Finders, Keepers...

One year ago yesterday, I went on holiday to Cyprus with my mother and daughter for my cousin's wedding.  I had mixed emotions, as I know first hand what the situation is for strays in Cyprus.

The following day, one year ago today, as we returned from our walk to find a restaurant, Mum remarked how we hadn't seen a cat.  Three minutes later, we were greeting by a tiny tabby kitten, sat on the edge of a pavement beside a busy road, miaowing for attention.  A little tabby and white kitten was following anybody who slowed down.  We stopped, as we are wont to do, to give them some attention.  From behind came an even smaller tabby and white kitten, a little shyer but no less loving.  This was our introduction to Tatwo, Tickles and Titch.  We later met TC and Midnight.  TC was the boss of the family, larger, quieter and far more streetwise than the three amigos shouting for love.  Midnight, a dark Tortoishell, was very shy, very quiet and avoided our touch.

Over the next 6 days we made regular trips to feed them.  It soon transpired that their need wasn't for food, it was for love.  Several tourists were feeding them, but none of the rescues would save them.  With the help of June and Michael, a British couple living in Cyprus and rescuing cats and dogs, and a family on holiday in the same apartments as us, we eventually managed to find them somewhere safe to go to.

Tatwo was named after my lovely, and much missed, Tabbatha.  At that time I didn't know if he was male or female, so Tabbatha Two became Tatwo.  Tickles was named after his love of tummy tickles.  Titch was named because, quite simply, he was the smallest.  TC was the Top Cat, the boss of the family, who made them hide, moved their hiding place and generally kept them as safe as he could.  Midnight, so very dark, was named by my daughter. 

They all had dirty bottoms caused by over-rich diet and milk; they were grubby, needy and so very small.

Summer, my gorgeous Tortoishell and white girl, is a month older, shy at first but firmly established as a mummy's girl, was at the rescue when the Party of 5 went to the sanctuary.  She attached herself to them and became very close to them. When my 17 year old Tinker went to Rainbow Bridge, I made the decision to bring them to the UK.  

We found them.  We've kept them.

If you can help the other cats still in need of homes, please make a donation via their Amazon wishlist or visit their website here...