'Very Gentle' Nadia And Nessa: Huntington Adoptable Pets Of The Week

HUNTINGTON, NY — Nadia and Nessa, around 7 months old, are the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's Huntington Pets of the Week.

Nadia is black and Nessa is grey.

The two girls are the last of the litter of six kittens who were trapped outside in a volunteer's backyard.

"Their brother, Niko, was featured last week, so it is the same sad story, but these girls need a new start in life," said Debbi Larkin, president of the shelter. "Unfortunately, Niko, Nadia and Nessa were nowhere to be found when it was time to trap them and it took until the beginning of August when they were all finally located and trapped."

They were all vetted and placed into foster care, but the "real problem was just starting," Larkin said.

"Because they were almost 9 weeks old already, they were very difficult to handle…they did not like to be touched or picked up at all and would hiss, spit and lash out if you tried," she said. "But one of our very experienced foster moms never gave up. She worked with all of them individually and separately."

Nadia and Nessa, with sleek fur coats and mesmerizing yellow eyes, were a lot more difficult to
work with, according to Larkin. They were still very frightened of people when they arrived at the shelter, so they were placed in one of the other rooms because they kept running when someone entered the kitten room.

"We thought that if they weren’t in such a confined space they would calm down," Larkin said. "They were fine for about 3 months and then they started to mimic the 'run' behavior of some of the other cats and kittens. It was at this point that we had recently had some adoptions so there
weren’t a lot of kittens in the room and we moved them back, keeping our fingers crossed. It took some time but both girls are finally starting to interact as 'kittens' with the others and were not in complete and total panic when people enter the room."

They love to play with all of the toys in the room, especially the springs, according to Larkin. They can be seen chasing them from one end of the room to the other. When Nadia starts, Nessa follows her lead…and the others in the room usually join in and can create some chaos with all of those little bodies scampering about. The girls both like the lower condos and cubbies where they can watch all that is happening. If they happen to be on the condo looking out in the yard and see a squirrel or bird, they freeze like a statue.

"One can only wonder what they are thinking about being outside again, but thankfully they will never have to know that," Larkin said. "If you sit on the floor quietly, they will approach you, but you have to move slowly and be patient with them. They want to join but it will take time."

Nadia and Nessa have both tested negative for FELV and FIV, tested negative for parasites, had their ears and heart checked, have been spayed and are litter box trained.

If you are interested in meeting Nadia and Nessa, you may call the shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the Facebook page or visit at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

The rescue is at 3 Verleye Ave., East Northport, and visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The shelter is also open from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday nights only for those who cannot make it during the daytime hours.

They will also be available at the shelter's Valentine Day Adoption Event on Feb. 15 at the shelter.

"Nadia and Nessa will be friendly, active, playful and very loyal to those they have chosen as their people," Larkin said. "They are very gentle and are totally bonded so we are encouraging potential adopters to take them both. They have been through a lot and we want to make their new life
easier for them, not harder. Let’s give these beautiful girls a 'Valentine Day' gift by showering them with hugs, kisses and lots of love (and don’t forget the treats) this year. They have been waiting long enough."