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?

I'm sure with lots of TLC he'll come round
I have 4 cats and 2 of them hate being picked up, I've raised them from kittens. Some cats just don't like being picked up.
This Madame loves being picked up

Oh, she's beautiful MissMarple she looks very dignified

She's as feisty as they come, she rules the other cats, even though she's much smaller than them . Our neighbours big Tom tabby is terrified of her.

I seem to recall someone - probably on here - recommending recently that you pick up cats so that their feet are dangling down rather than upending them into your arms with feet uppermost. (Lets them feel more in control and more able to run away if needed.) I don't know how you were carrying him already of course.

His history hasn't been great, has it? Poor William.

Onwards and upwards though - from now on can be his happy time.

William is doing pretty well. He hasn't been under the bookcase today. Pearl really likes him and he went over to her for a sniff this morning.

I've been putting relaxing cat music and YouTube cat vids on for him so he doesn't get bored. I leave the bedroom door open for him, but he hasn't come out yet.

He purrs when you go in and chat to him and he seems more relaxed than yesterday.

You can get aquarium and bird vids on YouTube for them to watch.

Do they have an iPad each?

We show asbo YouTube videos, he is unimpressed we look at videos of other animals.

Sounds like he's coming round
I love the idea of cats watching YouTube clips

No, I lend him my iPad

Honestly, MissMarple, they're transfixed. The aquarium ones are really relaxing as well.

I'm going to try this with my cats

He's GORGEOUS.Black cats are the business.

I have to ask – 'the tarantula's bookcase'?

Tarantula bookcase

Ah, I see. I hoped thought the tarantula had a case well stocked with its favourite reading. With a comfy chair and a good lamp next to it.

How many do you actually have, hidden?

Lol OnlyLovers

I have eight tarantulas, two scorpions and four hissing cockroaches.

They all live on the bookcase.

I also have two garter snakes in a tank on the right.

How is fatcat coping?

She's okay really. She's relaxed around the house because he's not venturing out of the bedroom, so life is carrying on as normal as far as she's concerned. She goes in and views him a few times a day, but there's been no untoward incidents.

Sounds very positive, hidden. (If he came from a multi-cat 'household' he would likely have very good cat manners as well. It seems to help in my experience.)

Out of interest, did Pearl have a black cat in her former incarnation do you know? (Mum, for example.)

Pearl's older brother from a previous litter is black she's a very amiable sort of kitty too

I just wondered whether she'd had a black cat around in her past and might have felt particularly kindly disposed to William on those grounds.

(The local tom used to come calling on the famous Cheeky when she'd just had kittens and used to be very kindly and allow them terrible liberties when they were playing. (Think male lion and cubs.) I was very young at the time and didn't realize that he had ulterior motives. )

It all sounds fairly good - I hope he starts to come out of his shell.