Two street cats from North Macedonia have found a home in Haddington after making a four-day journey to the UK.
The two cats, Kitty and Muffin, made the journey in a van from North Macedonia to the UK last week, leaving their home country on Wednesday and arriving in the UK on Saturday morning after travelling through Europe.
They have been fostered by Sue Bagley, 50, who works as a full-time advanced nurse practitioner at Cromwell Harbour Medical Practice in Dunbar, along with her husband Dr Simon Bagley.
Sue and Simon have previously adopted one of the family’s four dogs, Wilson, and two cats, Willow and Esen, from Meow Paws North Macedonia, a charity dedicated to helping get cats and dogs off the streets in Macedonia.
Sue has worked closely with the charity’s founders, Iva Stojanovic and Mishko Stojnic, to set up a Scottish branch of the charity last year.
She has now welcomed the first two cats into her foster home where she will look to rehome them with new owners in the coming weeks.
The first cat, a brown cat named Kitty, is believed to be about nine months old and was tragically kicked and beaten as a kitten, suffering a broken pelvis among other injuries.
Muffin, who is black and white, is about two years old and was attacked by dogs leading to horrific wounds and him being very timid.
Sue told the Courier: “They have both settled in well. Probably better than I had thought after all they’ve been through and such a long journey.
“I had spoken with Iva and Mishko about sending two cats over and they chose Kitty and Muffin.
“Kitty is quite playful and doesn’t seem too phased by what she went through earlier in life which is good. She is young so perhaps she doesn’t remember.
“Muffin is far more timid. For the first 24 hours he just hid and didn’t want to see anyone. But he has settled now and lets us clap him.”
Sue had previously appealed to the public for donations of equipment to help look after the cats and was overwhelmed by the support.
She has already had people enquire about adopting the cats and said she was looking for the right person.
She said: “We want to find a good forever home for them. Ideally someone nearby who I can do house visits with and be there if things go wrong.
“I want to be able to support whoever adopts them to ensure they are going to the right home.
“I expect they won’t be here too much longer so we will wait and see."
To enquire about adopting Muffin or Kitty, you can fill out an adoption form at www.meowpawsnorthmacedonia.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here