We lost our beautiful 3-legged ginger fluffy boy in June 2022 (a rescue cat from Danaher), whom we had for 9 years - he was around 5 when we adopted him. I vowed no more, it broke my heart. He wasn’t a lap cat, just a proper character - gentle, independent and gorgeous. But I found myself so sad, almost lost. My friend mentioned Friends of Felines, when Nala's picture popped up and when I read her story, I felt I had to make a call. Penny was really helpful and I did a video homecheck for her. I passed.

I picked her up on the Saturday morning, and if I am honest had a few reservations when she clung to Penny’s clothes, necklace and hair. I was instructed to try and not pet or over stimulate her when we got home – so difficult not to do when she was craving affection. She had a home in one of our bedrooms. Ate and drunk well from the off. However, got over excited playing and would go claws out, just dig into your skin. My son came in to see her and she hung off his beard!

After day 2, I really did wonder if I had done the right thing - she was only a baby of just over a year and knew she had been abandoned too. You never truly know the whole picture of how abandoned cats have been treated/mistreated. The more time spent with her, I can/could only assume that she had been tormented a bit. When we let her roam the house, she would grab hold onto my ankles (for no reason?). She would swipe, again for no reason, when being stroked. But she craved to be close to you. It was little steps, just moving hands/feet/ ankles away when you had an inkling she was going to grab/swipe or lunge. My son was very wary of her. Well to be honest we all were. I would say that it’s patience that you must have. And it took about three months for her to stop with her behaviour.

Now as soon as I sit, she is on my lap. She has her routine and knows mine. Loves to play - but with toys not human body parts. Nightime is just amazing. She waits until I am in bed, promptly lays on my chest, for chin rubs, ear rubs after making biscuits for a while. Her latest "trick" is very gently putting her paw on my mouth so I kiss it. When I stop she puts her paw back again.

Nala wasnt feral, just confused and craving attention but not knowing how to deal with it. Every animals story is very different.