Elsie, the rescue cat
Those eyes!
They stared out from a photograph online, immediately drawing my attention, so I read the accompanying information...
A little girl cat, maybe three years old. Found pregnant and stray, caught, then handed to a local rescue, who fostered her until her kittens were born. After that she was sent to stay at our local cattery, while they found her a suitable new home. By coincidence, that was the same cattery I used for my boy cats last summer, which is why I spotted their post on Facebook.
That was back in September. I kept checking the cattery rescue cat page, certain someone would soon adopt such a pretty girl but every time I looked she was still in her pen, waiting hopefully for a forever home. The cattery pens were outdoors and although covered, with cosy cabins inside and kind carers to look after the cats, this month it began to trouble me that the weather forecast was for heavy rain and much cooler temperatures. I decided the time had come to have a chat with my husband. Winter was coming.
As you can imagine, with our existing menagerie and the forever rising cost of food and vet care, we certainly hadn't been looking to adopt any more animals... but this little girl had us both questioning if we could offer a home to just one more...
We agreed to contact the rescue and enquire if we might be suitable adopters and take it from there. After a long chat on the phone to discuss the possibility, we were invited to the cattery to meet her.
A short drive later, with a cat box prepared in our car, just in case (!) we arrived and were taken to the cattery enclosure, where the daintiest little cat with the most startling eyes, stepped forward to the wire of her pen, to say a friendly hello.
Yes, she had us at 'hello'!
There was no question. After a further chat with the owner of the cattery, a few treats were sprinkled into our cat carrier and as the little girl cat stepped in, the door was fastened, we were given her documents and she was allowed to come home with us.
That was a week ago. Since then, we have settled her into the kitchen and introduced her under close supervision, to the rest of her new fur family.
She is the smallest of our three cats and to begin with, was naturally wary with rather a spitfire temper. Since a girl, I watched Coronation Street on TV and recalled a fiery redhead character with a big heart from the sixties named 'Elsie Tanner'. The thought of her made me smile and so our little rescue was named 'Elsie'.
I learned that Elsie had not only been living stray, she had also had multiple litters in her short life. Two of her most recent kittens were also with the rescue looking for new homes, both aged five months. I heard yesterday, they are both about to be adopted. I felt kittens would be easier to rehome for the rescue, which is why we decided we would prefer to offer their mummy a home.
The rescue ensured Elsie was spayed, bringing her multiple litter days to a much needed end, they also sorted out her vaccinations, flea treatment and worming, so adopting her really was simply a case of bringing her home and giving her time to acclimatise to her new life with us.
I spent the first few days, making absolutely certain that Elsie was able to cope with the dogs and they with her. With close supervision and careful training, the animals soon worked how to move around each other and that they weren't a threat to each other. The dogs have been amazing with Elsie and given her the space she needs to feel safe and in return, she has gained confidence daily and is now happy to be in the same room as them. My boy cats were a little worried by their new sister cat but are going about their usual business and leaving her to do whatever she wants to do, so I think they will eventually all settle together well. Cats won't be rushed.
Taking on an adult rescue cat has been different from adopting kittens, certainly less chaotic! It is proving a joy to watch our little Elsie's confidence blossoming day by day. She is beginning to show us both that she trusts us and will now accept a gentle cuddle, nuzzling her head into my shoulder as if she is relieved to have someone to take care of her. She is also quickly learning that she will now always have a full tummy and a warm bed to snuggle in. No more babies for Elsie, no more exploitation by whoever thought it was okay to let their little cat get pregnant over and over again, probably so that they could sell on the kittens... and definitely, no more straying.
Yesterday evening, I sat on the kitchen floor and encouraged Elsie to play with toys, in an attempt to bring a little fun into her world. I am delighted to say, she was soon chasing the feathers on the end of a stick and also the little ball with a bell in it. She rolled onto her back and purred loudly. She had enjoyed the game. This morning I found her sharpening her claws on the doormat...
I think our little Miss Elsie is now claiming her territory and intends to make our home, her home. She is of course, most welcome!
