Poor little mouse :-(

There's not a lot you CAN do now, Scottish, just nurture that last stem, place obstacles around the base to keep the kittens away from it.

I have cats and i know how awful it is when they chase mice, birds and frogs around - make sure that you have plenty of hiding places for the garden wildlife - leave hidey-hole type refuge for them, poor things.

Hi Angie oh dear your pour little clematis.

For now why dont you dig it up and let it grow on in a pot till a bit bigger.

Good luck.

Thanks Louise and Kath for your advice.
I already have another 3 in pots I am trying to 'save' Kath. Pesky cats!!!
I have some bamboo roll which I will use to surround the base.
Do either of you know if this stem will be the only stem or will it send up more? If this plant is just going to end up a single stem then it may not be worth bothering about.

Clems always send up loads of stems when they've been hard pruned.
Yours WILL send up more.

Think of what they do when you prune it back to about 6" in the late winter ...... it sends up numerous new stems - well it'll do that here too.

I would give the plant Miracle Grow feed each week from now until September (the directions are from March to September) to give it some extra 'oomph' too !