Extra Special Cats

Some cats, for whatever reason strike a special chord.  Here you can read about those very cats who have a special place in their fosterparents and owners hearts. 

These stories have been submitted by branch volunteers.

Berries’ Story

  Berrie, a beautiful 16 year old tortie girl was brought into care in 2009.  When she arrived, she was severely underweight at just 2.3kg and was diagnosed with having Hyperthyroidism; an overproduction of the thyroid hormone causing an accelerated heart rate, palpitations and weight loss. 

Surgery is the normal course of action for many cats with Hyperthyroidism, to remove the thyroid, but this was not an option for Berrie as due to other complications, she would not have survived the operation.  This meant that she was reliant on three time’s daily medication for her thyroid and also three times daily medication for her heart to counteract the palpitations.  Due to the severity of her illness, she was not able to be adopted and had to remain in care. 

Almost immediately after settling in to her fosterer’s home, Berrie gained 0.4 kg in weight which greatly improved her mobility and energy levels. She was always full of character and had a happy go lucky, bubbly personality.  Her fosterer became very attached to her and would often wake up to find Berrie curled up asleep on top of her.  She was spoilt rotten with all the food she could ever have wanted, from freshly cooked Chicken breast and Tuna steaks to gourmet cat food!

As the months pasted, Berrie unexpectedly lost her sight.  Although the blindness was challenging at first, she adapted very well, and within just a few days she was accustomed to living at ground level, and could often be found curled up asleep on the sheepskin rug in front of the radiator; the best place in the house! 

Sadly, as time went by, Berries condition worsened.  Her old and tired body was weak, her eyes seemed distant and she started having unexplained fits.  On top of this, she became anaemic due to a low red & white blood cell count, she was unable to sustain fluids or any weight gain, and her left lung collapsed causing great difficulties in breathing.  The Cats Protection will never put a cat to sleep unless it is the last resort, but after several courses of antibiotics, more pills and blood tests, Berrie sadly pasted away at 6.10pm on Monday 15th March 2010.

The sadness of loosing her is completely indescribable.  She was more than a cat; she was truly a member of the family in her fosterer’s home.  Letting go of a cat, whether it be though a successful adoption or though death is always difficult, but being able to make the difference and give a cat the happy ending they deserve is worth more than anything.  She was very much loved, and always will be.

Without your donations we wouldn’t be able to afford to care for cats like Berrie, or tackle the emotional highs and lows of that come with our volunteer work for the Cats Protection, but regardless of the heartache, we would do it a millions times over, just for those few months of happiness’s and to give some like Berrie a happy ending.

It is with deep sadness we have to announce the loss of Sparkle. She was put to sleep on the evening of Sunday 14th August due to renal failure. There was no more we could do for her.

When Sparkle first came into our care, she was very ill having been infected with a salmonella type bug. She spent six weeks in the vets and it was touch and go whether she'd even survive.

Happily she pulled through and gave Fizz eight months of pleasure and friendship.

Everybody who met Sparkle loved her, she was a happy little cat who would start purring as soon as she saw you. She had funny little bowed legs at the front and sprung up on to the sofa like a jack in the box rather than leaping like your average cat.

Each morning she would shout at the top of her voice when Fizz got up in the morning to be let out of her pen and when everyone got their shoes on she went back in until everyone got home from work.

She is deeply missed and leaves an empty space in everyone who had the fortune of meeting her.

James came in to our care along with his friend who he had always lived with. He was closely bonded with his companion and took comfort from him as he did not like people.

Shortly after 10+ year old James was rescued his companion sadly died.  James was devastated and sank into a deep depression, cringing, tense and miserable.  His unhappiness with confinement in a pen, where he couldn't avoid the humans he feared so much, made it worse and it became obvious that it would be very difficult to rehome him as he was.  So he was moved to a foster home where he could live 'as family' but he was only there a short while before one of our volunteers, who had met him when he was in his pen previously, adopted him.

He was having such fun that one day he decided his owner maybe wasn't so awful after all and allowed her to stroke him.  He found this was rather marvellous too and since that day has never looked back.  He adores to be massaged and stroked, rolling over and over with ecstasy and purring fit to bust.  He still dislikes being handled for anything unpleasant such as flea treatments or worming (there must be something nicer to be doing, he thinks).  Since he arrived life has been marvellous, he has given so much pleasure and laughter to his owner that she can hardly imagine life without him.

And then one day, completely out of the blue, as she sat watching TV James trotted into the room.  It was Christmas time and he'd had a lot of fun playing with the tree decorations and pulling the ribbons and bows off the presents.  But, no, he hadn't come for another game - he marched up to his astonished owner and calmly, lightfootedly leapt onto her lap as though he'd been doing it all his life.  She hardly dared to breathe as he curled round, tucked his paws and tail in and settled down to sleep.  That night he leapt up onto the bed and curled up at her side, purring contentedly until he slept.  She thought it was the best Christmas present of all.

The moral to this tale?  Don't pass by that timid, cringing, unassuming, middle-aged cat.  Give him a chance - with a little care and effort he could turn out like James and become the best companion you've ever had.