Even though Tabitha is blind as a bat, her new Gore-based family have quickly realised anxiety is a waste of time because she is not just any old cat.
She has her own "seeing-eye cat", Hope, and with her help, she is unstoppable.
The bonded 4-month-olds have been inseparable since they were brought in to the Dunedin SPCA earlier this year with cat flu, which had badly infected their eyes.
One of Tabitha’s eyeballs was already ruptured and she had lost sight in the other one, so the vets removed both of her eyes.
One of Hope’s eyes was also affected, but both of her eyes were able to be saved.
Aidan Friend, of Gore, said he saw Tabitha and Hope in the Otago Daily Times and, having previously owned a blind cat, instantly felt a bond with the duo.
So after a quick discussion with "most" of the family, he went and got the kittens at the weekend.
He said he still had two children at home — a 12-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son — but his daughter was away for the school holidays and had no idea the family had just adopted two kittens.
"It’s going to be a complete surprise when she gets home.
"I can’t wait to see her face on Friday — she’ll be over the moon."
He said Tabitha was fearless and settling in very quickly, thanks to Hope’s guidance and the family’s previous experience owning a blind cat.
"They’re very cool. They’ve got their own room in the house so they can settle in.
"We set the room up and we’re very conscious that we don’t move anything.
"She obviously remembers where everything is in the room.
"She can navigate — she’ll jump off the bed and she knows where there is clear space.
"You wouldn’t think that Tabitha didn’t have eyes."
Vets said her hearing, sense of smell and her whiskers had gone into overdrive to help make up for her loss of sight, and when people or other cats entered the room, she was able to point her head directly at them.
Mr Friend said they had bought her lots of toy mice with rattles, so she could chase them, and she showed them no mercy.
The main concern the family had was if she knew where the food and the toilet were.
Thanks again to Hope, she worked that out pretty quickly. Tabitha senses where she is and follows her around.
"They’re making themselves at home.
"They’re already part of the family.
"And they love lots of love and cuddles."
The family was pleased the happy-go-lucky, playful, affectionate, friendly and curious kitten was not euthanised.
All nine of her lives would be quality lives in Gore, Mr Friend said.
