Cat(s) of the Week: Bug and Badger – A Dynamic Duo!

Bug (left, male calico) and Badger (right, female tuxedo)

Yes, I know what you’re thinking: the title says Cat of the Week, but here I am with not one, but two winners. Don’t panic—it’s not a typo. Bug and Badger are both small enough to count as one nomination. Let’s call it a BOGO (Buy One, Get One) situation, but way fluffier.

Before we dive into the star-studded lives of Bug and Badger, let me explain why I’m even doing this. For the past two years, I’ve volunteered at the SARA Animal Shelter in Redcar, and every week, without fail, I fall in love with at least one cat (or two, as evidenced here). I used to document my weekly favourites on a calendar and store about a million pictures on my phone. But since my phone is begging for mercy from lack of storage, I’ve decided to take my cat-obsession online. So, welcome to the Cat of the Week series, where I can spotlight these adorable furballs and maybe—just maybe—help someone meet their future feline bestie!

Now, on to this week’s winners…

Meet Badger (tuxedo queen) and Bug (her cute calico sidekick). I first met Badger back in August when she and her three siblings were handed over to the shelter, all conveniently found in a box. The person who brought them in just so happened to have an unspayed cat at home, which leads us to believe that these kittens may have been a little more “homemade” than “found.” But who’s keeping track?

Bug, on the other hand, arrived later and was the tiniest little thing, about the size of a teacup (okay, maybe a large teacup). He was discovered alone as a stray at just three weeks old. Thankfully, Bug was scooped up quickly and seamlessly blended in with Badger and her littermates, because apparently, being adorable is a transferable skill.

My first video of the attention seeking/stealing crew. The video is a lot blurrier than when I took it...

Now, let’s be real—Bug had my heart from the start. I mean, how could he not? He’s got that underdog charm, all scrappy and small compared to his siblings. For weeks, I was Team Bug all the way, until… well, let’s just say Badger pulled a sneaky move on me. One day, she crawled into my lap, purred like a miniature lawnmower, and that was it. Game over. She snuggled her way straight into my heart with her tuxedo-clad cuteness. I usually go for tabby cats (blame my first cat, Fika, who taught me to appreciate their quirky ways), so Badger being my pick this week was a total plot twist.

Just when I thought Bug would be this week’s reigning champion, Badger went for the full show-stealer moment. Not content with just taking my lap, she clambered up next to Bug, perched on my leg, and—wait for it—gave Bug the most expert kitty shoulder massage you’ve ever seen. That’s right, folks, massage. If this cat doesn’t have a career in luxury spas after this, I’ll be shocked. With her little paws kneading away at Bug’s tiny shoulders, the two of them were an adorable purring duo, and I sat there wondering how I hadn’t already adopted them both on the spot.

Press play to see the multitalented Badger in action.

So, while Bug’s scruffy charm still melts me, Badger’s lap-cat powers and secret massage skills earned her equal billing as Cat of the Week—or Cats of the Week, as it were.

So, there you have it. Bug and Badger, two little furballs who stole the spotlight (and my heart). Stay tuned for next week’s winner… unless I fall in love with yet another duo and have to break my own rules again. Which is highly likely.