Of course, as we all know, cats never like being confined. So, it was with much trepidation that I chose the largest bedroom for my nine cats to sleep and eat for the first three weeks in their new home.

Luckily for me there were few complaints, each cat obviously deciding it was easier to give in, to sleep all day and enjoy a little freedom exploring the house in the evenings after the workmen had left. However, there was one evening I remember when things went badly wrong, hilarious in retrospect, but at the time very painful.

All that day the workmen had been chopping holes in walls and ceilings, in readiness to insert piping for central heating. I had a bite to eat and, as usual, the cats did their evening walkabout before finally settling down for the night. Later, I looked in on them. ‘Oh, no!’ Buster-Me-Boy was missing.

I knew he couldn’t get out of the house, but I also knew it was essential to find him before morning. I searched under all the furniture, inside cupboards, inside drawers and even the rubbish bin, but there was no sign anywhere. After several exhausting hours, I decided to give up until daylight. Surely by then he would show himself?

Then, out of the blue, I heard a loud miaow directly above my head! I looked up and there was Buster-Me-Boy peeking cheekily through a hole in the ceiling! I was so relieved I didn’t even stop to think how he had managed to get there.

I stood on tip-toe on my best dining room chair in an effort to grab hold of a paw, but it was impossible to reach him, so I got a couple of cushions to give me more height. Of course, he knew what I was trying to do and dashed immediately to another hole. It was a wonderful game! What followed must have been a very bizarre sight as I dragged the chair from hole to hole trying to keep up with him.

However, as the saying goes, ‘All’s well that ends well.’ Well … almost! When I finally realized a step-ladder could solve the problem. I climbed to the top rung, reached up and waited silently, determined nothing would go wrong this time. As expected, within moments Buster-Me-Boy’s head popped through the hole. I grabbed and held on for dear life. The ladder wobbled precariously as I lost my balance with the result that the cat, me and the ladder, landed in a heap on a very hard floor. Immediately, Buster-Me-Boy rushed into the bedroom and hid while I just about managed to hobble with one badly sprained ankle to close the door behind him. Thank goodness, Buster-Me-Boy was finally safe!

When they walked into the house the next morning, the look on the workmen’s faces was a real treat. All holes were stuffed with blankets, duvets, towels, sheets, pillow cases, and even dusters! In fact, anything I could lay my hands on. I was determined no cat would ever be able to follow Buster-Me-Boy’s example!