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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

'Adopt don't shop' - tell me about your rescue cats

71 replies

laurisse · 30/06/2019 09:02

This is Arthur. Isn't he handsome?! He's 4.

We brought him home from the cat rescue yesterday. He's done a lap of his estate this morning (ie been round the house inspecting all the rooms) and is currently sprawled on the sitting room floor. So much for keeping him in one room for a couple of weeks! He has the loudest purr, like a diesel engine, and loves a chin rub. The kids adore him, but are giving him some space to settle in. Ok so they're actually having screen time but same effect

Now I've been to a rescue centre a couple of times I really get why people say adopt don't shop. They had so many wonderful cats and kittens looking for homes, and they're desperate to find nice owners for the cats that they clearly love. The ladies there did a little cheer when we said we'd take Arthur.

Tell me your rescue stories? Maybe anyone who (like I was) is seriously considering getting a cat will be persuaded to adopt too

'Adopt don't shop' - tell me about your rescue cats

OP posts:

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Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/07/2019 15:29

contraception I always had dogs growing up, who would eat anything and everything, so this has been an eye opener. When we got madam we tried her with loads of other foods (much better brands) but she won’t even taste them, just sniffs and walks away. She had to get teeth out earlier in the year and was a bit off her food beforehand which alerted us to the problem (fussy + greedy) and she did take a tin of mashed tuna which seemed like a major event.

MrsRussell · 01/07/2019 15:40

So this is Obelix (after the large gentleman in the Asterix comics after DS was deeply offended on the Tank's behalf when he was called fat. Obelix gets really offended when the Romans call him fat...)

Obelix was found in a greenhouse, starving, neglected, and with his tail degloved after an RTA. Whilst his tail was being removed they discovered that he had a ruptured diaphragm, which also had to be repaired - which was touch and go. Then he had to have an eye operation because his eyelashes turn inwards.

He operates on four-paw drive and he just wants to PLAY WITH EVERYONE, all the time. He is the approximate size of a Jack Rusell terrier and shaped like a table, he is the least dignified climber you can conceive, he SHOUTS A LOT and he purrs for no apparent reason, all by himself.

Considering how much he has lived through in his 6 years, he is loving, happy, and trusting. He's our fifth cat and we didn't actually mean to get him but I saw his story in the paper and I couldn't leave him because what if nobody loved him....

Jxtina86 · 01/07/2019 15:52

Love all these cuties!

We adopted Bruce last October after seeing on here a post from someone from Celia Hammond Animal Trust where they had an absolute excess of cats and kittens. We'd been talking about getting a third cat for a while and decided to go for a rescue based on their plea for help. We wanted a third as our eldest cat, Ming, was in a slow decline and we were worried that our other cat, Tia Maria, who had always lived with another cat would be lonely and spiral on her own.

Fell in love with Bruce at first sight - he was the only cat we saw that perked up at the sight of visitors and he just had this loveable rogue attitude about him. He was an ex-stray that had been adopted by another family, who then had to give him up when they moved. He's a bit battered - chipped and missing teeth, scarred nose, chunk missing from his ear...! It was a bit hit and miss to begin with - Ming wasn't best impressed and Tia was visibly disgusted that we had even thought of bringing in another cat, but we made it work. And I'm really glad we did as sadly Ming had to be PTS a month later and whilst Tia was still infuriated by Bruce's presence, 9 months later she tolerates him and actually gives him the occasional sniff and snuggle. He's so docile that I don't even think he's bothered by her indifference (think he just gets his revenge by eating her food...!)

He has had some issues, namely an ulcer in his eye which whilst healed has left him with an indent on his eyeball and we have to clear discharge constantly from his eye. Sometimes he can't even open it, so we have to ease it open for him. He's also really skinny, despite eating EVERYTHING so we think there are some other issues going on, but we've agreed with the vets to give him a break for a few months before we pursue this further - we spent most of Jan-Apr at the vets every other week dealing with the ulcer and he was on up to three different types of eye drops/gels a day at one point. The vet almost made me cry at one point when he said 'Bruce is very lucky to have found you - if he'd been in the rescue centre, it may not have been spotted or first-time pet owners may not have realised it was a serious issue'. But personally, I think we were lucky to have Bruce as he has definitely added to our household and will always rescue from now on!

Bruce is the white/ginger, Ming (bless him) is the pure white and Tia is the black and white princess.

ithinkmycatistryingtokillme · 01/07/2019 16:00

We found our dcat in a ditch, he was a half-starved 3 month old abandoned feral kitten.

He was meant to go to the local rescue when we caught him(took three days) but eight months later he's still here!

MrsRussell · 01/07/2019 16:13

The Tankie arsebite, being a massive tool, has just brought me a blue tit fledgling with much trumpeting, because he knows I'm talking about him.....

catismychild · 01/07/2019 16:54

Fluffy boy is Theo, he's an absolute dope and chubby but also a master hunter who can catch a fly in 5 seconds. He lives for food and belly rubs. His brother is Troy, he's the clever but clingy one who follows me everywhere and has no concept of personal space, his favourite place to be is on top of me. He's not keen on belly rubs but loves a neck scratch.

They were previously house cats who would be left alone without food for up to 5 days when their previous owner spent time in hospital, which was quite regularly. They've now got food and fuss on tap, and access to the outdoors with loads of fields nearby so are absolutely loving life.

