I can fit another cat in, can't I?

[thecatneuterer]

Celia wants me to take another cat as he's going to have trouble getting a home and the centre is of course bursting at the seams. His name is Simon - scroll half way down the page to see him: www.celiahammond.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=9&MMN_position=16:16

He's such a sweetie. Come and tell me 21 cats isn't too much ... :)

You have got to take him in, he is so gorgeous. I'd have him in a minute if I wasn't up in Scotland.

Of course 21 cats is not too many! He really is a lovely cat, and it is really sad that so many gorgeous animals are in need of homes. It is the same here in rural France, but with fewer animal welfare places.

Well he's just a honey. Needs a few weeks of good brushing of course.

There's not much left to brush Cozie, it's nearly all been shaved off. He had a large wound full of maggots when he arrived.

I know French. That's why I could never live abroad (barring probably Germany and Scandinavia) - I'd end up with 200 not 20.

awww poor lad he looks like hes been through the wringer of life i suppose when you get to 20 you wont notice another set of paws walking into your heart

21 cats is three netball teams worth. That alone means you should.

I didn't get to simon, I read the one about the homeless lady with the cat who got chased.

Now I just want to cry. That poor woman, I hope she finds somewhere to live with the cat soon.

....a large wound full of maggots....

Poor boy. Has he arrived at yours, yet?

Oh you have to take Simon he is absolutely gorgeous even with matted fur and most of it shaved off!

One more won't make a difference if you already have 20! Do take him, and we will need pictures!

I scrolled through the whole page and the details are really sad. The homeless lady who carried her cat around with her in a carrier every day & couldn't bear to be parted from her . And the mum found with 3 tiny dead kittens (although happily now adopted with the 2 surviving ones)

A lot of the "less wanted" cats on that page seem to be plain tabby or predominantly black, this ties in with what my local rescue told me - they were overwhelmed with cats and were struggling to get them adopted if they were black, as people were tending to want "something different"

We've just taken in a stray kitten on top of 2 old cats but if (when!) we get another, it'll be a rescue cat and I will try very hard to pick an older cat or one which is otherwise harder to rehome.

timtam yes black cats are the most difficult to home, along with older cats. However the most difficult of all are the shy ones. Even the mankiest looking cat can normally win someone over if they are very loving. However the shy ones are always overlooked. It's such a shame as normally, given a few weeks in a home environment, they come round completely and end up being very friendly.

That's why probably two thirds of mine at least are in that category. And it's so rewarding when they suddenly start wanting interaction and strokes.

And no cozie I haven't got him yet. He has to have some more treatment and another small operation on the wound on his back. I'm still hoping someone else will take him and giving him a home where he can be the centre of attention. If not then I'm sure he'll be happy enough with my brood.

I'll keep you updated.

Well all the best to him. And while we're on the subject of his treatment, perhaps you could put up a giving link to Celia's Trust? I reckon many people would like to contribute.

the one i liked on the page was funnily enough Fenella the black girl so pretty love black cats i sometimes wish i lived nearer to celai hammond would love to work for such a fantastic cat rescue, but the one i work for is ace too

Black cats are my favourite. Good luck with you new rescued kitty

Yes good luck. None of my 3 cats are black but I will definitely try to get a black one next time. Or better still, an elderly shy black one!

I wish I lived near London as there are a couple of Celia's I'd love to adopt!

Thanks. Of course Simon is black and white, but they also have a hard time. If you took an elderly shy black one timtam I think the rescue people would kiss you:) And I'm sure wherever you are there will be rescues with equally lovely/desperate kitties.

If any of you want to read some nice stories I love the 'happy endings' page of our site: www.celiahammond.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=27&MMN_position=39:39

I will of course let you know what happens with Simon. I expect I'll end up with him.

At the moment though I've got four 5-month old kittens in a hospital basket in my living room. I've just been to trap them and I'm taking them in for neutering tomorrow, then they've got to go back where they came from as at least they're being fed there and they're quite shy so would be very difficult to home and we just haven't got room for them. But it means they'll be living outside and it's so sad as I know, given a chance, they'd be lovely house cats. But I just can't keep all the cats I come across.

I forgot to say issey: regardless of which rescue you're with - it's all equally essential work you do.

And cozie: I already use this board to shamelessly drive home our core messages (namely: 'neuter, neuter, neuter' and 'don't breed or buy while strays die - rescuing is more rewarding'), so I think I probably shouldn't be also trying to cajole people into giving us money (not that any donations wouldn't be gratefully received of course:) )

The poor sod, he has a lovely face but looks so sad

Take him and help him be happy!

I want them all. Is that allowed?

No. My hell beast furry baby wouldn't allow it haha.

Can't believe there's anyone out there who wouldn't want a tabby or a black cat! They're my favourites

But I wouldn't say no to any other cat either. I think that's why no one offers me them.

My lovely 13 yr old cat came from Celia Hammond Animal Trust. I'd love to get another from there but we live too far away now.

Good luck with this cat - wow 20 cats is a lot! Do they get on? How much space do you have? It's great that you're there to look after them.

21 cats

Aww!

Makes me think when the ChangeCats are no more (hopefully a long time ) I will adopt older cats.

Moosey I have an average size London terrace with a small garden. But there's only me and all the cats, so there seems to be plenty of room. At the moment I'm sitting in the living room and can only see one cat (although I've a feeling at least four will be on my bed right now).

They're all so used to living with lots of cats that they barely seem to even notice when another one arrives. I've read books on cat psychology (as you do) and it said that once you get past a certain density of cat per square metre (although it wasn't specific on the actual figures) they give up on the idea of having their own territory and just relax and forget about even trying to be territorial. Whatever that density is I reached it some time back:)

Out of pure interest, how does the 'one who arrives' usually react when they see the massed hordes?

How do you deal with all the litter and everything or do they go outside?

I am resisting going above four because of food and litter & vets/insurance costs but there might be a trick I'm missing...

oh and Simon looks lovely and really in need of some love, bless him.

I'm guessing that TCN gets help with vet things etc because she volunteers/fosters for Celia. The rest? Yikes.

It's never the new cat that causes problems here, it's whichever female is currently queen bee who sees it as her duty to make sure the newcomer knows their place. The males rarely even notice the newcomer, or if they do are usually friendly.

I've only ever had a maximum of 8 though and my newcomers are usually abandoned kittens. I haven't introduced an adult cat in a long time.