Success Story - Sark

Sark was one of thirty cats which were rescued from the RSPCA back in August 2013. Many of these guys were very shy and timid due to the sheer number of cats; sadly some of them didn’t get enough attention from their owner to make them confident cats. Sark was eventually adopted January 2014, after patiently waiting and becoming a little more confident thanks to our CCAs and volunteers.

 

Sark’s owners have been in touch via our email with an update on his progress. Sark started life in his life in his new home in the bottom conservatory where he managed to make a bed inside the underneath of the sofa (yes inside the sofa). His owners thought they lost him or he had escaped. Every night they encouraged him out with treats, although he was very scared, he gradually started coming out more and more. His owners other cat Jelly did not except him very well but just recently after she became poorly they have become good friends, but Sark knows Jelly is the boss. Sark decided to gate-crash his owners Valentine’s Day meal by stealing the steaks off the kitchen work top and hiding in the sofa with them. He has learnt very quickly that he gets fed and no longer steals food from the work tops.  He loves the kids and loves sitting on our laps in the evenings also has mental moments like chasing things on the TV; which their kids find very funny.

 

Sark hasn’t been outside much, the cat flap is open all of the time for Jelly, but Sark is not interested in the great outdoors. He did put two paws on the patio the other day but he ran straight back inside bless him. His owner thinks this will change with the summer coming. His owner said he is a real joy to their house and thanked us for helping him build up his confidence.
We would like to thank his owners for giving him the time and patience to bring him around. He sounds like a very happy and settled boy. We would also like to thank them for the update and photos. We are so pleased he is doing so well.

Success Story - Dave

Dave came to Axhayes last January as a stray. He was such a wonderful friendly chap and a real character! He was adopted in March last year and we have received a lovely email from his owners a year on….

 

“I can't believe it's a year since we adopted Dave. He's settled in really well. He's a very sociable, and at times, quite a humorous chap. We saw him the other day bunny jumping in the air whilst the dogs were chasing one another round the garden. I think he was quite excited and probably would have liked to join in if he was a little bigger.

 
He's just had his annual MOT which he passed with flying colours and the vet said he was a 'very lucky boy'. I said that I told him that every day although really I think we're the lucky ones! I've attached a couple of photos - one of Dave 'helping' in the garden yesterday, and the other of him with his buddy after a busy night. (Excuse the unmade bed. They didn't give me time to make it!)”

We would like to thank Dave's owners for the update and we're so pleased he is settled and very happy in his new home.

How your donations have helped our cats and kittens at Exeter Axhayes

Our Friends of Exeter Axhayes Group are a group of volunteers who organise fundraising events and activities to raise money for the centre. We cannot carry out our vital work of rehoming and helping hundreds of cats every year without funds, so by becoming a fundraising volunteer you could really be at the forefront of helping cats in your area. If you have passion for cats and can spare some time to fundraise or be an advocate for the charity’s work, then we would love to hear from you. Even sparing a few hours a week could make a huge difference.

Last year our feral garden was constructed and it officially opened in September. This feral enclosure wouldn’t be possible without the support and generosity of the public at our Friends of Group events. In October 2011, 25 people including staff, volunteers and members of the public walked over a 20ft path of hot coals at temperatures reaching 800°F to raise money for this feral enclosure. Our aim for this event was to raise money for a feral garden to be built at the adoption centre. This will make our feral cats stay at the centre much more pleasant. We would like to thank our Friends of Exeter Axhayes Group and all of our supporters. Thanks to our feral garden, we have been able to take in unwanted and homeless ferals and find them outdoor homes.

 

 

We have food donation bins at Sainsburys store in Pinhoe, Jacks Patch Garden Centre and The Cooperative stores in Sidwell Street, Heavitree and Broadclyst. Our bins are emptied weekly for our cats and kittens breakfasts, lunches and suppers. We would like to thank our supermarket shoppers for donating this food. Some of the money donated has been used to buy new toys, scratching posts and beds for our cats. Our cats and kittens have made great use of these toys, these toys really help our staff, volunteers and potential adopters interact with our cats. Of course these toys help reduce boredom!

We thought we’d share a few photos above showing how your kind donations have helped our cats and kittens at our centre. We would like to say a HUGE thank you to our Friends of Group and our supporters who have kindly donated money and have come to our events over the years.

Please keep an eye on our events pages on facebook or our website www.axhayes.cats.org.uk for more details about our future events. From all the cats and kittens here at Axhayes, Thank you.

Deaf Cats - please help Snowy find a loving home.

Snowy is our current deaf cat looking for a loving home. He will need a home with an enclosed garden away from busy roads and traffic. He is a stunning white fluffy cat who finds himself here after his owner’s child developed an allergy. He is a sweet sensitive boy who is hoping to find someone who will take him home and love him forever. If you can offer Snowy a suitable home to meet his needs, please get in touch with us. Here is some information  below written by Cats Protection about deaf cats....

Deaf cats compensate for their lack of hearing by using their other senses more, so much that it may be hard to tell whether or not they are deaf. There are varying degrees of deafness and different causes which may or may not be treatable.

Types of deafness

There are two main types of deafness: -

Where the sound cannot pass into the ear, e.g due to –

-       Tumours

-       Outer and middle ear infections

-       Wax build up

-       Ear mites

This type of deafness (above) may be reversible by treating the root cause.

