A very frightened, bright orange, flea infested, mangy, skinny, and starving tom cat turned up when all the snow defrosted last year. My neighbour and I put food out and eventually he started to eat with us present. This took months.
He never took shelter outside - our gardens are on the edge of woods, and he used to just lie in the grass in all weathers poor love.
With patience he started to trust us to stroke him while he was eating - and by accident, instead of saying the stray cat, I said 'Spare Cat' which my neighbour found hilarious and so he was named 'Spare Cat'! We tried calling him George, but this became George the Spare Cat - and so it is to this day.
About August time I coaxed him into my kitchen, put flea treatment on him and a collar with a tag asking anyone if this was their cat to contact me. He was terrified when I shut the door poor sweetheart. I wasn't sure if he would come back - but he was starving so he came back.
In September, I had no word, so I took him the the RSPCA who wormed, vaccinated, spayed and generally checked him over. There was no microchip, but the blood test came back as FIV+.
We were gutted as we were going to keep him as an outside cat between us, build him a house and everything, but now he needed to be a house cat. I already have an FIV+ tom, so I kinda acquired him. I couldn't let them put him down - after all, we saved his life.
George and my other cat (Jock) do not get on. George is brilliant now - a little overweight if anything, his orange fur has turned black with just a rusty tinge you can see in the sunlight and the condition of his fur is silky and smooth.
With hard work, patience, love and affection he has turned into a re-homable cat. We even had to teach him how to play with toys as he had no idea poor love. Just ran away from toys.
He now comes on my knee voluntarily and even comes to wake me up in the morning for food. He's getting so confident, although is still a little timid at times. He's adapted to a house full of people when we have visitors really well and is a stunning boy.
However, Jock hates him. George is often wounded poor love, and although I have tried everything to help them get on, its not fair he stays with Jock so I need to find him a home. He's such a special boy and I will be devastated when he goes.
Is there anyone with a quiet house, no dogs as he's terrified of them, but maybe also as the only cat who will be the centre of attention and affection? Someone experienced with cats, and has time to spend with him and treat him.
He eats Felix 'As Good as it Looks' pouches - I mix up some James' Well Beloved Dry food to make him eat dry with the wet too.
He has a gentle nature and would follow you about the house when he's awake - he is so sociable now. I've put hours and hours of love into him and he's wonderful. He can tend to get frightened sometimes, but he always comes round.
Please can anyone help me with my boy? The RSPCA reckon he is about 2 - 4 yrs of age. He has no other medical condition and I have his bed, and favourite toys and litter tray that will go with him so it's familiar to him.
BUT please stay in touch with me and let me know how he is. It is with great reluctance that I have to let him go, but it's not fair on him to keep getting bullied and mauled by Jock.
Many thanks,
Beth from Congleton, Cheshire.
