Два года жизни: как полярно разные близнецы-кошки Мило и Липтон устроили хаос в доме

PETALING JAYA: Two-and-a-half-year-old Milo and Lipton may be twins, but anyone who spends time with them will quickly realise how different they are. Milo is the household’s affectionate “koko”, or older brother. Lipton happily embraces her role as “mei mei” – the younger sister who, despite being born in the same litter, somehow always seems to get her way. “They really are complete opposites,” their human, Nick, said fondly. “Milo is sweet, curious and very loving, while Lipton is what I call my ‘snobby cat’. She loves us, of course – she just prefers to show it according to her own schedule.” The siblings are the children of Marmalade, Nick’s much-loved cat, and William, a stray he befriended and named. Marmalade gave birth to five kittens, three of whom eventually found furever homes. Milo and Lipton remained with the family. Sadly, Marmalade later died from kidney and heart failure, while William has also since passed away. Their loss still weighs heavily on Nick, but their two surviving offspring offer comfort – and more than a little chaos. “Milo and Lipton are precious because they are a part of Marmalade and William that is still here with us,” he said. “Having them with us feels like we still have a small part of their mum and dad in this world.” Milo is the more openly affectionate. Talkative and inquisitive, he enjoys following his humans around, calling out to them and making it very clear when he would like some attention. He’s usually very sweet – unless he’s hungry. An empty stomach, it seems, can temporarily make Milo forget his responsibilities as a loving older brother. When mealtime draws near, he tends to take out his impatience on Lipton by bullying her. “We always have to remind ‘koko’ to be nice to his ‘mei mei’,” Nick said with a laugh. Lipton, meanwhile, takes a more selective approach to affection. She seeks out cuddles only when she feels like it, and is perfectly capable of looking unimpressed when attention arrives at an inconvenient moment. She has also mastered the art of using her status as the “younger” sibling to her advantage. “Lipton knows how to look cute when she wants something. Sometimes she acts very uppity; other times, she puts on this faux miserable or pathetic expression so everyone feels sorry for her. She is quite the actress.” She is also the more fastidious of the pair: her playpen must be arranged exactly to her liking, with every item in its proper place. If something has been shifted or left where it does not belong, Lipton will cry until one of her humans comes over to restore order. Her preferred sleeping arrangements include the reassuring presence of Kerbie, one of the family dogs, who shares the same pet area. If Kerbie is absent, Lipton cries for her until she returns to keep her company. Milo and Lipton also get along well with Bailey, the family’s other dog. Together, the cats and dogs make up an unconventional but affectionate little household – even if not every family member is equally enthusiastic about the arrangement. Their older feline brother, Tommy, for instance, would generally prefer to be left alone. He often retreats when the younger cats approach, particularly when the approaching cat happens to be Lipton. “Lipton is more confrontational – I suppose you could say that’s part of her catty nature,” Nick quipped. The siblings are happiest when they are allowed into the garden, where they can explore, play and nibble on cat-safe plants – even if these leafy snacks make an unwelcome reappearance later. Lipton, unsurprisingly, is the more adventurous of the two. She enjoys climbing a tree and sitting on the wall to survey the world beyond her home. More recently, she has discovered the thrill of escaping into the neighbours’ yard, much to her humans’ chagrin. Life with Milo and Lipton is filled with kitty conversations, complaints, sibling squabbles, garden adventures, and carefully orchestrated displays of feline drama. Yet beneath it all is a deep bond – between the cats themselves and the family that has watched them grow. And while they cannot replace Marmalade or William, they carry some of their parents forward: a familiar look, similar shades of fur, and an enduring love that began even before they were born. Read more pet stories here. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathered friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.