Rescue Me... (Rescued Cats)

Member Name: BizzyB

Product:	Rescued Cats
Date:	10/10/01 (1915 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Giving a home to an unwanted cat, Responsible cat ownership

Disadvantages: Trying to rehome difficult cats, Taking on a challenge cat

The great problem with this category is where do I start and worse still, will I ever finish?

For those who've not me before maybe a quick introduction is in order.

I am a member of the Cats Protection and am an active member of my local branch. As with all things it started off a few hours here and there. I helped my mother who was Vets Liaison Officer - the person who was in charge of bringing cats in for treatment.

Then we were short on vet runners, the volunteers who, usually at the drop of a hat, transport cats to and from vets. So we started doing that a couple of times now and then. Then a couple of times a week.

Then we were short of field workers, the volunteers who go out to catch the difficult cases, often feral cases. It involves cat traps and mud. Guess who started field work then?

And with all these cats coming in we were short of space especially for the sick and injured animals who need intensive care. Lo and behold the garage is converted into a nursing foster unit and I am desperately searching for an extra hour in each day.

The cats at our unit as I said above are often ill, injured, semi-feral or all of the above and in my mind these are the true 'rescue cats' though many of their special needs apply to the cats who come into our homing foster unit for other reasons such as family break ups, owner's death or just plain unwanted.

So what is a rescue cat?

Well first off lets clarify which cats need rescuing. Many new owners will adopt their furry new friend through rehoming shelters such as the Cats Protection, the RSPCA or local animal welfare charities. I whole-heartedly recommend this approach as a well run charity should be able and willing to give you as much help and advice on your new pet as possible. They will have come to learnt the cats temperament and needs and can pass this vital information on to the new owner.

But what
if I see a cat that I think needs rescuing?

One of the most common scenarios I come across (at least 2 cases a month) is the two home cat. This is not to say a cat owned by divorcees with access but the cat who has made their home in two houses. Very often without a collar, said cat wanders often just a few doors away and the caring house owner quickly thinks the cat must be a stray or just gives it a bit of food as treat. So the lucky feline wanders from house to house having two of everything.

Recently I had a case where a couple were frantic after Tiddles went missing for two weeks. It turned out Tiddles had been living a second life two streets away were the people thought they were being kind to a stray but had become so attached they worried that whilst on holiday no-one would care for him and so went to expense of putting him into a cattery.

So first things first is the cat really a stray? Strays on the whole tend to have tell-tale signs even if members of the area are feeding them regularly. Strays often have 'starey' coats - they are dull and have a very grimy, oily feel to the touch. More often than not they will have ear mites, fleas and possibly lice. The majority of male strays are un-neutered and this is easily seen by the, em, doodle dahs (oh so polite?) and entire tom cats often develop a bull head, that is there head is large with a solid, bull neck in comparison to their body. It is harder to tell if a female cat has been spayed but unspayed females who have succumbed to kittens will often have saggy stomachs and enlarged nipples (stop giggling at the back!)

put posters up and consult your local animal charities. Another idea is to put a collar on the cat with a message saying something like:

'This cat has regularly been visiting <your street> and we believe he is a stray. If he is your cat please contact <your number> otherwise we shall be taking over his welfare in &l
t;set time>"

I believe contacting your local animal charity is as much use to you as the cat. They will be able to advise you on a course of action but you must also remember that no animal charity has the right to swoop in and remove animals on spec, not even the RSPCA. For instance even in cruelty cases the Cats Protection has no right to remove an animal from its owner, we have to do this by talking the owner into signing the animal over or by bringing in the RSPCA who do not have the direct authority to remove animals but do have the authority to put the necessary legalities into action to ensure the animal is placed into safety as soon as possible and take further action against the owner if necessary.

The majority of cases that come my way are strays and I often help the member of the public take the cat on themselves or finding a place in a homing unit for which there is usually a long waiting list.

What's the difference between a stray and a feral?

When considering a rescue cat you will often hear the terms stray and feral used. These are two very different types of cat.

Feral cats are cats that are wild, they have totally adjusted or been born into an outdoor lifestyle. Often feral cats live in colonies as they are all unneutered. Feral cats can rarely be brought round to be domestic pets. Feral cats can be very aggressive (BizzyB points to her arms as proof). Feral kittens under 14 weeks can be handled and calmed down but older than this and they are wild animals and must be respected as such. The Cats Protection has a strong policy on neutering and will help areas with feral cats trap and neuter the animals but they must be released back to the territory they know or an area where they continue a feral lifestyle under supervision.

For this reason we are often looking for people with farms and small holdings who would like a small number of working cats. We ensure the cats are free
of terminal illnesses such as Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids (which are not related to the human conditions I stress) and they are all neutered. In return we ask the new owner to monitor the colony and ensure if the cats require treatment they receive it. This often leads to some wonderfully happy colonies of cats who come to understand and respect their new owners (and employers) and whilst some may even come round to being lap cats the majority will happily live in co-operation with their two legged counterparts.