They stared out from a photograph online, immediately drawing my attention, so I read the accompanying information...
A little girl cat, maybe three years old. Found pregnant and stray, caught, then handed to a local rescue, who fostered her until her kittens were born. After that she was sent to stay at our local cattery, while they found her a suitable new home. By coincidence, that was the same cattery I used for my boy cats last summer, which is why I spotted their post on Facebook.
That was back in September. I kept checking the cattery rescue cat page, certain someone would soon adopt such a pretty girl but every time I looked she was still in her pen, waiting hopefully for a forever home. The cattery pens were outdoors and although covered, with cosy cabins inside and kind carers to look after the cats, this month it began to trouble me that the weather forecast was for heavy rain and much cooler temperatures. I decided the time had come to have a chat with my husband. Winter was coming.
As you can imagine, with our existing menagerie and the forever rising cost of food and vet care, we certainly hadn't been looking to adopt any more animals... but this little girl had us both questioning if we could offer a home to just one more...
We agreed to contact the rescue and enquire if we might be suitable adopters and take it from there. After a long chat on the phone to discuss the possibility, we were invited to the cattery to meet her.
A short drive later, with a cat box prepared in our car, just in case (!) we arrived and were taken to the cattery enclosure, where the daintiest little cat with the most startling eyes, stepped forward to the wire of her pen, to say a friendly hello.
Yes, she had us at 'hello'!
There was no question. After a further chat with the owner of the cattery, a few treats were sprinkled into our cat carrier and as the little girl cat stepped in, the door was fastened, we were given her documents and she was allowed to come home with us.
That was a week ago. Since then, we have settled her into the kitchen and introduced her under close supervision, to the rest of her new fur family.
She is the smallest of our three cats and to begin with, was naturally wary with rather a spitfire temper. Since a girl, I watched Coronation Street on TV and recalled a fiery redhead character with a big heart from the sixties named 'Elsie Tanner'. The thought of her made me smile and so our little rescue was named 'Elsie'.
I learned that Elsie had not only been living stray, she had also had multiple litters in her short life. Two of her most recent kittens were also with the rescue looking for new homes, both aged five months. I heard yesterday, they are both about to be adopted. I felt kittens would be easier to rehome for the rescue, which is why we decided we would prefer to offer their mummy a home.
The rescue ensured Elsie was spayed, bringing her multiple litter days to a much needed end, they also sorted out her vaccinations, flea treatment and worming, so adopting her really was simply a case of bringing her home and giving her time to acclimatise to her new life with us.
I spent the first few days, making absolutely certain that Elsie was able to cope with the dogs and they with her. With close supervision and careful training, the animals soon worked how to move around each other and that they weren't a threat to each other. The dogs have been amazing with Elsie and given her the space she needs to feel safe and in return, she has gained confidence daily and is now happy to be in the same room as them. My boy cats were a little worried by their new sister cat but are going about their usual business and leaving her to do whatever she wants to do, so I think they will eventually all settle together well. Cats won't be rushed.
Taking on an adult rescue cat has been different from adopting kittens, certainly less chaotic! It is proving a joy to watch our little Elsie's confidence blossoming day by day. She is beginning to show us both that she trusts us and will now accept a gentle cuddle, nuzzling her head into my shoulder as if she is relieved to have someone to take care of her. She is also quickly learning that she will now always have a full tummy and a warm bed to snuggle in. No more babies for Elsie, no more exploitation by whoever thought it was okay to let their little cat get pregnant over and over again, probably so that they could sell on the kittens... and definitely, no more straying.
Yesterday evening, I sat on the kitchen floor and encouraged Elsie to play with toys, in an attempt to bring a little fun into her world. I am delighted to say, she was soon chasing the feathers on the end of a stick and also the little ball with a bell in it. She rolled onto her back and purred loudly. She had enjoyed the game. This morning I found her sharpening her claws on the doormat...
I think our little Miss Elsie is now claiming her territory and intends to make our home, her home. She is of course, most welcome!
