Trust me they are most definately a big part of the family.
Their pen/run is by our back gate (which is the way we go to and from the house) but has a clear view from the back windows. They greet all guests and always get cuddles as we go about our daily business plus the hrs we spend up there cleaning and cuddling. They come into the house frequently when the weather is very bad (like today), poorly, fireworks or when we are at home with no rescues (as we are currently - jinxed things now!).
The run makes it easier for us to do the rescue work we do as if we have less tame cats in we can have ours inside and they can stay in the run whilst we gently try to get them used to us and the home. When we have rescue cats in we try not to pen them as we want to assess them fully in our house, with our son, our cats (once we know they have been fleed, wormed and vaxed) and with us.
Right now I have my two babies cuddled up on the sofa fast asleep (Sugar is snoring)..... I think I may join them in a bit!!
Clare xx