Stray cats are animals that whilst may be able to live rough still have a temperament were they can interact with humans and possibly other animals. Stray cats may have been born into a stray colony but due to their surroundings have a confidence with people around them. Or strays may be domestic cats who have become lost or been abandoned. On the whole these cats can be brought in and fully domesticated as pets though one of the great problems here is the lack of volunteers, time and financial support.

Some strays may be so content with their outdoor life, we suggest they are caught to be neutered and health checked and then returned to their territory if a resident is willing to oversee them. In this scenario more often than not the cat slowly makes it home at its sponsor especially as after neutering the desire to go wandering is severely lessened and their temperament often softens.

So if I take on a rescue cat what do I need to know?

This is why I believe homing a cat from a rescue centre or engaging their help is vital. I can have cats in my unit from anything from a couple of nights to three or four months. In this time I can not only help the cat to get physically better but I can gauge their mental well being and needs. Cats are like people (often better actually) and there's as many personalities in Catworld as grains of sand on the beach. Here's some of the more common problems:
<
br><br>I want a cuddle cat...

Many rescue cats are nervous and are not used to be handled. Ask the fosterer what history they do have on the cat and imagine what it has been like. You were born a kitten and Mummy went off when you were 8 or 10 weeks old. You are left to fend for yourself in all weathers. Whenever you hear a noise you run for cover. People through things at you, dogs chase you and now someone wants you to sit on their knee - why?

It is a sad truth that a number of rescue cats come to us as unwanted pets and have been subjected to degrees of poor care and this often involves hitting. It is easy to tell which cats fear the human hand as they cower on your approach.

These cats need time to feel comfortable in their new home and you must earn their confidence. They don't know that this is a good home, home for good. If your new cat settles quietly somewhere to sleep leave them to it. At first it may be under a bed or behind a chair, then they learn they can sleep on the chair, or in the middle of the floor without fear. I know they look cute when they're all curled up in a fluff ball but don't over fuss them at this time.

Like men, the way to a cat's heart is through its stomach. Make sure they know where their designated food area is and you will soon learn their fussy eating habits which as an owner you must obey. (Note when a cat moves into your home the heirarchy shifts so they're on top).

I want a cat that's litter trained...

I am always surprised at how quickly and how many stray/semi-feral cats take to litter trays. However, many will have toilet problems.

Often this is related to stress or learnt behaviour. A cat that has been stray all its life can look at a litter tray as something alien. After the freedom of the open road you want me to go in that??

Some rescue cats have come from homes where they haven't been allowed litt
er trays and if they've had accidents in the house they've been hit or abused. This instills fear into the cat and they're not sure what to do when faced with a litter tray as they have learnt their toilet habits usually equals a whack around the head.

We are always honest with new owners on how their cat/kitten faired whilst in care. If a new owner is really adamant a cat must be house trained we are not daft enough to send them home with Moggie the freestyle poo machine. But always be warned even when they've been good in care being taken from there into yet another new environment can be stressful for them and accidents may happen.
Putting a cat outdoors does not constitute toilet training. My tip with a new cat is make sure the litter tray is somewhere accessible and quite private. When a cat/kitten first arrives in your home I think it is wise to limit then to a small area - may just the run a of a bedroom and landing etc. If they have an accident or seem to favour an area for doing their business don't do that old wive's tale of rubbing their nose in it and swiping them - you'll only frightened them. Clean it up, don't make a big fuss. Use an animal deodouriser (available from vets and pet stores) and this will often help distract them for an area. If an area is very popular put the tray there for a while and they will get the idea. It's like potty training, it requires patience and understanding and if you can't do that maybe you should rethink adopting an animal.

I did discuss with one new set of owners in a vets waiting room ( my top hang out) a similar problem. An RPSCA representative told them the messing cat should be put outside at all times and only let in for meals. Sorry but I couldn't disagree with this more. You've been an abandoned cat, life's been tough and now your stuck out at all times bar a quick meal - doesn't sound very inviting does it. My tip is
put the cat in one room, newspaper a litter tray where they're favouring and perseverance.

Changing the type of litter is also an option. If a cat is used to outdoor living try placing some earth in the litter tray as this makes sense to them. Slowly over time you can mix the earth with cat litter until they have grasped the idea of the kitty loo.

I want a cat bouncing with health and vitality...

I wish every cat did bounce with health and vitality. On the whole they do but often our most difficult cats to rehome are those with medical problems. I would ask prospective owners to look at their lifestyle, finances and nature and see if they could give a home to one such cat. These cats can be very loving cats.

I have nursed a number of cats who have suffered strains of cat flu. This can make the cats very snuffly, runny eyed and prone to big green bogeys. These flus are due to viruses and as such the body has to fight them and we wait for them to win but as cats can't blow their nose etc they are prone to secondary bacterial infections and this is why cat flu cats are given antibiotics - its to fight the secondary infection. These cats often regain full health but the virus can stay in their bodies and they may be prone to relapses when under stress etc. These cats need owners who will keep an especially close eye on them and be prepared for increased costs if antibiotic prescriptions are needed.

