Special Cat Needs Forever Home

Last November husband found a mature gray cat sitting in the middle of the street in the snow. The night was really cold and no cat should have been out. Normally a cat would run from a stranger but this cat approached my husband and did not hesitate to be lifted up by my husband. In fact, the cat seemed eager to be put under my husband's coat.

Leo on the day we rescued him

So this is how I came to know the cat we named Leo.

For the next several weeks we searched for this cat's people and when the search was completed we had learned that it was a community cat and that his people h ad died. A neighbor said they would care for the cat, but Leo did not like their cat so they put the cat outdoors in the winter with no shelter.

When I asked them if they wanted the cat, the people said no “that cat is not nice” is what they told me.

Know that I felt bad for the cat since he was a mature cat, probably lived with the same person his entire life. Then his person dies, the cat's life is turned upside down and ends up on the street on a cold night. Did not seem fair and I felt so bad for this cat.

So we took Leo into our home. We got him his shots and learned that he had arthritis. We made arrangements for shots and learned that this cat was approximately 8 years old.  Leo likes my husband more than me, but that does not mean that he does not lie on my lap and play with his toys with me.

Everyone who meets Leo says “what a nice cat”

Leo is a nice cat, he is affectionate and laid back. He will cuddle with his people and sleep at the foot of your bed. He will walk on a leash around the block and will come when you call him. BUT Leo does not like dogs or other cats.

Leo is a large mature cat, age 8 that needs a people only forever home

We have tried the Feliway behavior products, the rescue remedy liquid treatment for cats water, and other cat stress remedies and they work for a while but Leo’s resentment toward other animals is great and he is determined to fight, to hog the food bowl, act like all cats litter boxes are his, he also hogs all 4 water bowls.

Leo will be lying on my lap on the sofa and if the dog or another cat comes close to the sofa.  Leo will run after them.  This rescue cat is set in his way and loves people BUT does not tolerate other pets.

We took Leo to the veterinarian and he was given a prescription for  Calm cat food by Royal Cannin. Leo did well on this food but it was really expensive.  If we had Leo and one other cat, okay but we have two other cats and a dog and that is too much food to buy for all the pets.

Leo needs a forever home with people only

My husband and I like Leo, he is a nice cat with humans. We would keep him if we had an office away from the home where Leo could stay. As is, even if we keep him in our home office, he may get out and then start a fight with another cat or the dog. So we decided that Leo is a cat that has to be in a home with people only, so this week we are looking for a forever home for Leo.

Happy Ending for Rescued Chartreux Cat

After four months of tying to locate the Chartreux cat’s family I finally met someone who recognized the cat and that is when I learned that this cat’s people had passed and that the cat was taken by a neighbor.  

The neighbor had no experience in caring for a cat, and thus did not realize that the cat was mourning the loss of his master and was uncomfortable with the new home.

The new cat owner thought the cat had unwarranted behavior issues and put the cat outdoors during.  It was winter when that cat was put outdoors.  There was snow and ice on the ground and the temperature bitter cold.

Being put outdoors caused the Chartreux to suffer as he did not know where to go for cat food or to seek shelter. The neighbor that took the cat did not provide a cathouse or any type of outdoor shelter. 

I am not sure why my husband decided to take a walk in a blizzard, but he did and at two in the morning he discovered the Chartreux cat sitting in the snow and meowing at the top of his lungs.  It was a distress meow and my husband reacted by lifting the cat and putting him under his overcoat.

The cat suffered from a minor case of frostbite. We took care of the cat and he regained his healthy and his spirit.

During the time that I cared for this cat I noted that he did not like women in general and I attribute that to the neighbor and that he may think all women are uncaring.  I worked with the cat every day and came to the conclusion that he would be best suited living with a single man.

At first we were going to keep this cat but he never warmed up to me and he did not get along with other cats. I am happy to say that this Chartreux gray and white cat was adopted today into a forever home and will live out his life as a housecat with a senior citizen man.

Adult Feral Cat Adopted into Forever Home

Maggie is a year old feral cat that was born in a cave in the forest.  When she was 12 weeks old I used a cat trap and successfully rescued her from a life of hardship.  I then socialized her to live with humans and other pets and then Maggie was adopted.

Maggie lived with her adoptive family for 9 months and then they returned her to me because they were moving out of state and could not take her. 

Maggie the is sweet and loving however I needed to work with her to lessen her anxiety because she missed her family and she was terrified of me and my other pets.  It took me approximately 18  days to put her at ease to the point where she was comfortable with her surroundings.  

Cats generally do not like change, and feral cats get very nervous when they leave their adopted families home. 

When Maggie had a daily routine and was getting along with the other pets and humans then I felt I could begin to look for an adopter.

Feral cat Maggie under the bed covers

A friend of mine suggested that I surrender Maggie to the Humane Society because the cat would have a chance to go to one of the pet stores that feature pets for adoptions.  I contacted the shelter and learned that there was no guarantee that the cat would go to the adoption center.  I knew Maggie would be afraid of the pet shelter and would hiss at the onlookers.  Feral cats are fearful of all new situations so  I decided to keep Maggie and to work with volunteers to find someone to adopt Maggie. 

Today we made up flyer's for Maggie and the three of us handed out flyer's in front of the local pet stores and we asked our veterinarians office if we could post the flyer on their bulletin board.  After that we went door to door and put a folded flyer in our neighbor’s mailbox.

Cat Adoption Template Flyer

A few people came out to talk to us and we told them about the cat and offered a referral compensation if they would be able to find a serious cat adopter.  All seemed generally interested in finding the cat a forever home.

The say that money talks and I believe that it is true.  Tonight I received two calls for Maggie and tomorrow I have  interview appointments.   I feel that there is an adopter for Maggie and that God has a plan for her.  I need to be patient and have a little faith.  I am hoping that the interviews go well and that tomorrow I find an adopter for Maggie. 

Feral cat Maggie on top of refrigerator

Update Tuesday March 13. 2012...Maggie was adopted into her forever home.   She was a little frightened and hid in the bathroom at her new home.  Her adopter is a woman who has always loved cats and will treat Maggie well.  

Maggie is such a sweet and loving cat, she likes to cuddle and will hide under the blankets when there is thunder.  I am certain that once Maggie gets used to her new home that she will be happy.