My name is Yuri and I’m a rescue cat.

I was a pregnant stray who Friends of Felines took in in early 2023. My lovely foster mum Sarah and her family looked after me at their house and so I had my kittens in safety.

I raised them, helped by another foster cat called Star, and they grew up to be healthy and happy little bundles of fur. One by one they got adopted, as kittens do.

But I was scared. I hid in the igloo bed in my room and gradually withdrew into myself. My foster mum made sure I was safe and well cared for, but she became concerned that might not get adopted. Scared withdrawn cats sometimes don’t get the same chances that happy friendly ones do.

Then one day, a family saw me online. They had recently had to say goodnight to one of their cats, Tora, and while they were still heartbroken, they knew she would have wanted her space at their table given to another cat who was desperate for a home. She was the best Grandma Cat.

They came to see me and, although I was still scared, I saw Star tucking into their Lick-e-lix and decided that I’d have some too. Ok, YUM, that’s my new favourite thing!

After I had had my spay, my new family came to pick me up and took me to my new home.

Now, this is the part of the story you think ends “and I lived happily ever after.”

But sometimes it’s not that easy.

I was given a room to live in with a new igloo bed, lots of food, a nice new water fountain and a tray with as much litter as I could Jackson Pollock. But I was still scared, and I hid.

After a few weeks the other three cats that lived in the house came to see me. I tried to say “Hi there – I’m Yuri” but they weren’t very happy. I think they were missing Tora. I got hissed at and so I went back to hiding in my igloo bed again.

My new mummy and daddy were very gentle and tried to coax me out, but I just shut down. I ate. I drank. I used my tray. But I was not a happy cat. I got hissy and swiped at daddy.

Thankfully, my new family didn’t want to give up on me. They talked to Friends of Felines and asked for advice. Should they give me up? Would I be happier in a barn home?

Ally said “You can give her back if you want but maybe give her a few more weeks.”

So…they did.

After a few more weeks I stopped hiding in the igloo and slept on a cat bed under a chair in my room.

After a few more weeks I came out from underneath the chair to eat my meals.

After a few more weeks I discovered “other bedrooms” and sometimes hid in there.

After a few more weeks I discovered “downstairs” and sometimes hid under the staircase.

And then, after 3 months, I discovered “friends”.

The youngest cat started looking after me.

Then the big tom cat.

Then I finally got the seal of approval from the “Queen Bee” girl cat.

Now, after 13 weeks, I can curl up with my family in the evenings.

Now I can sleep on the bed with my friends.

I’ve still got some way to go, but I have a forever home.

My name is Yuri.

I’m a rescue cat.

I have a family who love me.