Hi, I am Sasha. I used to live rough until the people at the Cat Haven found me and took me in. Living rough is hard and I only survived by hiding all day, hunting at night and being very wary of humans.

It's taking me quite a while, but I am beginning to trust people. When I first arrived with my foster family, I hid in a box, only coming out at night and my fosterers could only touch me with a soft pad attached to a metre-long stick. After about a month I became brave enough to leave my box and sit on top, but it was still only safe to touch me with the tickling stick. Another month on and I've improved even more, I can be brushed and stroked by hand, but even though I purr, I'm always very wary of what's happening, and can only be touched when I'm sitting on my box, in my safe place. If bedroom doors have been left open, I often disappear, only to be found later hiding in the back of a wardrobe or under a bed. I do come out, but only when I'm ready.

I spend most of the day sitting in my safe place enjoying visits and strokes from anyone who is passing. I love to play with a feather tied to the end of a piece of cord. I don't like the washing machine as it makes funny noises unexpectedly, but I'm ok with the vacuum cleaner. I'm interested in my foster carers and what they are doing, but I don't like to get too close, I'm happy just watching. I do stand-up when they approach and really love their tickles, but only for a while. Recently I have been seen walking around the house but will always run back to my safe place when approached.

I'm still very shy and would not get on with other pets or small children. I'm a work in progress, but one day, if you persist with me, I may come to you and demand a tickle. I'm just not there yet.