Sydney, and her babies, came from a situation where someone was trying to do the right thing but didn't have all the knowledge about the resources out there, so the situation got out of hand. They were fed & loved but in a small apartment that had 40 cats/kittens. When placements were being found, for the cats in that home, Sydney had 6 nursing kittens, who all looked exactly like her.
I brought Sydney here to her foster home, on 5/2/2026, after she was unable to continue nursing her kittens. Between leaving her home and coming into our foster care, which was a very short amount of time, she had several placements. At the time of her arrival she had very little self-confidence, no knowledge of toys/play, and an extreme sensitivity to light.
New arrivals stay in the “studio apartment” (formerly known as my husband's home office). It's a 10x10 room that has a normal size window (all the other windows in our home are much larger than this window), vertical cat highway, small cat tree at the window, litter box, food & water station, multiple cubbies, multiple style beds to choose from, and toys galore (including different variations of ball tracks); hence it being called the “studio apartment”. This is where they stay until they're ready to begin introducing themselves to the other cats in our home and checking out the new accommodations. It's their time to learn the sounds, sights, smells & timing of our home in a space where they can feel safe & confident.
Our home has numerous large windows and is full of bright, natural light throughout. Because Sydney came from a situation without a lot of light she kept her eyes very squinted all day when she first arrived and more so at night when we had to turn on the overhead light fixture. To accommodate her sensitivity during daylight hours we kept the blinds in her “studio apartment” tilted backwards, to the point of almost being closed, so she could see outside if she wanted but not have direct, bright light. Once the sun was setting we opened the blinds all the way. We also draped a sheet over her desk and put a bed & blanket in her “tent” along with her food station. From that point on she'd keep her eyes open all the way while in her “tent” and squint only when in the rest of the room.
It took some time for her eyes to adjust to having light but we were able to gradually adapt her to only squinting when looking towards a light source; ie, the window or a light fixture. Now, two and a half weeks later she very rarely squints, and again that's only if she looks directly at a light fixture.
Upon her arrival she didn't understand the concept of toys & play; Sydney was a young kitten having kittens so she never got to be a kitten herself. My husband made it his mission to make sure she had multiple, exciting toy & play classes so she could find her inner kitten. Once she figured out that concept then we began to see her determination. She was determined to figure out each and every toy that was in her "studio apartment". Each day we added a new toy for her mental stimulation, and joy, and she took to it immediately, determined to master it.
With encouragement & toy temptation my husband was able to help her grow her confidence. He used the vertical highway in that room to help her gather enough courage to get on the lowest platform which is maybe 6” off the ground. Each day she investigated a new platform until she settled in the fish bowl (3rd platform from the floor). As soon as we accidentally let Baka (who turns out to be one of her older kittens from a previous litter) in to her apartment they hopped around all excited together, gave head bumps & kisses and then he bounded to the top of the highway, with her watching every step he made. The next thing we knew she had worked her way to the hammock platform which is the next to highest platform (maybe 6 1⁄2 ft high). Baka is another foster kitten in our care who came from the same original home as Sydney yet came to us prior to Sydney. At the time we didn't know that he is her kitten. It was as we watched her come out of her shell that we began to notice all of the strong similarities. I mentioned these similarities to the vet and stated that I suspected they were somehow related; obviously from different litters since he's half her age. The vet grinned & responded “Well, they're so similar because she's his momma!”. Their similarities are adorable ones, at that. They both have LOOOOOONNNNNGGGG, skinny tails that they each wag like a puppy. They wag them so hard that their butts begin to also wag, like a puppy. LOL!! They both have BEAUTIFUL brown eyes. They both walk the same (think of a human baby walking with a loaded diaper). They both have the same “tic” they do with their tongue & lips. They also have the exact same body style, with Baka being slightly larger. They both have the exact same LOUD, rumbly purr (think Harley Davidson motorcycle). Also, every time a human or feline walks past either of them they reach out to touch us; it causes our hearts to swell each time it happens to us or we are witness to it happening Another similarity they have is that each time you go to pick them up they push off with the hind feet to help you be able to lift them, as if they think they're much larger & heavier than they are. We're so tickled each time we pick them up (which is NUMEROUS times throughout the day).
Sydney looks to Baka, a lot of the time, for reassurance that she is doing something correctly or to learn how to do something. He taught her how to play with the ball tower which was so endearing to watch.
Since Sydney had so many location changes in a very short amount of time it's understandable that she had such uncertainty when she first arrived. The longer she's here, though, her curiosity, spirit, confidence & voice has grown more & more each day. To ensure that Sydney doesn't lose her confidence when she goes to her forever home, her scented, favorite items will go home with her. Her cubby, blanket, toys (most certainly the spring she's losing her mind with while I type this will be in with her belongings), and a starter amount of the food & supplements she's currently eating in our home. The goal being to have as few immediate changes as possible to ensure she doesn't lose what she's learned while we've loved and cared for her.
It's been an honor and joy to watch Sydney watch Baka and learn from her baby about how to be a kitten and care for & play with him.
Sydney's not the kitty that will just walk out of her porter at her new home and command the space as hers. She'll need compassion of her backstory and patience & understanding that it'll take her a short while to realize she's finally HOME. If you can give her those in the early days she'll quickly blossom for you once she realizes that she won't have to endure anymore placements-that she's finally in her forever home. Once she believes that, then this TINY, little girl with a HUGE heart will fill your home with love and joy.
CATHERINE
Domestic Short Hair, Tabby
🇺🇸
Greensboro, North Carolina
female, medium, adult
Domestic Short Hair, Tabby
Greensboro, North Carolina
