HOME PENDNG

Lesley, named after a vet nurse in one of the practices we use (right chuffed that nurse is too), is such a wee girl that the three kittens who came in with her and her extended family are now about the same size as she is! Lesley is one of seven members of a young colony which I'm so glad to have heard about before it had a chance to extend, with all the misery that usually entails. Although she isn't mother to the three kittens in that colony, Lesley and kitten Chrissie are so alike in looks that it's quite obvious they are closely related. Maybe the kittens' mother, Cathy, and Lesley are sisters - but then, given that three of the four young adults are tortoiseshell and white there's no doubt really that they've come from the same stock. One dumped cat, and it all gets out of hand so quickly....

For a little on the background to Lesley's story see what I've written about Cathy. In the meantime, here's what I can tell you about this lovely girl. Lesley lets me stroke and pet her and will happily lick horrible, disgusting, gooey cat treat paste from my fingers. She clearly doesn't agree with my biased opinion on the sticky stuff.........Right from the start, despite all their struggles in that very inhospitable environment, these seven cats and kittens have never shown me any signs of aggression. They were so quiet, though, that I set up the wildlife camera I'd used to try and track them down inside their shelter and was delighted to see them all having a great party time whenever they felt no-one was looking. They still don't know what that camera's up to, but they do enjoy swinging on its straps so I guess it'll have to be left in place for a while yet. For a good few weeks Lesley and baby Joe seemed to be very close as he seldom left her side when he was still feeling shy. They're still close, but then they all are. Ideally I would like these cats to either be homed in pairs or, if singly, into homes where there's another accepting cat to relate to. I'm pretty sure Lesley would be fine with older children (small children are scary beasts!) and possibly with a laidback dog who's used to having cats around. A home that can allow access to a garden would be wonderful when Lesley's well settled. Our vet thought Lesley and at least one of the other young adults was pregnant when I took them along for a check-up soon after bringing them in, but I'm pleased to say she was wrong! They all just needed a good worming, which is hardly surprising given all they had to eat was what they could manage to catch in order to survive. Lesley and the others are about to now have their ops, vaccinations and microchipping and will be ready for homing at the end of February. Could you give Lesley the happy life she deserves?