How can you resist? (Rescued Cats)

Member Name: AllyPally1991

Product:	Rescued Cats
Date:	14/09/08 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: you get a cat!!

Disadvantages: there are no real disadvantages for me

Cats are one of those animals you either love or hate. Those who love them can't normally see past their pretty little faces and soft fur, while all those who hate them can see is the very sharp claws, the bad attitude and their general evilness.

After all, Dr Evil had a cat. Blofield from James Bond had a cat. They are, in theory, the ultimate evil accessory.

I have, personally, had around 20 cats at different points in my life, all of which have been rescue cats. At the moment, I have three - Shanks, Paisley and Merry, all of which have come from the cats protection agency near my house. They were all relatively normal in terms of Rescue cats, and in comparison to my own cats in general, but, as in many rescue cats, two of them do have a few problems.

Shanks is the most ill cat I've ever owned in my life. He's a gorgeous long haired tabby cat-american cross (we think), who was kicked frequently as a kitten, and so now he throws up quite often. He pulls out his hair, and can't groom himself, so requires brushing on a daily basis.

Paisley wont let anyone stroke her, and she wont sit on anyone's lap. Her nickname in my house is 'the scatty cat', because she won't let many people near her. She came from the same home as shanks, but is a basic type, just black and white shorthair. I love her to bits, but she is a bit off her rocker.

Merry is actually really normal. He hisses at strangers occasionally, but that isn't too bad. The cat with the worst issues that I've ever had was called Pugsly - he'd been abused to the state where he wouldn't let anyone near him, and attacked everyone in the house frequently. We now think that he may have also had cancer, from the information the vet gave us after his death, bless him.

As you can probably gain from the information I've given, all three of my cats require quite a lot of special attention. They're not 'collectable' cats, and very often they don't act in the manner you'd expect of a cat. But I honestly would not change them for the world.

If you are thinking of getting a cat, I would recommend that you get a rescue cat. I know that given my nightmare stories of attacking cats and ones that throw up everywhere, you'd think I would be going to a breeder and buying the cats for £100, but there is literally no point.

Most cats in rescue homes don't have the problem's I've described. My cats only have the problems they do because I am a complete softie, and they all had a really sad sob-story. The organisation I received the cats from homed them temporarily, and then you go to their temp home to choose/pick them up. I have a habit for going for the kittens who have the least chance of being re-homed - when I got shanks, I was told that he was incompatible with pretty much anyone - children, dogs, other cats, old people, loud people, or particularly large people (he's still afraid of those, I'm afraid). Yet, he's now really happy with people - my nan, Paisley, and he treats my dog (who's also a rescue animal, who was bred as a sheepdog but then locked in a shed and left to die by his owners after foot and mouth meant that less dogs were needed) as if he's a father, to the extent that he will often sleep next to the dog at night.

What I'm trying to say is that if you can overlook the ones in dire circumstances, there are plenty of cats and kittens which are relatively normal, and pretty, and loveable. The only difference between these cats and those you'd find at a breeder is that they aren't 'collectible', but then wont come with the price tag, which can be as much as £5.000 for some breeds.

Personally, I think that the point that my cats have come from rescue homes gives them a bit of character. Ok, they're not 'perfect', but if the story of a little kitten who's lived through hard times doesn't tug your heartstrings, I don't know what will.

One thing I would like to say is that, ahem, "a cat is for life, not just for christmas". The cats like mine need at least an hour dedicated to them daily, more when they're kittens. Unless there will be someone at home for 20 hours a day, then do not go for the really soppy tales. The cats who have been through less do not need as much time, but I would say that you shouldn't leave them alone much when they're little. Rescue cats can be a bit more timid, and unless you are very used to cats then you should probably only have one. I personally live very close to my nan, who's been keeping cats for 70+ years, and was the one who stayed at home and helped Shanks get used to my dog and Paisley in the first place. I could not have done that part alone.

Summary: If you want a cat, go rescue