HERE we have brothers Tommy (left) and Maxie who have made themselves at home with their owners Linda and Graham Fish.

They were adopted by the couple 12 months ago from the Cats Protection charity and, as you can, see one of their favourite occupations is relaxing after playing out.

Linda explains that they adopted the cats when they were four months old. "They'd had a tough life and were very nervous," she says.

Now they are much more confident and will even approach visitors to their Leigh home now — something they would never have done in the early days.

"They were scared of everything, the noise and even all the space," says Linda.

The cats are very close. "They groom each other and sleep cuddled up together," she adds.

Sadly Linda's previous cat died after a road accident but these two do not go anywhere near the main road, heading only to the canal at the rear of their home and bringing in "presents" for their owners.

"They bring in mice and frogs. It's the little one, Maxie, who is the hunter and she brings them in and looks at me really proud when she drops them at my feet," says Linda.

The brothers were two of a litter taken in by Cats Protection in Leigh and they "chose" Linda and Graham.

"We went to look at the cats and these two just looked up at us from their basket and we had to take them. They chose us," explains Linda.

They are much loved family pets who bring a lot of joy to their owners. "We wouldn't be without them. We have always had cats and the house did not seem the same without a cat in it," she says.

They have really gained a great deal of confidence since moving in with Linda and Graham. "They love sitting on our knees and being fussed," she says.