What are the names of your cats?
Yuki, Chewie, Jack and Archie
Where is your cat family located in?
We live on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia
What are the breeds of your cats?
They are all domestic shorthaired rescue furbabies
How old are your cats?
Yuki, Chewie, and Jack are 4 years of age. Archie is 1.
Where can we find your cats on social media?
On Instagram @yuki_chewie_jack
In a few short words/sentences, tell us about your cats' personalities.
Chewie is the territorial male and the family protector. He does border security checks daily and gets very upset if a neighbour cat comes into his yard. He also loves his catnip.
Yuki is daddy's little girl and wants continuous cuddles (neck suckling). She's happy to be anywhere near her daddy and loves to drink from the tap.
Jack is mummy's little boy, he is very independent from the other 3 and not shy at all. He loves to sleep, one on one attention and hanging out in his back yard.
Archie is the baby of the family, he's very playful and loves to eat. He also loves to water the garden and splash under the water. He has taken over from Jack as the foster kitten’s big brother. He teaches them all things cat, playing, grooming, eating and loving. I guess having different personalities is what makes us a great family and one big happy home!
How have your cats transformed your life from the moment you've met them till now?
When Yuki and Chewie came into our lives I was struggling with some health issues. I think the joy and happiness they bought to our lives, helped me pull through and still to this day when I have relapses Yuki will curl up on my pillow beside me and wait it out. All 4 of them bring smiles to our faces daily, they provide comfort when we need it and unconditional love!
What do your cats mean to you?
Absolutely everything!!! All 4 are not just cats, they are our furbabies and mean the world to us! They are our family ;)
How did you and your cats first meet? Tell it to us in the form of a short story.
Each one of our fur babies came from fostering. I wished for nothing more than a little black male kitten. We went to the local shelter (AWLQ) and searched the pens for a kitten to join our family, but we were out of season and no kittens were available. As we headed out to the car, I saw the foster office and suggested we ask how fostering works. Best decision ever, we came out of the office with our first ever foster litter, 3 tiny 5 week-old tabby kittens; 2 silver tabbies and one brown tabby. Guess who they are? Yep, that's right, Yuki and Chewie!
We continued to foster after adopting our little family. Then one day in October 2016 I got the call, the shelter was overflowing with kitten season in full swing due to a warm winter, they were looking for foster carers. Well, we could not say no, the kittens needed us! I went to the office and they handed me a cage with 3 tiny little black & white fluff balls inside. One little black ball sat at the front of the cage and never took his eyes off me. The whole time he was in foster we had eyes for each other, I think we both knew we were smitten. Enter mummy's baby Jack to the family!
We continued to foster over the years and fully enjoyed our little family. We had many come and go, each taking a little piece of our hearts. There are still ones that we talk about often with fond memories and wonder where they are now. One little white girl stole our hearts, her name was Yang. She got on well with the whole family but unfortunately, the timing wasn't right, we had to let her go to find her own furever home. Lots of tears. Another was a little black boy; his name was Marshmallow. He used to follow his foster mummy around the house, sleep on her lap, be the first and last vision on waking, he was very special. Unfortunately, Jack didn't like the attention he gave to his mummy, so he had to leave and find his own furever home. Lots of tears again. The day he went back, I was having a little quiet cry and Jack came to me, rubbed up beside me asking for cuddles. As I cuddled my little boy, he reminded me that everything would be alright and that we'd done the right thing letting him go.
Having the loss of Yang in our minds, over time we had mentioned in passing that if anything, a little white girl would be our final family member. A white fur baby would complete our family; two tabbies & a black and white. Two boys and two girls. How wonderful! Last Easter, we got the call that 3 little white kittens needed fostering, they were all boys. We would not turn them away. No guesses what happened here? Archie and his big blue cross-eyes stole our hearts and he became number four.
Saying goodbye is always the hardest part of fostering! However, as sad as the day always feels, it is a joyful feeling too. Knowing we helped each foster in their time of need, gave them strength, love and courage to trust humans if they arrived frightened, nursed them back to health if they were unwell, gave them a safe place to grow if they are too young for surgery, most of all we welcome each and every one into our hearts, home and life. They too are family! That is why it is sad to let go, sad to say goodbye but, we do it over and over again because every animal deserves a life with unconditional love.
So that is how our family came about. We would not change a thing! Each one of them mean the world to us, including every foster that walks into our hearts, we are one big family!
What do you think your cats think of you?
Pretty sure Yuki thinks we are useless hunters, as she is always bringing us her toy rats and pushing it under our faces. Chewie thinks we are here for his amusement, he brings us toys in the middle of the night (louder and noisier - the better!). Jack just looks at us with his big smoochy eyes and thinks we are his cuddly bear's. Archie thinks we are the gods of FOOD!! (don't tell him but he's on a diet!).
Your cats are part of your family. What are some things they do that make you think that they consider you part of theirs?
They bring us food, toys, bugs, leaves and rocks. They let us share their bed, even if it is the human’s bed! They come to us for leg rubs, neck suckling, cuddles and pats.
What are some accounts your cats like to follow on Instagram?
@rin.rin.rin.rin.rin
@jenn_e_furry
@kate_and_caesar
@kateasaurus
@coco.pepper.lulu.luna
@leo_the_egyptian_mau
@pandoralostherbox
@meetmymilo
@vancatmeow
@street_cat_named_brian
@gino.giovi.giulia
Why do you feel that it is important to show the world that Cats are Family?
My heart bleeds when I hear bad stories in the media. No animal deserves pain, homelessness, starvation, illness or injury. Cats have emotions and are just as deserving to be part of a loving family. They give so much back and more. Cats are family!
Over to you...
YOU can start making a difference to Cats and their families everywhere!
Join the Cats are family campaign and SHARE your cat family story with the world.
Here's how...
Comments