This pair of wee rascals came into our care, aged just a few weeks old, just before Christmas. They had been born outdoors so were very shy for a while, but don't have an ounce of aggression between them. As always, the first few days were just about making them feel safe and unthreatened, providing all they needed for both their physical and emotional comfort and talking to them quietly without forcing any attention on them. After that, it was a case of building their confidence while ensuring they felt safe. How long this stage takes depends entirely on the patience of the foster carer and the personality of the cats or kittens. It didn't take Harry and Hayley long to realise I wasn't a threat, with Hayley very much being the one to take the lead. Harry is shyer than Hayley, but then she does tend to shove her whole body in front of him when he's being petted so she can get ALL of the attention! Poor Harry gets shoved aside, but he really loves his cheeky sister and I wouldn't dream of separating them.
When I lie down beside Hayley it would actually be impossible for her to get any closer to me without actually merging into me and creating some sort of freak hybrid. My neck is her favourite nesting place, which is a bit unfortunate for me as she purrs and treads her way into a deep sleep, now and again getting confused between the tip of my ear and what she remembers from when her mother provided her nourishment. I daren't move without her starting all over again, but it's just utterly adorable. Harry watches from the sidelines, the sidelines usually situated on my legs.......
Despite being so affectionate and loving with me, their adopted mother, the twins tend to hide away if a stranger goes into the bedroom where they're being kept, making it frustratingly difficult should anyone come to meet them with a view to offering them a home! I may have to rely on photographs and possibly video to prove how precious these babies actually are.
Harry, who's completely black, and Hayley, who's black and white, have just had their big boy and girl ops, been microchipped and vaccinated and it's time to find them that special home. I really think they'd love the chance to do some outdoor exploration once well settled so a home with a garden would be just lovely.
N.B. At the time of writing this the U.K. is still in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it impossible for home visits or for anyone to meet the cats in their foster homes. However, we can still speak on the phone to anyone expressing an interest in a particular cat or kitten until the situation is eased and we can arrange to meet.