Sprite and Bastet
Bastet and Sprite are two cats who first came to us as strays in July 2025, both brought in to a veterinary practice. When they arrived both cats heavily were pregnant. Sprite went on to have two beautiful healthy kittens and Bastet had five.
Sprite was a confident happy cat from the outset, she happily welcomed staff and volunteers into her space, allowed gentle socialisation with her kittens and often came forward for strokes herself. Bastet, meanwhile, was far more cautious and unsure, she allowed staff and volunteers to interact with her kittens but she wanted to keep her distance, uncomfortable with affection for herself.
Once their kittens were grown and rehomed, the two mothers began their search for homes of their own. Bastet was adopted first, but she struggled almost immediately. Just as she had been in the Shelter, she was extremely nervous and unable to relax, hiding under the floorboards and only appearing briefly for food.
Everything changed when a member of the public contacted us after seeing Sprite on our website. She told us she had brought both cats to the vets together after they had been visiting her house for a while. Sprite, she explained, had always been skittish but tolerated gentle pets, and she became distressed whenever Bastet was out of sight. The two cats had arrived for food together, slept near each other and only ever separated to use the toilet. With this new understanding, we began to believe that Bastet may have been a bonded pair previously. Baset was potentially Sprite’s daughter.
With this information and following conversation around Baset in the home with her new owner, Bastet’s adopter asked whether introducing Sprite into the home might help her settle. It is not something we would usually recommend, especially when a nervous cat is already struggling, but this case was unique. We agreed that it was worth trying.
What happened next was remarkable. The moment Sprite arrived, Bastet stepped out from hiding, calm and reassured in a way none of us had seen before. Instead of retreating, she stayed close to her adopter and remained by Sprite’s side, clearly comforted by her presence. It was as if the missing piece of her world had finally returned.
Now known as Nyx, she has transformed completely. She curls up with her family, seeks gentle fuss and has discovered a love of belly rubs. Sprite has settled beautifully alongside her, and the pair are thriving together in the home they were always meant to share.
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Their story shows the extraordinary power of a bond, and how the right information at the right moment can change an animal’s future entirely.
Caring for cats like Bastet and Sprite takes significant time, expertise and resources. From veterinary treatment, care for kittens and careful matching with adopters, every step requires funding. We cannot give animals magical endings like this without the generosity of the public.
If you can, please donate today to help us give more cats their chance at a safe and loving future.
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