Anna (on the left in the photo) and Elsa were littermates, rescued from a feral colony when they were about a year old. A wonderful veterinary practice fostered them for roughly six additional months before I adopted them last June. I was told that Anna might never come out of her shell, that she always hid behind her much larger sister Elsa whenever anyone approached them. Socialization has progressed very slowly, but there has been a major turn-around. Tiny Anna lets me pick her up before feedings, and sometimes she even purrs to me. Elsa is more than twice Anna's size, but she has turned out to be the timid one. If I can coax Anna to play (which is usually very easy), then Elsa will either sit off to the side or will reluctantly join in. I was heartbroken when we found one another, since I'd just lost my sweet feline companion of 14+ years, but it has been a delight to introduce youthful energy into the household once more. Elsa reminds me of another black feral cat (Shadow) who entered my life 20 years ago, and I hope that she will eventually become trusting enough to curl around my head for sleep the way Shadow did after we'd been together for a long time.
George StradtmanELKINS PARK, PA