Where the nerves associated with the ear do not function properly e.g due to –

-       Genetic problems (e.g. in the case of some white cats)

-       Inner ear infections

-       Drug toxicity

-       Noise trauma

-       Age-related degeneration

All of these can produce permanent deafness.

How can I tell if my cat is deaf?

It can be difficult to determine if a cat is deaf, particularly if he has been deaf from birth and is very used to his condition, but signs may include:

-       Failure to respond when called or when loud appliances are switched on

-       Being easily startled

-       Very loud miaowing

-       Signs of dizziness or disorientation

-       Shaking the head or clawing at the ear

-       Pus, discharge or unpleasant odour coming from the ear

How do I help my deaf cat adapt?

Generally, a deaf cat doesn’t need to be treated any differently than any other cat. If your cat is easily startled, try walking heavily to announce your presence. Some cats also learn to recognise hand or light signals. When doing this, you must be distinct and consistent so as not to confuse him.

Deaf cats cannot hear danger signals such as cars or other animals. Cats Protection recommends that they are kept indoors for their own safety unless you have an escape-proof garden or away from busy roads. If you decide to let your deaf cat out, make sure he wears a well-fitted safety collar that states his disability and your details in case he escapes.

If you decide to keep your cat indoors entirely, ensure you enrich his environment with toys, games, climbers and scratchers to alleviate boredom. (Written by Cats Protection)

Success Story - Tufty and Tigger

You may remember two of our oldies Tufty and her sister Tigger who came into Axhayes almost a year ago. They spent a few months at the centre before finding their perfect home in July 2013. Their owner has been in contact with us, we thought we’d update you on how they are getting on six months later…

Tigger now renamed Shuka and Tufty renamed Malaika have both settled in well and are being spoilt rotten. Shuka is a funny little thing and does strange odd things at times like break into my neighbours catflap and sleep in her wardrobe! She talks ALOT! Her owner says that she has never come across such a vocal cat in her life.

 

 

Malaika is so sweet, she loves the warmth and lives by the fire at the moment. She was quite ill a few weeks ago with her renal problem and had to go into hospital, but thankfully she's ok at the moment. She loves her other neighbour and if her owner is working away for the day, she pops upstairs for a cuddle there! 

She says she is very lucky that her neighbours think they are incredibly entertaining cats and adore them. They are being absolutely ruined with love and attention.
 
We would like to thank their owner for the lovely emails and photos over the past few months. We are pleased these two lovely ladies are very happy and loved in their new home.

Keep your cats safe if there's a flood.

We are hoping everyone is keeping safe in this dreadful weather we've been having over the past few weeks in the South-west. We thought we would share some useful information if you have been or might be affected by the recent floods. Here is some advice courtesy of The Blue Cross.... 

 Keep your cats safe if there’s actually a flood warning….

-          Keep your cat carriers to hand and check you have enough food and medication to last 

-          Keep familiar toys dry with their smells of home on it, this will help reduce stress

-          Think about taking your cat(s) to a family member of friend who lives away from the flood risk area until the danger has passed.

-          Put all documents such as vaccination records, your vet’s details and your pet’s microchip number in a sealed bag with any other important documents.
-          Keep up to date with the latest information, local radio, TV or call Floodline 0845 988 1188.  

If disaster strikes…

-          If at all possible, don’t leave your pets behind, even if you think that you’ve created a safe place for them – it could be several days before you can make it back home.

-          If you have no choice but to leave your pets behind, shut them inside an upstairs room with plenty of food and water

-          Leave notices outside your home to alert RSPCA or your local flood warden that there are pets inside

-          Put cats into suitable carrier with a warm blanket.

-          Remember to take your cat’s food, water, bowls, medication and bedding with you.

(Courtesy of The Blue Cross Flood advice)  

The Life of Brian... at Axhayes

Before coming to our centre, poor Brian was living as a stray in the city. When he arrived at Axhayes he was in a poor state. His once long fluffy ginger and white hair was really badly matted and scabby. It must have been very uncomfortable, maybe even painful for him. Even though his fur would have been causing him much discomfort, he has been an absolute delight! He’s been very friendly and affectionate with our girls. He was just grateful for a warm bed away from the cold winter weather, some food and of course cuddles from our CCAs.  

Brian - the day he came to Axhayes

The next day he went to see our vet to be neutered and needed a de-matt. His fur was so badly matted it took our vet and veterinary nurse an hour and a half of careful shaving to remove the fur. As you can see from the photos, it was so badly matted; the fur came off in one large piece. It looked like a fur coat once it was removed.



Brian during his dematt operation

 

Close up on his fur

Brian's fur

Once he came around from the anaesthetic, he was of course very hungry from missing breakfast and he was much more comfortable. He could finally groom himself once again. Our deputy manager found a woollen jumper for him to help keep him warm. He quickly decided red wasn’t his colour and soon took it off. Our girls gave him a heat pad and extra blankets to keep him warm instead. The next day one of our CCAs found him a funky black and Burberry style jacket, he didn’t mind running around in.      

 

Brian day after operation

 

Brian in his funky jacket

 

It’s been a couple of weeks since he was treated by our vet; his fur is beginning to slowly grow back. It won’t be long until his fur fully grows back and he will be handsome once again. He is now ready to find a loving home where he will be spoilt rotten. We are hoping someone will take him home with them very soon.