Esmeralda

Beautiful Esmeralda is around two years old and, underneath her initial uncertainty, is a genuinely sweet little cat who is still trying to work out whether the world is a safe place.

When you first open her door, Esmeralda can look a little overwhelmed. Her pupils may be wide, she might back away or give a nervous lick of her nose as she works out what is happening. But give her a moment and you'll start to see the other side of her personality.

She'll come forward to sniff your hand. She'll lean into gentle handling. She'll head-bunt for affection, roll onto her side and, as she relaxes, you'll see her eyes and pupils soften. The change can happen surprisingly quickly once she realises you're there to be kind.

Esmeralda isn't a cat who needs to be "fixed" - she simply needs time to decompress and settle into her new surroundings. A shelter is a strange and overwhelming place, and she is still learning that the people around her can be trusted.

Her new family will need to give her the freedom to take things at her own pace. She may need some quiet time and a safe space when she first arrives home, but with patience and gentle interactions, we think Esmeralda will continue to blossom.

There is a very affectionate girl hiding behind those initial nerves, and every head bunt, softened eye and little lean into your hand is proof that she's already starting to let people in.

If you're looking for a cat who just needs someone to believe in her, Esmeralda might be your girl.

Esmeralda is part of our Rescue or Rehome program, where we are committed to finding homes for cats and kittens who simply cannot cope in the shelter environment. If you can open your heart and home to Esmeralda - or if you're a rescue group able to help - please reach out to us at adoptions@dogshome.com