Basma and Jumbo are two brown tabbies that do everything together. They share meals, sleep, and playtime. They often groom each other and like to cuddle when they rest. One time, while alone with Basma in the bathroom, she was difficult to brush and trim. Jumbo was outside, meowing and scratching at the door. When he was let in, he jumped onto the lap and began licking Basma’s ears. After they were united, Basma allowed brushing without any problems, and Jumbo responded well to the grooming tools.
This is the first time fostering a bonded pair. It is amazing to see how they help each other behave and grow. Jumbo tends to be clingy and push limits, like many male kittens, while Basma is shy and gets scared easily. However, when they are together, Jumbo behaves better and doesn’t take risks, such as climbing the curtains. Basma feels safe enough to explore and play as long as Jumbo is nearby, rather than hiding away.
Finding homes for kittens in Tbilisi is very challenging. It is likely that the best option is to adopt them out as single kittens since it is hard to find someone willing to take two brown tabbies. The thought of separating Basma and Jumbo is painful. On the other hand, moving them to Europe would take a lot of time, money, and effort, and there is no guarantee it would succeed. There was an experience of trying to take a cat from Georgia to Norway, which ended in the cat being denied entry, put in quarantine, and facing possible euthanasia if not returned. The journey was very stressful and cost more than expected, which could have gone towards spaying many street cats.
So what is the best choice? Should the kittens be separated and trained to address their individual issues locally, or is it better to try to find them a home together outside of Georgia?
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Reddit source: Reddit, shared by u//u/throwawayStomnia