Back in the summer, our family had to say a sad goodbye to our much-loved 18-year-old ginger boy. He had been gently deteriorating for a few months, though still happily seeking out warm sunny spots in the garden and enjoying every tempting meal we offered. Then, one day, he suddenly declined, and we knew it was time to let him go. We still miss him – and his brother, who we lost a few years earlier. Both were quirky, affectionate characters who played a huge role in our family life.

After they were gone, the house felt very empty. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be a cat-shaped hole.

Not long afterwards, I examined a lovely cat taken in by Cats Protection who happened to be heavily pregnant. A few weeks later, in what can only be described as a gentle conspiracy by the fantastic volunteers, photos of her gorgeous litter appeared in my inbox. There were two ginger boys, a biscuity ginger girl, and two beautiful tortishell girls.

It was inevitable that we would go to meet them. It was even more inevitable that we would fall in love. Before long, we realised exactly what our home was missing: three gingers. And so Lyra, Crumble and Obelix joined our family, courtesy of Cats Protection.

The kittens arrived having already had their first vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, microchips, and even four weeks of insurance. They had clearly been well handled and confidently socialised by their fosterer. We prepared carefully for their arrival. Although cats are naturally solitary animals, siblings often adapt beautifully to living together. We set out multiple food and water bowls – separating them, as cats instinctively avoid drinking where they eat – and provided a good-quality, complete kitten diet, which they devoured with enthusiasm.

We placed several large litter trays around the house so they could express normal behaviours comfortably. Despite plenty of beds and toys, they often preferred to snooze together in a warm, tangled “sleep heap.”

Because we adopted siblings of both sexes, early neutering was essential. Females can reach sexual maturity from as young as four months, but all three kittens sailed through their procedures. The only challenge was stopping Lyra from wrestling her brothers while her wound healed; the winter guinea pig crate had to be repurposed into a temporary kitten recovery suite!

It took a little while for them to settle in, but they now rule the house with total confidence. They’ve only broken a few things and have necessitated the relocation of most houseplants – apparently excellent grazing material – but their antics bring us endless amusement as they move from room to room like a tiny, determined pack.

A big thank you to Cats Protection for gently nudging us in the right direction. Our home feels full again.