Greg's Appeal

Gorgeous Greg came into our care as a stray with no history and no definite age. Greg was in such a terrible condition when he first came in, he was aged as a senior cat with flu medications prescribed. Over time it became apparent that he was suffering from more than just a simple cold. Off his food and looking very sad he was taken into a foster home to bring him back to the energetic, lovable cat we knew he could be.

Greg a week after arriving

Four months on and several tests later we were still no closer to a diagnosis for Greg so the decision was made to make the journey to a specialist vet in Bristol for an ultrasound scan. Finally we have a diagnosis - Greg has a portosystemic shunt meaning the liver is not working to its full capacity and can have detrimental effects on his body and brain. This is a life threatening condition that without intervention would cause poor Greg to have short unhappy life.

 

The good news is, this can be repaired by performing an ameroid constricter surgery to redirect the blood to get the liver working efficiently. Of course it is not without risks and expense (£2,500) but we are hopeful that being in excellent body condition Gorgeous Greg will bounce right back.

Greg at his foster home

 

Greg at the vets awaiting diagnosis

 

We need your help to pay for Greg's surgery so please donate to help us reach our target. If we are fortunate to raise over & above our £2,500 target, all surplus donations will go towards treating other cats and kittens in our care at Exeter Axhayes A/C. If you like to help Greg you can donate via JustGiving, Text Donation or donating to his appeal on our reception desk at the centre.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity. If you would like to donate to Greg’s Appeal – please follow the link below to our JustGiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/GorgeousGreg

You can also donate by texting GGLS50 followed by amount £x to 70070.


Check out Greg's video below... he's a very cuddly boy!!! We will keep you posted on his journey whilst in our care. From Greg and everyone at Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre THANK YOU!

For more information about our adoption centre, check out our website at http://www.axhayes.cats.org.uk/.

 

Moggies Marvellous for Mental Health

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, we thought we'd share this article written a few years back by Cats Protection to promote the benefits cats can have on our Mental Health....

Our cats have a special knack for bringing a smile to our faces, whether it's through furry kisses and cuddles or entertaining antics. It's no surprise that a survey conducted by Cats Protection and the Mental Health Foundation found that 87% of people who owned a cat felt it had a positive impact on their wellbeing, while 76% said they could cope with everyday life much better thanks to the company of their feline friends. Half of the cat owners felt that their cat’s presence and companionship was most helpful, followed by a third of respondents describing stroking a cat as a calming and helpful activity.

The study was carried out in July and August 2011 and involved over 600 cat and non-cat-owning respondents, with half of them describing themselves as currently having a mental health problem. Cats Protection is keen to highlight how looking after a pet can bring structure to people’s day, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and even lower blood pressure.

In addition to this, a cat’s purr is widely recognised as having therapeutic benefits for humans. “Sitting with a relaxed purring cat at the end of a hectic day is a soothing massage for the soul,” said Cat Jarvis from Cats Protection. “Perhaps this is because the reassuring hum is generally associated with calmness and gentle communication, or perhaps it is because the frequency of the vibration is in the range that can stimulate healing.”
“The research findings tell us what cat lovers have known for years – cats are not just great company but they can also be very good for you.”

Cats Protection has thousands of cats ready for adoption across the UK and works hard to match the right cat to the right home. For more information about our cats and kittens ready for adoption here at Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre, please visit our website... http://www.axhayes.cats.org.uk/axhayes/adopt-a-cat


If you are currently unable to adopt a cat, why not became a volunteer cat socialiser, to get your weekly cuddles with our adorable cats and kittens. http://www.axhayes.cats.org.uk/axhayes/volunteering

(Source: Cats Protection)

(The study is based on a sample size of 621. Data was collected between July and August 2011 via Mental Health Foundation’s website/social networking sites. The majority of respondents were women (83 per cent) aged between 26 and 55 (78 per cent).)