Rescuing a cat

I always think it's a good sign when a new cat ventures out from their hideyhole for an explore of their new surroundings at night.
Barney was rescued off the streets of a large city and, like Roo, would wolf food as if there was no tomorrow. There was no guarantee, in his mind, that another meal would be forthcoming. In fact, it shames me to say, he was -and still is, to a certain extent- a scavenger round the food bins and bits on the kitchen floor. We have to remind him firmly that those days are past and there is just no need.

His piéce de resistance within the first week was to remove from the worktop a new multigrain loaf and tear into a good half of it unbeknownst to the rest of us.

These things remind us how very hard their previous lives were.

Plug in has arrived - we will monitor results.

Yes, and we can never know what they have experienced in their lives.

I do know from the cats protection that Roo was rejected by her family when she was less than a year old. She is 7 years and 10 months - so has spent 7 years surviving on her own. I think that she certainly has had human contact because of her reaction when I shake her dreamies and she lets us stroke her (very quickly)

It’s good that she lets you stroke her. My ex had the most beautiful feral cat called Teddy. The cat of my dreams. Long haired ginger Tom with the most beautiful face. I used to go and feed his cats when he was on holiday but Teddy never let me touch him. Mind you, there’s a huge difference between a feral cat that is born feral and one that becomes feral to survive. It broke my heart that beautiful Teddy wouldn’t let people love him. And yet Jimmy, the rat killer supreme with the torn ear from fighting, was a complete softy who used to sleep on his pillow.

Just wondering how Roo is settling in. Been following with interest!

Me too- been lookign for news. She will be ok, but it does take time. We always adopt animals who have had a tough time, one way or another, but they always come round. Good for you, and for her

Well, 1 week and 2days in.

She has settled into a pattern. But it is clear that it is going to take time.

I’ve started to mix wet food in with her dry kibble she had at the rescue centre snd she loves it. Already recognises the sound of the packaging when I open it. Last night was the best so far, as she galloped downstairs (we go down - she stays up and vice versa😊) and actually sat beside me as I prepared her meal and then let me stroke her head before eating her meal. But immediately after she galloped back upstairs again.

She is most active evenings and if we see her at all it is then. But each day she is a tiny, tiny bit more brave, but a movement from us and she disappears. She is fastidious in her use of her litter tray - not a single accident so far.

She has about a million toys and beds (well 3 actually) none of which she has set her paws on. Her bed of choice when we aren’t around is our bed.

We have moved her climbing frame (£10 from the rescue people - cheap eh?) to the spare bedroom window snd we occasionally catch her sat on that looking out at the garden and birds, but she generally hides as we go up stairs.

Not a very clear photo but best we can do so far because movement from us causes her to - puff! disappear😊😊. She is a very compact little cat and of course very attractive😊.

Oh well done, such a short time and already she’s picking up a routine. Joining in with the food prep….how lovely, she probably thinks she’s died and gone to heaven. And what a sweet little face!

Enjoy every moment, she’s bound to be your best chum really soon. 😻

Wonderful news! She’s beautiful! What an exciting and rewarding time for you.

Fabulous - well done all of you. What a cutie.

Off to a good start. If she's sleeping on your bed she'll be becoming accustomed to your scent. It's great that she's using the litter tray and also eating well. I'm sure she'll risk coming closer to you soon.

What a cutie! ❤️ Have you tried hand feeding her some treats or is she still too nervous to do that? I’m sure she’ll come round eventually.

Progress, WWM2? 🐈‍⬛
All agog here!

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Three weeks tomorrow

Well, tonight she is in a very skittish mood, I went to stroke her and she attempted to claw me! First time she has done that. I simply walked away - she also hasn’t paid us a visit in the sitting room apart from a dash in and out. Normally her routine is about 7.30 to come in ask for food, then after she has eaten she jumps onto my lap for a passionate love-in, for an hour then jumps down and off she goes.

She really is progressing very well now, although is still unable to cope with us walking around, but she doesn’t run and hide now when we go into her bedroom. She is also beginning to recognise her name. She has studied and got used to our routine, and after I get up pull back the curtains etc, she comes trotting out of her room, and goes downstairs for breakfast, she keeps more or less to the same times every day for her lunch and dinner.

Nights are still her lively time, and she sounds like a baby elephant as she plays with her toys downstairs.

So still a way to go but a definite improvement. She has obviously never had anyone play with her, because if we pull something along the floor etc, she just sits looking at it or us. But she does play with her favourite mice with feather tails on her own.

She`s a beauty

She's a very pretty cat. It's still early days yet, and she's still learning to trust you (that can take ages with a rescue cat). We've had our cat (a stray) for 5 months now and he still flinches when anyone puts a hand up to him (for a stroke). He was probably hurt by someone.

Softly, softly, Whitewave! She’s lovely. ❤️

I`ve been informed by the present owner of the cat I`m adopting that she likes lots of fuss and cuddles, so I`m hoping that will help to soften the blow when he leaves her with a stranger. I`m looking forward to giving out the fuss and cuddles.

I have a lovely rescue cat who provides me with great company. She's about 8 years old. It took a while for her to settle (3 weeks) but now she will happily sit on my lap and watch TV for hours. She doesn't stray too far from home and loves to sit in the sunshine in the Summer time. I bought cat beds and scratching posts, she ignored them all, and has wrecked the stair carpet instead. She favours comfy armchairs and empty boxes for napping.
I have a robot feeder thingy so that I can leave her overnight if I am away for a weekend. If I'm away for longer, I put her in a very upmarket cattery where she is treated like a princess.

Today was the longest she has sat with us. We were in the conservatory snd she discovered the fur throw on one of the sofas and snuggled up into that whilst watching the birds.

Back upstairs now though because I needed a wee and had to move after an hour.

It is good to read everyone’s experiences. Helps quite a lot.

As someone said “softly, softly”

Wonderful.

I found out this morning that at long last my rescue cat will be here on Thursday evening! Wish me luck!

How exciting!
Please do keep us posted!
🐈

Candy arrived tonight. She`s 11 and a half, if it was me I`d never be able to part with her, but her owner is moving in with his partner, and he is terrified of cats.
Candy seems OK so far, she`s submitted to lots of stroking, but at the moment she`s inside the settee!