William and Mozart

Funnily enough, we didn’t see his face until we got him home, as he was extremely shy. William took some time to settle and for us to gain his trust but two years on he is a really loving cat who has come on leaps and bounds.
After having William for a year we felt he might benefit from some feline company and decided a kitten might be a good option; as it shouldn't pose a threat with William being eight years older than the newcomer. Mozart was born in February 2007: we named him Mozart as we both loved the name and sometimes refer to William as 'Shakespeare' - it made sense for a musical genius to accompany a literary one!

We followed Battersea’s advice of keeping the cats apart at first and gradually introduced their scents to each other by swapping toys and blankets. After five days they were the best of friends, falling asleep on the same bed, cleaning each other and following each other around. Mozart and William's bond is something neither of us has experienced, especially considering their eight year age gap. Since we brought Mozart home, William's confidence has gone from strength to strength, and he seems to have a new lease of life. We are so grateful to Ros and the team in the cattery for our two boys - they have provided us with lots of happy times and laughs.

Maria & Charlie Butler, Aldershot, Hampshire