Luck has truly turned for three-month-old Pickle, who has found his forever home after being orphaned when his mother was killed on a Norfolk road.
Tabby-and-white Pickle and his siblings were just three weeks old when a passer-by witnessed their mother’s accident on Wisbech Road.
Having seen the mother moving the kittens under a bush a few days before, the man scooped them up and rushed them to Cats Protection’s Downham Market Adoption Centre.
At the time the centre was operating on a skeleton staff due to lockdown precautions, so neighbouring Dereham Adoption Centre stepped in to help and they were transferred to the care of Cat Care Assistant and fosterer Lynzi Sizeland, who cared for them until they were ready to be adopted.
Miss Sizeland, whose role is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “As the kittens were too young to fend for themselves, I had to play mum to them – including bottle feeding them until they could eat solid food.
“It has been a challenge but also a joy to help get these kittens ready for homing by encouraging their natural play behaviours, taking them for vet visits, getting them used to cat carriers and loud noises and so on.
“I’m so pleased that they have all now found loving homes. It really makes all the hard work so worthwhile and is one of the reasons I love my job.”
After being featured on social media, there was no shortage of offers to adopt the tiny tabbies and Pickle was soon chosen by Michelle and her husband Simon from Norwich.
Michelle said: “Pickle has settled in beautifully with our little family of cats. He’s so confident and playful and makes us laugh constantly with his crazy antics!
“When he’s not charging around the house or playing in his play tunnel, he likes to have lots of cuddles and enjoys sleeping on our laps.
“We did think about changing his name at first but in the end we decided to keep it as it just suits him so well. He’s a gorgeous little pickle and we adore him!”
Pickle’s siblings Peanut, Pesto and Papaya have also all now found happy homes.
To learn more about the process and to see cats available to be rehomed visit: www.cats.org.uk/dereham/adopt-a-cat
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