Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
IT sometimes seems as though, when you’re born, it’s the luck of the draw.
Some have fabulous parents. Others don’t. Some are born into luxury. Many aren’t.
But even if you’re not born into luxury, you can still have a loving family.
And that’s the case for kittens Tai, Kai, Sergio and Giovanni (yes, I know these include the names of two dancers on Strictly Come Dancing).
These kittens lived outside with their Mum called White Paws, and her sister, Auntie Gris until they came into the care of Hounslow Animal Welfare Society (HAWS).
Mum White Paws and Auntie Gris, together with a kindly human who gave them food, did their best for the kittens. Despite White Paws and Auntie Gris being barely more than kittens themselves, White Paws was a good Mum and Auntie Gris did her share of childcare. That’s what good Aunties do.
HAWS think Mum White Paws and Auntie Gris are, themselves, only 16 months old. This means White Paws had her kittens, who are now twenty two weeks, very young.
As she’s not neutered, it’s a wonder Auntie Gris didn’t have her own little ones in tow as well.
At present, HAWS are boarding this family at a vets as HAWS don’t have any spaces in foster homes.
The vet staff have done a lot of work socialising the kittens after they were brought in. Good kitten socialisation is important if they are to live happily, in a domestic home, alongside humans.
The crucial age for kitten socialisation is between two and eight weeks.
The more new experiences kittens have during this time, the more comfortable they are likely to be with new experiences when they are older.
It’s important these experiences happen in a place where the kitten feels safe – they must be positive experiences.
Fortunately, the vet staff have made the most of the window of opportunity for socialising these little ones.
HAWS would like to home kittens Tai and Kai together. Because they are so well bonded, they would like to home the two young sisters Mummy White Paws and Auntie Gris together. They would also like to home kittens Sergio and Giovanni together.
If you’re interested in homing any of this gorgeous family see haws-animals.org.uk or email cats@haws-animals.org.uk.
To raise funds, HAWS are having a stall at the Craft Market at Hanwell Methodist Church, Church Road, W7 1DJ on Saturday November 26 (11am-3pm). Their stall is always heaving with treasures suitable for loving Mums and Aunties.