Marla & Miranda - Special needs

Marla and Miranda are looking for a very special home!

The girls arrived at Paw Prints in mid September 2012. They came from a backyard breeding situation and it was clear from the beginning that they had never had much in the way of love or care. Both girls were terrified and for the first week they hid under the bed and wouldn't come out. Gradually they started to venture out, but would scurry back if they saw me, and it took about 4 weeks until I could sit on the bed and they wouldn't run. We then had to take them for their vet work, which unfortunately resulted in a loss of their trust and a return to square one.

Over the coming months, their confidence started to grow and we got to the point that they were both comfortable with me and loved being patted, but they regressed as soon as there was someone else here.

At this stage we decided to try moving them to a foster carer to see how they coped. Although it took a little while for them to adjust, it wasn't long before they were loving their foster mum and taking as many pats as they could, even demanding them! Marla and Miranda were happy and settled around their carer's children and coped well with guests, though tended to be more reserved around men.

After a couple of months in foster care everything was going so well with the girls, we decided to bring them back and find them a forever home, but unfortunately, they didn't cope with the change as well as we'd hoped and once again they shutdown and went back into hiding.

Several weeks on and they are doing much better, I can again pat them, I can even hold Marla, though Miranda still spends a fair bit of time hiding. We've decided that rather than keep the girls here until they are once again completely comfortable, only to then have to move them again to a new environment once they are adopted, we're going to start the search for their very special forever home now.

The girls are going to need a quiet, indoor only adult home where they will be given all the time they need to settle in and adjust. They will need understanding humans that will accept them for who they are and not try to rush their progress. It will likely take weeks for them to settle but once they become comfortable in their new home I have absolutely no doubt that they will become the wonderful, affection seeking girls we know they really are. Marla and Miranda are very bonded and will not be separated, they are good with other cats, not overly keen on dogs, but would be ok with one that leaves them alone.

A bit about their individual personalities:

Marla is such a character, she is a chatty girl who loves to explore and play. She adores pats and will meow at you if you're not providing them, though she prefers you to be sitting down and let her come to you. Marla a Black Smoke Devon Rex, smaller and leaner than Miranda and is approx 4 years old

Miranda is more reserved and takes longer to trust, but when she does she's a pat-aholic! I don't think I've ever known a cat to enjoy being patted as much as she does and it's an absolute joy to watch! Miranda loves her food and due to her inactivity while in hiding, she is susceptible to weight gain, which needs to be monitored. Miranda is a Chocolate Tabby Devon Rex, and is approx 3 years old.

If you think you might have the perfect home for the girls, please email for an adoption questionnaire!