I have been doing some feeding/cleaning/ cuddling duties for a local rescue for a few weeks now and yesterday when I went up to the pens there was a new resident, Penny. It was really cold outside (-7) and although the cats each have heat pads and there are two heaters in the stables where the pens are, the volunteer I was with said she thought Penny felt cold and was worried that she was too young to be in there. What she really needs, she said, is to be in a home where there are no other cats and she can get some one to one TLC. I reminded her that my home was cat-free and well, it isn't any more
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Penny is about 6 months old and was found with all the fur around her neck matted up with some unknown substance that had irritated (possibly burned) the skin. She's been with an experienced fosterer while she was having veterinary treatment (all her fur had to be shaved from around the area and she was on ABs ands steroids) but she hates other cats and also hated being confined to one room. The feeling was that she'd been ill-treated but I can't help wondering whether she was just neglected rather than actually abused and her injuries sustained somehow during her days on the streets because she's incredibly trusting and a real purrpot and cuddlebum. I expected her to want to hide until she felt safe and made the necessary preparations but she just wanted to follow me (and OH) about everywhere we went and sat on my knee all last night while we were watching TV. I kept her confined to the granny flat yesterday but she's had the run of the house today because I was taking the Christmas decorations down. She's actually grey and white but looks black and white on the photos.