Life is a funny thing. I literally just - JUST - posted on here that my cat had gone to a friend's house and was doing well (see
http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,32898.0.html). Today I am informed that this is not the case, and for the past six weeks the cat has been attacking the children (4 and less than a year). The aggressive behaviour and the proximity to the children is the reason why I have posted in the urgent section: I apologise if this was bad judgement on my part. The cat is safe and not at risk of being put to sleep.
I shall fill in the questionnaire as recommended in the pinned post above.
Your name and contact details: you can contact me through the forum, or you can call - any time of day or night - on zero seven seven one three, five nine eight double four two.
Where about you live and where the cat/s are if the location is different: I live on the London/Kent border, the cat is in Wiltshire. I will deliver anywhere in the UK. The right home is paramount and location comes a long way after that requirement.
Name and age/s of the cat: Maddy, 6 years old.
Colour, long or short haired and breed, if it is a pedigree: Tabby, medium-length coat.
Posting photographs really do help: Please see other thread (
http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,32898.0.html).
Cat's background (i.e did you get the cat/s from a rescue etc): Maddy was captured by a rescue centre as a feral kitten, a couple of months old, along with her brothers. Mother was so aggressive she had to be neutered and returned to the woods. Maddy was always a handful, but cheeky rather than naughty. She has not experienced any abuse.
Cats general health or special needs (such as diet). Please be honest!: No ongoing physical problems, no particular dietary requirements. Excellent physical health. Exhibits signs of stress and aggression. In need of a very experienced home.
Brief circumstances as to why you need to rehome cat/s: Please see above. This cat, who lived with me, was rehomed as she was showing signs of distress, for which the vet could not find a physical cause, and which could not be tamed with Feliway or Zylkene. She appeared to want to be in an outdoor home (my cats are indoor and she was constantly at the windows/trying to run through the front door). She also started attacking the other cats. Since then, I rehomed her with a friend who had a large house, a garden and no other pets. Maddy did well for a while, but is back to showing signs of stress and aggression. She needs a very experienced home, who can provide some stability and routine and attempt to solve her mental health problems.
Character of the cat, is puss a lap, nervous, timid or an independent soul? What puss likes and dislikes. : Alternates between being a lap cat and a terror. She is affectionate and demanding.
If more then one cat do they need to be rehomed together or on their own?: N/A.
Does puss get on well or been living with children (if so what age range) other cats or dogs?: Has lived with other cats and children, and attacked both of them.
Is puss an indoor or an outdoor cat?: Prefers to stay indoors - only goes out to do her business.
Current status of vaccinations? (bare in mind that vaccinations are usually done on a yearly basis, so if they are not up to date and you don’t have any vaccinations records you may wish to state when say if you are prepared to get them done or not): Up to date. Booster required in January.
Is he/she neutered? Microchipped?: Neutered and microchipped.
If Maddy were a human, she would probably be undergoing psychiatric treatment. I'm not sure what the alternative is for felines.
She does not seem to like other cats and children appear to be too loud and unsettling for her. She might co-exist with other cats if not in a confined space (e.g. in a flat). For whatever reason, this cat seems too psychologically damaged to remain in her own home. Whether I, being the one who raised her, am to blame, I couldn't say. My other cats are incredibly placid and sweet, so I'm inclined to think this is nature, rather than nurture.
Maddy can remain in her home until the end of January at the absolute latest. After that point, she can come back here if need be, but will need to be separated from the other pets, which means being shut in a room alone. She's an adorable, loving cat underneath it all, but there's a lot of work to do in order to get that side out of her.
I feel like an absolute... <<insert word I probably shouldn't say on a public forum>>, and I sincerely hope people aren't judging either me or them for "giving up on her". That's not the case. We're just not equipped, either through time, facility or experience, to help her. And she does need help.
Please, please, PLEASE, get in contact if there's anything you can do or suggest.
Thank you.
