Can I come with you? (Rescued Cats)

Member Name: kimgraham

Product:	Rescued Cats
Date:	22/08/02 (217 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: ready innoculated and neutered, microchipped

Disadvantages: have to be homed carefully

I never had a cat as a child, and although I have always loved them it was deemed sensible to avoid them due to an allergy. I used to be besotted with the Persian next door and used to make a great fuss of it. Stuff the allergy!

Consequently I grew up with dogs. The first, a beagle, died aged eight due to being hit by a car. That dog should have been called Houdini, he escaped continually, and ultimately paid the price.

After that we had the love of my life, a beautiful, hunking great Old English Sheepdog called Suzi. What's that, this is supposed to be a cat op? Just hold your horses!
Suzi had to be put to sleep at the age of four, when I weas pregnant with my first child. She had come to live with me at that time and I was devastated. I vowed never to have another animal.

There were then several fallow years on the pet front. Then a few years ago I began keeping rabbits, something I had always wanted to do and the odd hamster for the kids.

Five years ago, my father made a decision to sell one of their houses. They had two, one was by the sea on the South Coast and it had been our holiday home when we were growing up. Latterly, Dad had rented it out and the last tenant had completely trashed it. In consequence, my entire family gave up three months to put it back into a selling condition.

When we had been there for a few days we noticed that a ginger cat kept trying to get into the house. If we didn't let it in it stared at us through the Frech window with huge eyes, mewing pitifully. My Dad has always been a sucker for cats and he started to feed it, as it seemed very hungry.

We mentioned it to the people next door and they told us that the cat belonged to my Dad's tenant. She had moved, and just left it behind. Dad did not believe it initially as it said in the contract that there were to be no animals. He can be a bit naive like that, my Dad!

We contacted the woman and she said that
she had been unable to catch the cat, whose name is Peanuts, and that she would come again at the weekend to try again. Excuse me- how did she think this poor animal was eating?

Several weeks passed and still she did not take him. We pestered her relentlessly to no avail. She said he was not a friendly cat and would run away as soon as he saw her. That's as maybe, but none of us ever saw her, so we are not convinced that she even tried.

Peanuts was, and is, a very friendly cat. We let him in and played with him each day and made sure he had a decent meal. Time marched on and we were nearing completion with the house. Mum and I went and made a fuss at the letting agency about them not checking that the tenant was looking after the house properly and mentioned the cat problem. They were now on the case and assured us the woman would definitely collect her cat that week before we left for good.

Guess what? She didn't. I cannot understand people who treat animals like that, it is appalling.

In the end we gave her a written ultimatum saying if she did not pick him up from us within 48 hours we would be left with no option but to take him to the RSPCA.

On the day we were due to go home finally, I told my Dad that I would take Peanuts with me to the local RSPCA in Basingstoke. I thought that way I could visit him until he was re-homed. So, armed with anti-histamine tablets and a rabbit carrying basket (my rabbits are a giant breed, before any of you start accusing me of cruelty!)

The lady's deadline came and went. There was nothing for it then. My sister and I then attempted to put Peanuts into the basket. That cat went mental! All four of us were ripped to pieces and he went rigid with all four legs splayed out so he would not fit in! Eventually, after much blood had been spilt, we got him in there! Phew.

I put him in the car and off we went. Then it started, firstly a low moaning and then a hide
ous howling which would have done the Hound of the Baskervilles proud! After an hour and a half of this I thought I would go mad. He was one unhappy cat!

Eventually I arrived home and let him out in the sitting room. He was very forlorn by now. I decided that it would be grossly unfair to take him to the RSPCA that night, as he was highly stressed and I felt it would be kinder to calm him down a bit.

Well, the next day came and the kids kicked in. They were younger then, cuter and more persuasive! You can imagine the pathetic wailing "Oh Mummy, you can't send Peanuts away!"
When it came to it, Mummy could not,in fact do it. Peanuts stayed. He is so much part of the family that there is no way I would now be parted from him.

Shortly after he arrived here Peanuts disappeared. We were frantic and did all the usual things, put up posters , called all the vets etc. After six weeks we had not found him and had given up all hope. I felt so guilty, thinking he might have been better off had I left him where he was. We were all very sad.

One day, a neighbour came round and said she thought she had seen Peanuts fishing in a local school pond. I despatched the girls with a blanket.
It was Peanuts. He allowed himself to be caught quite easily.Other than being thin and having a chunk of ear missing, he was remarkably alright. He settled back into the house gratefully and never strays far from home anymore!

I have always thought it strange that he would not be caught by his owner, but we did notice that if you lifted your arm quickly he flinched and cowered, so we thinbk he might have been mis-treated. The woman phoned the RSPCA and said we had stolen her cat, my father informed me. When the RSPCA heard what had happened they decided to leave him here. The woman did not want the cat, apparently, just to get us into trouble!

Peanuts has now been joined by Millie. Millie is a black and white tabby who di
d in fact, come from the RSPCA. She was originally "rescued" by my daughters partner, but when he lost his home she had to come to me. The two cats fight sometimes, but on the whole they get on alright.
Millie is more frightened of the rabbits than she is of Peanuts, but one or two of them are bigger than her!She also saw Peanuts get chased across the lawn and caught by a bunny who bit his bum! Why is the cam-corder never running during classic moments like that! Peanuts wasn't hurt just a bit humiliated!

So, what does a person with a cat allergy do when living with two cats?

Funnily enough, I became immune to Peanuts after a few months. To begin with I streamed, red eyes the works. One day it just stopped. It comes back if I am away from them for a few days and I am wary with other peopls cats and still take anti-histamine if I know I am going somewhere where there are cats. Strange, isn't it.

WHY RESCUE A CAT?

Rescuing a cat is really rewarding. It seems to me that with so many unwanted pets in this country, it is only sensible to try and offer an unwanted animal a home. Many are on death row if they are not re-homed and that saddens me enormously.

Like us, cats (and dogs) that have had previous relationships come with baggage.It is very important that you discuss this very carefully with the rescue centre. Some animals are not suitable to be with young children for instance. Normally the rescue centre will know the history, and they will be equally careful that you are the right owner for the pet!

The RSPCA send out their cats micro-chipped, neutered and vaccinated all for about £50. It is much cheaper than starting from scratch with a kitten. I feel sad that I didn't know my cats as kittens, but very glad that they have come to share my life.

If you are into pedigree cats don't discount the rescue centre, they do sometimes have them.

Do think about rescuing if
you are thinking about cat ownership. It is very rewarding knowing that you have helped a cat back to an independent life

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