It's easy to get carried away...

... but I think we're probably the best cat-rearers in the world. In just eight short weeks, we've transformed those kittens from three little bundles of fluff...


... into a trio of action heroes...


They're not even fazed by Amelie honking a squeaky fish on the other sofa. And then falling on her nose.

So our work here is done. Fifty-seven days ago, we had no idea we were about to become grandparents to three small cats, but despite being about as prepared as Ethelred, I think we've done a good job. So having spent most of Amelie's trust fund on cat food, it was finally time to say our goodbyes today, and bid the kittens a fond farewell.

H (not from Steps) arrived promptly this morning for her pick of the bunch...

Actually, I say 'not from Steps', but there is a definite resemblence...

She'll be singing Tragedy when she sees that.

Anyhoo, little did I know when I attended H's wedding in 2010, that two years later, I'd be the man responsible for the pitter-patter of tiny feet in her household. It's probably just as well - I'd have been thrown out of the reception.

Both the kitten and Shimmy took to the separation bravely, stoicly, and with the attitude of two cats who couldn't care less, and were quite happy to see the back of each other. The kitten was lying down in the basket before they'd even made it out of the living room, and Shimmy never batted an eyelid. Helen phoned this evening to say that her kitten had been asleep on her lap all afternoon, and happily trying to play with her other cat. I think it's forgotten us already.

That just left two kittens to be re-homed, and they were duly claimed this afternoon...

Even Amelie looks happy about it, which is a miracle. Stefan & Andrew took their pair of kittens with just as little trauma as the first adoption. It we'd known it was this easy, we'd have got rid of them weeks ago. They haven't decided on names yet, but their last two cats were called Linda and Steve, and at one point they were considering Susan. When I asked them why, Andrew said "because Susan's a nice name". It's hard to argue with logic like that.

So that's it. We've found two loving homes for three lovely kittens, and we can sleep easy in our beds, without fear of being pounced on. Bring on the empty nest syndrome.