Richard the lionheart

Richard with foster ‘brother’ Zappas

Featured in our previous newsletter, blind rescue kitten Richard was seeking a loving home. Here, foster mum Eleni Calligas writes about this shy kitten’s long stay with her, and his happy new home.  

When Little Richard first came to stay with me, he was a shy, reserved, blind, 4-month-old kitten. Although he’d been on the street before being rescued by Nine Lives Greece and taken to the vet for initial care and the snip, he made a point of keeping himself very clean, and his white patches sparkling. Very affectionate with me, he soon gathered confidence and began hanging out with Zappas, my resident cat, who is forever looking for company to play in the small outside patch at his disposal. At first I was reluctant to allow Richard to go out into my (cat-safe) walled garden, so they would sit on either side of the French window looking pathetic until I gave in. Soon they were running around happily, and Zappas taught Richard to climb trees. He stayed with us for about 5 months and then a permanent home was found for him. I was sad to see him go – until I saw photographs of him in his new family. A more desirable environment, a more perfect home could not have been found for him. And he seems to have settled in from the moment he got there, no doubt sensing how welcome he was. His special friend is Elias, another blind cat not much older than him, with whom Richard has bonded quickly. Although the parting is always rather difficult, I am immensely happy for him and thankful to Nine Lives for having found such a wonderful forever home for him.