"Weasel," as she is affectionately known - her name's McCavity - was found, as a tiny kitten, emaciated and bleeding, in a remote region of the Baviaanskloof in South Africa.
Perhaps as a result of her tough start in life, she stayed quite small.
She also stayed quite wild. Preferring to explore the wide-open expanses of the Karoo Wildlife Center where she lived - instead of becoming a house cat.
When my wife and I were asked to adopt her (into our suburban Cape Town apartment) we worried she might not adapt to being a 'city cat' and that she might not want to live surrounded by humans in such close quarters.
She had, after all, never laid eyes on a highway, or seen a sky-scraper, or even another cat (not counting karakal and leopard).
At first, she hid away. Venturing out only when necessary.
My wife started taking pics of her on the odd occasion she relaxed out in the open for a bit.
Early pic of Weasel hiding out while she snoozes
Every now and then she'd play with a patch of cloth. Her patch, I mean. Don't mess with her patch
Or catch a sunbeam
After a few weeks, we had a first. A nap on a lap
Then quickly getting more comfortable with her new family
Starting to love cuddles
She even started waking up in bed with us in the morning
With the occasional 'advanced' sleeping maneuver
Or two
And she will cry until I make space for her between my legs on the bed
But catches up on any missed sleep in the daytime by covering her eyes
