Hello! We’re Hovis & Barley! We are Cats of the Month for November!

We are litter siblings, both boys and coming up to 6 months old, probably born in early April. We’re also best pals. We were brought from a local farm where our mum was a stray but she escaped and ran off. We were underweight on arrival and our coats were very scraggy and dirty. It’s taken a while to get us back on track but we’re now ready to start a new life. We’re up to date with worm and flea treatments. We were neutered and microchipped on 8th October but aren’t vaccinated. Diet has been tricky for us and we have suffered with tummy upsets and sickness but have now settled well on Whiskas kitten in jelly with Iams kitten biscuits as a topper once a day, sprinkled on lunchtime meal. We do like treats Dreamies and meat sticks but only get them occasionally as we had sensitive stomachs for sone time until the right balance was found. Diet can be discussed in more detail to anybody interested in adopting us.

We were very scared on arrival, hissing and spitting at anyone who tried to touch us, not out of nastiness but pure terror and we were missing our mum’s protection. Day by day, we’ve grown in confidence and are starting to enjoy human company and interaction, but it has taken many weeks to get us to where we are now, so patience and understanding are needed in abundance. Once settled, we will reward you with total love, head boops and cheeky little nudges for more attention. We are inquisitive so, once we’d discovered toys, there was no stopping us and our playful kitten nature was awoken, but we do a lot of waiting and watching before we venture forward and a lot of our exploring is done when we’re left alone. We’re timid and wary of new people and changes before we trust. We’re not suited to living with children or other pets.

Additional Information

Because we lived on a farm, providing a quiet, safe place for us to establish as our own is essential. Being around other pets, children or in busy households isn’t for us. Affection and interaction is very much earned and a hands off, gentle approach will be needed at first, so we need a gentle, slow approach to teach us that humans are, in fact, ok and can provide more than just food. We are extremely well bonded, look to each other for confidence and comfort and pretty much always sleep together. We share everything so it is essential that we are adopted together. We’ll need a nice safe garden to play in and explore. Once settled in our new home, we are sure to love the great outdoors and the freedom to activate our zoomies mode will no doubt be a fabulous sight to see! We came from a farm environment so need to live somewhere rural/semi-rural, no busy roads or built-up areas; busyness of people and traffic will scare us. We share a large hooded litter tray, which we prefer and we’re very clean lads.

Do you want a challenge? Do you think you have what it takes to show these lovely boys what a safe home can bring them, give them love and attention without expecting too much in return until they feel safe, so that they can grow up into confident cats without a care in the world? Then please get in touch and arrange to meet them; we can’t wait to introduce you.

What The Ark says about us

Hovis and Barley have come a long way over the past couple of months, they are much braver and are more accepting of strokes and affection. They both seek attention but also feel brave enough to explore their surroundings and absolutely love to play. Not so keen on being picked up but they are more manageable now they have learnt to trust us. They are quite the pair of cheeky chaps and are starting to get into mischief which is lovely to see. Barley is the leader and wherever he goes Hovis isn’t far behind but Barley thinks he should have all the food and snacks so you have to ensure Hovis gets his share. They both do a little meerkat dance at mealtimes, spinning and hopping around meowing in the cutest little trills. They are just adorable and love each other very much. If you haven’t guessed we are so very proud of these little lads; they have come such a long way from the scared kittens that arrived without their mum, so we are seeking the best home to suit their needs and temperament. They are timid especially in the settling in period so will need their own space to adjust without too much interaction, just sitting with them has really helped us bond, strokes come when trust is earned. Living with children or other pets won’t be right for Hovis and Barley; they need to be the main focus and feel safe in their surroundings without the constant comings and goings of a busy household. A safe outside space is essential for when they have settled in, they lived with their mum on a farm so a rural, quiet village type home would be perfect as they aren’t used to traffic or busy built up areas. It really does go to show what comes with time and patience and given the right home to nurture them more they will no doubt grow into fine, confident cats who will be gentle and loving with a little playful nature. Hovis and Barley are amazing and they are seeking an equally amazing person or people to help them grow and love them for who they are. Please get in touch to meet a beautiful pair of young cats who are ready to start a new adventure and bring lots of joy to your life.