Previously I've always worried about rescues having behavioural issues but these boys are perfect. I absolutely would never shop for a kitten again.

sweetkitty · 01/07/2019 22:09

Loving all these rescue stories, we went for kittens rather than a cat as we have a large dog and a adult cat might not get on with her, the kittens batter her. Tonight the kittens were in the garden with the bunnies (also rescues) they were chasing each other in and out the house.

Weedsnseeds1 · 01/07/2019 23:59

Here's my boy. Wasn't considered top of the list for adoption because he's black and doesn't look good on selfies.
He's the most affectionate and loving cat. Follows me around like a little puppy and runs to the door to great me. Not my first cat by a long way, but only one that acts like a dog!!

Chocmallows · 02/07/2019 00:15

Cats rescue their servants owners more than being rescued.

Weedsnseeds1 · 02/07/2019 00:24

Should add, he was one of 60 fluffy black cats removed from one house. Local rescues were floor to ceiling with them. If they all had the character of my boy, there are a lot of happy cat slaves out there

thecatneuterer · 02/07/2019 12:10

@MrsFogi It's so lovely to hear that some of 'mine' are doing well. I'd love to see more photos of them now they're grown up.

Original poster

laurisse · 02/07/2019 14:40

Oh my goodness so many replies! Have been busy last couple of days and hadn't had a chance to look - will take my time now with a to read over all your stories and see your pics thank you! X

OP posts:

SagelyNodding · 02/07/2019 21:03

Pixel is our 3rd rescue cat and our first kitten! He was abandoned by his mother when he was about 4 weeks old and hand-reared by an amazing fosterer from our local cat charity. He's been with us for 10 days now and he is adorable, so very playful and funny! (Also bitey and a daredevil) He has a little mouse toy he carries around in his mouth and sleeps with 😍

squashyhat · 02/07/2019 21:22

This is Mittens trying to spook me last Halloween. He's from CPL but born in Australia - no idea how he came to be with them. He's been with me just over a year and is now 5. The night after I let him outside for the first time he climbed 40 feet up a pine tree behind my house and pretended he couldn't get down. Thankfully he managed it when he got hungry

MrsBertBibby · 03/07/2019 07:50

This is Scrabble, hoovering up the heat. I got her and her brother Domino (RIP) 11 years ago, aged 4, from Cats Protection. She's always been a rubbish cat. Clumsy, can't jump for shit, falls off laps daily, really quite dim. She's been on borrowed time for 3 years since her brain tumour was diagnosed. We were sent home with some steroids and firm words about her lasting a few weeks. She isn't listening!

Dear old lady, I dread her going. She's a giant PITA with her relentless getting underfoot but we love the old fluff-bucket.

MrsBertBibby · 03/07/2019 07:58

This is them together in the early days. Awww.

Original poster

laurisse · 03/07/2019 10:39

I wish I could reply to all your posts individually! Am loving seeing all your rescues

Arthur has been with us 4 days now (feels like forever) and it's like he's lived here before. He's just slotted in, perfectly happy, sprawled out wherever he fancies. Comes for a lap snuggle in the evening, purrs almost as soon as he sees you. We all adore him!

OP posts:

MrsBertBibby · 03/07/2019 10:45

Oh he's a happy fellow!

fishonabicycle · 03/07/2019 12:11

Why don't my photos upload?

Animum2 · 04/07/2019 17:25

After my cat was pts in October at the age of 19 we looked at various rescue places and all of them said no because we don't have a garden

Ended up finding Winston on Gum tree, his owner died and he went through various members of the family before being placed online, he settled in straight away, though we learned that he is allergic to plastic and has to have all food from tins or boxes

mathanxiety · 05/07/2019 07:45

Lonecatwithkitten
I have reason to believe mine is a Siberian or part Siberian too. She ticks all the boxes for physical description and personality.

We were given her by the family of a friend of DD2's who found her when they were on holiday. She turned up one day outside their cabin and seemed hungry. They asked around, put up posters in the local shops and restaurants, but nobody got in touch to claim her. Their own cat had never got along with other cats and they knew we were looking for a cat to replace our beloved previous cat. So when their holiday came to an end they packed her into their car where she apparently spent the trip on the dashboard, alternately snoozing and trying to catch oncoming traffic. She was handed over to us in a little cardboard box and when it was opened in the sitting room out scrambled this little black ball of fur who ran over to me, climbed to my shoulder, burrowed into my hair and fell fast asleep. So that was that.

Six crazy years later she has mellowed a little. She is still very chirpy, with a tiny meow, and she purrs so loudly you can hear her in another room, with occasional trills. She gathers treasures and keeps them in hidey holes - mainly small shiny objects - and loves carrying pompoms around in her mouth which she deposits in our shoes and boots.

My DD1 fosters cats and adopted her own black cat from a local shelter. So far she has had mothers with litters of varying sizes and all have been adopted with the exception of one gorgeous little marmalade boy who succumbed to illness. Her foster kitten du jour is a little black and white kitty who was found wandering the streets with splotches of house paint on her fur, smelling like a meth lab. She is all cleaned up now and very sociable. I am crossing my fingers that this will be a failed foster because she really has something very special about her and sadly black and white cats are very hard to place. If DD doesn't keep her then maybe her BF could adopt her to be company for the previous foster kitten of DDs he adopted (he's clearly besotted by DD1).

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