Should I rehome this kitty?

[hiddenhome2]

We sort of ended up at the cat shelter today just to take a look at the cats.

There's a 10 year old neutered male cat there. He's in good health, but is very shy and has been there since April.

He came in with several other cats having been rescued from a semi derelict house that had no heating or lighting. They were being fed by a woman who's since been prosecuted for neglect of these cats.

We went into his pen and sat down and he hid in a cat tube. We stroked him lots and he started purring. He's a big softy.

He's a real cat lovers cat rather than being outgoing and confident, so we could manage him fine as we're a quiet household and have lots of experience with cats.

I'd have to phone the insurance to find out how much it would cost each month.

Would it be a risky thing to do to take an older cat on?

He's taken two dreamies from ds2 and has been poking his paw out of the igloo. He also rubbed the side of his face against ds2's finger.

I think he likes ds2

Well good for DS2 - how old is he again? It will be a good experiemce for him if he bonds with William.

My first rescue cat was a hellion, but bonded really well with my ds, he was the only one she would sleep with and I needed him at hand to get her in the carrier for vets appointments, he was the only one who could calm her

Ds2 is 11. He loves cats.

William finally ventured out and has been nose to nose with Pearl who went into the room. He's had some wet food and has been stroked lots. He purrs very quietly. The poor thing has a bald patch around his neck ? A collar that's been too tight. I dunno. I hope he manages to use his litter tray okay. I'm always anxious until they go on it.

Interestingly, I looked at the photos on the laptop (first viewing was on the App) and actually saw a rather sad little face at the back of the igloo. (The App doesn't seem to be able to handle black on black values as well as the main site. A good point for future remembering.)

First Use Of Tray is always anxiety-making I think, hidden - 10 weeks or 10 years. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks cozie. I've left him to it in the room now. He has a nightlight on near the tray.

Pearl is camped out outside the room. She's fascinated.

Fascinated is better than T'd off, I think?

Success! The litter tray has been well and truly used (phew) and the cats are all sitting around looking at each other. William is hiding out under the bookcase but comes out when you go into the room.

That actually sounds quite promising.

He sounds like he's doing really well

Proper photos at last

He's gorgeous. It's particularly lovely of you to take on an older and shyer (and black!) rescue cat, I'm sure you'll be rewarded many times over with purrs and snuggles as he gets settled.

How are the others doing?

He's lovely Gerund he's very friendly in spite of the neglect. He's a real purrer too. Just have to take it slowly.

They others are coping well cozie Pearl seems to want to interact as she sits next to the bookcase that he hides under (his safe place). She looks at him and seems to be wondering why he's hiding.

FatCat goes up for a look at him as well, but she looks a bit shocked. She's been into the room and investigated his area. She's hisses a bit to warn him off, but there's no chance of him going near as he's nervous.

OldCat is in a world of her own, but did briefly go to check him out, hissed and went into our bed in disgust. She's booked in for a dental extraction and de-scale next week poor thing. She's always had dodgy teeth.

We've cleared off a space on the window sill so he can look out of the window if he likes. I put him onto it earlier on, but he was a bit shocked and got straight down. I lure him out with Dreamies

He's lovely

That all sounds good, hidden - although OldCat coming back smelling of vet may throw them for a little. (Only a very little, I'd guess.) I think you have grounds for considerable optimism there.

I hope so cozie although I think he's going to take a while to venture downstairs. He did go into the other bedrooms for a brief investigate whilst I was at work yesterday. I'd like him to come down because there's a nice fire and the garden where he can sit and get some sun. After being stuck in for so long he must be fed up.

His being stuck in for so long is just why I reckon it's important to allow him to take it at his own pace. (Imagine how you would have felt if you'd been stuck in a small cell for most of the day for months and months and you were suddenly out - but faced with unknown dangers and possibly hostile strangers.)

He's an older cat so he'll be a bit more measured in his approach than some might be and going round the other bedrooms probably took a lot of his courage.

It sounds as if he's doing fine.

By the way - I forget. Do you know anything of his history?

Not a lot cozie, just that he'd been abandoned with a few other cats - they'd also been at the shelter, but most had been rehomed - they'd been found starving and the police were alerted who called the RSPCA.

The owner was a woman and they prosecuted her.

He trembles when you pick him up and he also cowers. I don't know if he was hit or something I try not to pick him up, but I had to put him into ds1's room earlier on when I vacuumed up as the vacuum would have terrified him, it's very loud.

He's having a sleep there now.

Poor boy
But, he's got you as a slave now , so also very lucky.

I hope he gets to feel happy and comfortable. He looks worried all the time. I hate people who abuse and neglect animals

So do I hidden I rarely use this word, but they really are cunts

They are. I'm glad she was prosecuted.