were confident enough to come when the humans were there, and these are shown in these photos, all taken during the month of September which was a busy month for the Visiting Cats who were recharging their batteries after a long, hot summer and keen to supplement their diet with a thought to the colder weather ahead.

Of these six adult cats, five are female and the only male was a friendly local cat who had a home up the road, but liked to roam. Female feral cats do not usually roam as far as their male counterparts and will make their base nearer to their food source, with future families in mind; the only things linking these cats was the time of year (September) and the fact that they all came to eat in the front path rather than the drive or garden.

Here, Visiting Cat Gypsy was moving in on Madam Kiwi’s bowl of munchie crunchies. Madam Kiwi was not giving in; despite having less than a full complement of teeth, she preferred dry food, and Gypsy was just going to have to wait.

Nosewipe, a working cat from a local workshop who liked to roam in her free time. She was an affectionate girl, used to having people around in the workshop (where she spent the night busy with rodent control) and in the house of her people.

Pikabu, a local male cat with a home, who liked to roam the fields. It wasn’t until we noticed that Pikabu was partially sighted in one eye that we realised he was another cat from a local home who just happened to like the great outdoors. He was very affectionate and used to humans, having been rescued from a drainpipe as a kitten and adopted by his rescuer. Pikabu is also shown in the header photo.

Roma with her kittens Kushti and Savvi. Roma was a feral cat who had brought her kittens from the fields opposite for weaning.

Sniffly Cat, one of the local feral female cats, having a short break in the morning sun on the pavement outside before heading back into the fields.

Sniffly was one of the feral cats who became more relaxed around the humans in time, although she was never friendly. She had a gentle and amiable disposition and got on well with all the other cats.