*************THE LAST THUMBNAIL IS A SUB-GALLERY******************

THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FERAL CATS LIVING IN THE FIELD BEHIND OUR HOUSE IN THE 32 YEARS WE HAVE LIVED HERE. OCCASIONALLY ONE WOULD WANDER THROUGH THE GARDEN BUT FLEE AT THE SIGHT OF US.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO A BLACK ONE WE NAMED SOOTY BEGAN TO COME TO THE BACK DOOR AND WE FED HIM. THIS CARRIED ON FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS.....WE DID GET TO STROKE HIS HEAD AND HE WOULD COME IN THE KITCHEN, BUT NO FURTHER.
THEN A GREY ONE, SMOKEY, APPEARED OVER 2 YEARS AGO AND BEGAN TO FEED OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN DOOR. WE SUSPECT HE IS SOOTY'S SON. HE HAS NEVER LET US TOUCH HIM, OR COME INDOORS.
HOWEVER IN MAY 2007 HE BROUGHT A SMALLER FLUFFY GREY CAT WITH HIM TO BE FED. WE THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS ONE OF HIS OFFSPRING.....WRONG! IT WAS MRS. SMOKEY AS A MONTH LATER WE BEGAN TO SEE FIRST 2, THEN 3 & FINALLY 4 TINY GREY KITTENS COMING IN TO THE GARDEN.
One kitten developed cat 'flu and abandoned by the family and was spending most of the time huddled in our driveway...but I still couldn't catch it.
We had a month's rain in one morning on Friday and it disappeared and I feared the worst. Then in a short break in the deluge it reappeared ...a soaked through bedraggled little bundle. It was very poorly & let me pick it up, so straight to the vet for emergency treatment. Vet said severely dehydrated....was touch & go if it survived.Called Fluff, he was now indoors with us. THIS STORY WAS JUST STARTING!

UPDATE AT 3 MONTHS...MUM HAS NOW LEFT THEM....HAVEN'T SEEN HER FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. DAD SMOKEY VISITS THEM ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY...BLESS HIM! UNFORTUNATELY ONE KITTEN HAS DIED...THE OTHER TWO FERALS ARE THRIVING...AS IS FLUFF...THE ONE WE ADOPTED AT 6 WEEKS WHEN HE WAS ILL.

*****5 month update...Unfortunately, the remaining 2 feral kittens both disappeared. One about 6 weeks ago...she was very well the day before. Likewise, when we were on holiday last month our son was feeding the remaining boy, and had succeeded in almost taming him...he was very well & coming in to the kitchen to feed, sitting by John's legs, and even let him stroke his head. But 2 days before we came home, he too disappeared overnight. Sadly, we wonder if they fell victim to an aggressive fox ....but perhaps they just grew up enough to move on independently. However, Fluff is wonderful now...almost fully grown and a wonderful animal. He now has his freedom outside too but has chosen to remain our cat, and his Dad Smokey is still visiting us, and they get on fine, thank goodness.
2 YEARS ON ....Fluff still fine.....spends most of his daytime in the garden, but seldom goes beyond it. He is quite affectionate...when he wants to be, which is typical behaviour....loves a tummy tickle and a stroke & cuddle in my arms...but not when I sit down, slthough, when not on a comfy bed or his favourite sofa spot, he spends time stretched out behind my head on the back of my armchair. Is a bit nervous and wary of anyone new, & anything strange or out of place.....that's the feral part still in him. We have one or two other grey visitors so like him, from time to time...who are completely wild, but fiendly towards Fluff....I'm hoping they are the survivors from his litter.
AUG. 09....One new grey cat is now visiting twice daily and has befriended Fluff...it must be one of the kittens. See last image in thIs gallery
OCT.09....we've now positively identified the new grey cat as Velvet, the only other male in the litter. He is now calling round several times a day and has become less nervous. He comes into the back door and feeds in the kitchen some what warily, but will happily eat outside the door with Fluff...who is a bit jealous I have to say. They then play around the garden for some time. I can just get my hand up to his face before he backs away a few inches.
Unfortunately we haven't seen dad Smokey for several months now. I hope nothing has happened to him. However, he has reappeared before after about 6 months, so here's hop