Despite Herbee being a teeny-tiny hedgehog and Audree being a cat, the two have become inseparable. Talitha takes pictures of them against stunning backdrops as they all go on adorable adventures together. Not going to lie, their photos make me want to pack a suitcase and travel the world just like them (after the lockdown ends, of course).
“A few months after I adopted Herbee from a girl who couldn’t keep him due to severe allergic reactions, I adopted Audree. She was three months old when I got her and she was originally already reserved for someone who wanted to breed with her. But the lady canceled on her two days before I called,” Talitha told us.
“It has been my dream for so many years to have a cat and Bengals get along well with other pets. I wanted a special cat that would go on adventures and travel with me, so there wasn’t much choice on the breed. And then one night I had a dream that I had a Bengal cat that I took on adventures and we became the best friends ever,” she said.
“When I woke up and realized it was only a dream, I became sad. But a few moments later I realized that this dream wasn’t something that couldn’t turn into reality. And so I started to Google. The first cat I found was Audree and I saw her and knew it. When I called the lady she told me the story and I felt like it was meant to be. Audree has 3 brothers while I have 2 brothers. They always played like crazy and she would be right there next to them being a bit shy and just watching. Just like me as a child.”
Talitha said that she took Herbee with her when she went to visit Audree once before making the final decision. “They immediately became friends! Now they’re inseparable! Wherever Herbee goes, Audree goes. She lays down on spots where he was, they sometimes even snuggle and play together. Audree is now almost one year old!
According to Talitha, when Herbee and Audree first met, they were curious and the hedgehog didn’t put up his quills and wasn’t scared of the cat. Meanwhile, Audree was very cautious.
“They eat together at night, sometimes from the same bowl. Audree likes Herbee’s food better than her own even though they eat the same food (except for Herbee’s insects). Audree is allowed in Herbee’s cage and sleeps there sometimes or just watches him. Herbee bit Audree once and she wasn’t hurt but meowed and left—it never happened again.”
Talitha revealed to Bored Panda that it’s become more difficult to take photos outside because of the quarantine. “Of course, we can go on walks and take spring photos, but we are in the middle of nowhere staying on a family farm at the moment and it’s only just starting to bloom outside. Of course, we can’t travel, but I think it also has a good side. It makes me appreciate going on adventures with them even more!”
Herbee and Audree’s owner says that the quarantine has taken them all back to their roots, given them more time to spend with their family, and helped them appreciate the little things. “Like a ladybug sitting on Audree’s head or Herbee smelling a little flower,” she pointed out.
“It’s not about traveling further and further anymore, it’s about feeling happy where you are. It’s a great lesson! And it’s great to see and share the positive in this. I get a lot of feedback from our community that they appreciate our photos even more now. It’s just something small that makes them happy—and it makes me happy to read these messages.”
Talitha started posting pictures of animals back in 2015 when she got her hedgehog Pokee who was just 8 weeks old at the time. That’s why all of her social media accounts are named after Pokee, the original hedgehoggo.
Sadly, Pokee passed away and went to hedgehog heaven in 2019. But Herbee took up his mantle, filled his shoes, and keeps bringing smiles to our faces! Owner Talitha even got a tattoo on her wrist to honor Pokee’s memory. Though Herbee’s not related to his predecessor, he seems to share the same love for posing and modeling as his senior.
