Hi - Happy New Year all!.
I thought I'd replied to this yesterday but can't see it yet. A bit more info about the 2 kittens. I thought they were 2 of the most docile kittens you could get. One of them - Pixie was content just to stay in 'bed' most of the time with mum. In fact we sometimes used to give her some treats in bed when she couldn't be bothered to get up to eat with the others. The other one is also quite laid back. When she was caught in the cat trap though she absolutely freaked and went mental. We took her over to volunteer's straight away. At one point when volunteer (we'll call her Ann) was trying to get her into the trap again (I think to take to the vet's) she was bitten and I think Ann and her friend have been bitten or sratched a couple of times and they therefore do not think either of them is suitable for rehoming and are now asking us to take them back
I think the whole experience has been very shocking for them as they have gone from being able to roam anywhere but having nice place to return to, to being cooped up in tiny pen, taken to nasty vet's and having to live amongst other cats they don't know. I think they would make reasonable pets.
The kittens we have taken in - 2 from same litter are fine. One is happy and eager to get stroked and loved by my partner - runs away from me though! The other still hisses when I walk by but is happy to play with me if I have something that takes her attention.
Mum appeared around February in extremely cold weather and we made her comfy in log store and fed her etc. She was obviously a stray but very timid and we have never managed to encourage her inside her house. We did manage to catch her and take her to get spayed after 2nd litter (only one survived from first litter - Squeaky!) It was probably meant to be as we were still trying to get over the death of our beloved little dog in the previous November!
Squeaky used to play with them outside and now and they all get on fine. So we have 'rehomed' them even if it's only from our garage (where they did get to know us )sucessfully and have no regrets! I think Pixie and Splodge would make good pets but maybe not where there are children or other pets? Ann, however says that people want cuddly cats and I have to accept what she is saying as she must know more about cats than I do.
Sorry for long post!