At the beginning of July, Sadie and Oscar joined the household. Within four days, they had broken down the barricade that kept them in the kitchen and all attempts to rebuild it were futile. In the middle of the night, I would be woken by paws thundering up and down the hall.

Their introduction to Rosie (11), Dinah and Alice (mother and daughter, 12 and 11) was therefore somewhat premature. Rosie was fascinated, Dinah was curious and Alice was furious.

Sadie and Oscar ‘escaped’ through my legs into the garden two days before their second vaccination. They loved it. When finally allowed out, they’d tear up and down, climbing trees and enjoying the ‘jungle’. Rosie was fascinated and ambled after them, refusing to let them out her sight. Within a few days, she was (unsuccessfully) lolloping after them to join in and – for the first time in her life – climbing trees that could only bear a kitten’s weight. They were intrigued by Dinah, who gave them the occasional lick, followed by a gently cuff. Alice loathed them, spat, growled and was generally miserable.

Things calmed down briefly and Sadie and Oscar dominated the household a little too much. Rosie was quite happy for them to join her on my bed. Alice was furious – so furious, she went for Rosie and Dinah and then refused to come into the house. I thought that Sadie and Oscar would have to pack their bags….

On Sunday night, I woke to find five cats on my bed. There was some token growling and paw-waving from Alice but things have now settled. Oscar and Sadie love chasing squirrels and (unfortunately as Oscar is pretty huge) climbing up my legs and back.

They won’t stay still long enough to be photographed – so here they are asleep. The only way they’ll stay still long enough to be photographed. The next challenge is to shut them all out of the bedroom and encourage them to sleep in their own beds.

Best wishes … Lynn