Many cats have physical disabilities such as a missing limb, deafness or partial blindness. These cats need special homes where the new owners are prepared to take on the financial and time responsibilities needed.

Many charities regularly combi test cats for the FIV and FLV viruses. These are terminal viruses which can be spread by contact between unvaccinated cats. Ask the charity if the cat has been combi tested, you will find most charities have a policy where positive tested cats are put to s
leep. This is a heartrending decision to take but these two illnesses are terminal and the care required for such cats is immense and they must not be allowed into any contact with other cats - this means no going out. Owners of cats with FIV or FLV are taking on a huge responsibility and if it is your own animal it is a distressing undertaking and also very time consuming, financially and emotionally draining. If you are still looking to adopt a cat with either of these illnesses I urge you to think very long and hard on your decision, the consequences for both yourself, the cat and other animals in the area. Combi tests can be costly (about £30 upwards) but are very easier for vets to perform as a small blood sample is put on a thing that looks like a pregnancy test and after a few minutes a line reading appears that shows whether the cat is positive for either illness.

On the whole charities will rehome cats that have been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated against flu and enteritis. In the case of kittens you should be asked to send back a proof of neutering at the appropriate time and helped to arrange first vaccines. I personally recommend you have a full set of vaccines (chlmydia, FLV and FIP as well as flu and enteritis) if you can afford this and will write my thoughts on vaccines another day!

I want a kitten...

Ahhh, kittens are cute aren't they? Little furry balls of fun. Taking on a kitten is a task in itself. Kittens should not be homes with young children, however well behaved the child is kittens are so tempting for little people and they are not toys. Kittens are best in an environment where there is a lot of supervision. You must consider whether a kitten is suitable for your lifestyle, especially if you already have other animals. Too often I see old cats brought in or abandoned after the owner gets a new kitten.

And I would like to put forward the case for the older cats. Older cats ar
e very hard to rehome as people so often want young cats or kittens. Older cats can make such fantastic and loving pets. Often older cats come in if their owner has died or cannot keep them for whatever reason. It can be a very traumatic time for these cats. They have been used to a loving, settled home and all of a sudden they are uprooted and find themselves in a foster cattery. Older cats are often more suited to families with children or other animals. Many may also carry some medical problems or conditions making them even more difficult to home and having fostered such cats I can only shout from the highest cat pen 'people, you don't know what you're missing!'

I want a nice, calm cat...

Well I've already described how cats can be offish or have problems with their toilet. Some cats can be quite mentally disturbed. As I described the case of older cats finding themselves in foster care it's easy to see why.

I find the cats that are most prone to being mentally shell shocked are the older (2 years +) male cats that were strayed. They are used to the wandering , lust and hunting life. Then I bring them in have their doodle dhas removed and feed them at set times - quite a turn around. These cats seem to be the most wary of people and whilst some may show this by being aggressive and stand offish, many go the other way and have a period of being introverted and scared. We have had one cat that was put on the cat form of valium to help him settle as he over groomed himself with stress and caused sores. Now rehomed with a caring and understanding owner he is coming off the treatment and is settling well to the life of a spoilt cat.

For cats with mental problems, my cat was a neglect case who suffered greatly in the beginning, once again it is time and patience. I would simply sit quietly in the same room as my cat reading, every now and then bringing her a treat of chicken and leaving it in f
ront of her before returning to my book. Always go at the cats pace and don't be downhearted if it looks as if they hate you. There were times when she would swipe me and run away as soon as look at me. I just kept sitting there. Five months later and see lies in my arms like a baby at night to sleep.

In extreme cases there are medications available and though I have not used any I am interested to learn of the alternative remedies now available for cats. There is a pheromone spray called Felway that is supposed to help calm stressed cats. Unfortunately as a charity I'm balancing a budget as it is so can't always rush out and grab all the new gimmicks - maybe some will write a dooyoo opinion on it for me instead!

Another top tip whatever the case of your rescue cat is develop a good relationship with your vet and let them know as much of the cats history as you know and tell them about how you have found the cat. Many people fail to mention the cats behavior to the vet and they are often best placed to advise on what certain behaviour means. A number of vets now have animal behaviorists in consultation which can help with the more ingrained cat problems.

For further information I recommend you visit the Cats Protection website at www.cats.org.uk which has details on the charity, cat welfare and links to the national branches.

Of course I will not miss a chance to plug the website I created for our branch at www.derbycats.org.uk !!

My over view (having waffled on far to long as always) is this:

Adopting a rescue cat can be a demanding but ultimately rewarding experience. From my viewpoint there is no greater joy than nursing a cat back from the brink to the day I get a card and photograph saying 'thank you' from the new owner. Many people ask me how I can do, knowing I have seen some awful things and the truth is I just do. It is that moment when you first hear a scared cat purr th
at makes it all worthwhile.

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