Update - Panjo

As you can see from our photos taken today – Panjo is looking much better. Her medication is really helping her skin; the sores on her skin are healing up nicely. Her fur has grown back almost everywhere. She’s looking very beautiful now. Our staff and volunteers have been spending lots of time making a fuss of her and playing with her. She loves pouncing on her "cat’s meow" toy and chasing her ping-pong balls. She has been enjoying the lovely weather we’ve been having Devon recently, she’s been lying out on her pen floor sunbathing in the afternoons. All she really needs is a loving forever home of her own, can you help her?

Sunbathing

Panjo playing with cat's meow toy

Panjo today looking healthier

Sadly this is Panjo’s second stay with us. She came to us originally as a stray, and was in a bad state - she has a terrible skin condition which we are treating with medication and TLC. Panjo eventually found a home, but it was a busy household and was too stressful for her, so she has come back to us. We are desperate to find Panjo a home as soon as possible, not just because it is her second time here, but because a pen situation isn’t good for her. She is looking for a quiet home where she will be the only animal, and where there are no young children, ideally with someone who works from home, or who is around a lot of the time because she loves company – she will purr for hours when you stroke her, and loves to chase her ping-pong balls – and she needs to be distracted from grooming herself too much.

Panjo two months ago before vet treatment

Panjo would make a wonderful companion – she just needs to find the right home. Could you help Panjo? Please call us on 01395 232377 or visit our website www.axhayes.cats.org.uk. Thank you

Homemade cardboard treat ball for your cat

How to make your cat a cardboard treat ball.

Make your own cardboard tube toy ball for your cat. It's easy! CCA Gemma saw this on the internet and has been making them for some of the cats at the adoption centre. Give it a try.

You will need.....

• An empty cardboard Toilet paper roll.
• Scissors.
• Your cat's favourite treats (optional)

 

Instructions 

• Mark four, 1/4-inch (or finger-width) marks on the side of the cardboard roll.
• Use the scissors to cut each ring (the rings alone are great cat toys -- the cats love 'em!).
• Insert the first ring into the second ring, then continue with the third and fourth, until you've formed a ball. 

 

 

 

 

Your cat will love batting this toy around on the floor, maybe pop a few cat treats inside the ball. Some of our cats like Val (here photographed) have been batting these toys around this afternoon, to get the treats out. Please share your creations with your cats on our facebook page.

Interested in becoming a cat foster carer?

We currently have two cat foster carer vacancies at Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre.

Over the last five years Cats Protection has helped over one million cats, fosterers have played a huge role in achieving this fantastic milestone, can you help us help more cats?

Unfortunately thousands of cats each year rely on the help of animal charities because of a change in their owner’s circumstances, they have been abandoned or have strayed. Volunteers at Cats Protection give these cats and kittens a second chance in life and help to create happy endings for cats across the UK.

Fostering is just one way you can be part of these happy endings for cats in your community! As a fosterer you take a cat into your home temporarily and provide the care and TLC it needs until it finds its new forever home.

We are looking for cat fosterers who have some spare time to care for the cats, be confident around cats, have a caring but practical personality, enjoy interacting with people and are happy to follow our cat care standards and charity policies. A thirst for knowledge around all things cat and happy to keep up-to-date information and complete paperwork for cats in care are also key for this role.

In return for your time, commitment and all the TLC you can offer cats we provide everything that you and your foster cat will require:

-       Cat accommodation – equipment to adapt a spare room

-       Food, litter, bedding, bowls, litter trays and toys for your foster cat

-       Veterinary treatment for Cats Protection cats/kittens in your care

-       Help, support and training so you feel confident and happy as a fosterer

Many of our CCAs have fostered Cats Protection cats in their own homes, we have fostered a variety of cats including caring for our oldies with medical conditions, depressed cats not coping with life in a pen, nervous/shy cats in need of confidence building, mums and her kittens, kittens in need of TLC and hand-rear kittens. Here are some cats our CCAs have helped during their time in their foster homes.

Tamsin and her kittens – in foster for 8 weeks with CCA Gemma.

Tamsin was found heavily pregnant and living rough in Exeter last winter before coming into a centre. Just before Christmas she birth to four beautiful kittens, two boys, two girls named Prancer, Dancer, Donner and Blitzen. They went into their foster home during the Christmas holidays when they were just a week old. They lived in a spare room in a fold up playpen where mum Tamsin could get in and out if she needed a break from them. As there were no other pets in the household they could explore other rooms as they got older. They remained in their foster home for 8 weeks, only returning to the centre for a health check, first vaccination and neutering. CCA Gemma weighed them regularly on some kitchen scales, treated them for worms and helped keep mum as healthy as possible making sure she had regular meals.

 

This time in a normal home was hugely beneficial for the kittens as they got used to all of the household sounds they wouldn’t hear the adoption centre like hoovers, TVs, washing machines etc. It’s particularly important during the kittens 2-8 week socialisation period. When Tamsin and her kittens returned to the centre, not much phased the kittens, they were confident and ready to find homes. All successfully reserved for rehoming in one weekend.

Felix – in foster for almost a year with CCA Diane

Felix came into the centre with a nasty wound on his neck which was taking a long time to heal. He wore a little leather boot to stop him scratching his wound. He became increasingly unhappy in his pen and his wound just wasn’t making much progress. After a couple of months, Felix moved in with CCA Di.

Felix in his jumper

Felix's neck wound

He started off wearing socks to prevent him from scratching his neck; he then began to wear colourful jumpers to wear to help protect his neck wound. These jumpers have allowed his wound to heal over time and don’t bother him at all. Once his neck had completely healed, he no longer needed to wear his jumper. Felix spent 12 months in CP care/foster home before finding his forever home.

Frequently asked Questions…..        

What if I have other pets?

You can foster if you have other pets but all foster cats must be kept separately. This is to protect the foster cat as well as the fosterer’s own pets. As rescued cats’ backgrounds are often unknown it’s important that all pets in the household remain healthy and we would recommend that a fosterer’s own pets are fully vaccinated and boosters are kept up-to-date.

 

What if I get too attached to the cat?

We know it is easy to fall for the cats, but fosterers remember that they are temporary carers. If you do want to adopt a cat you can talk to volunteers or staff and discuss what would be best for that particular cat.

Most fosterers know that if they adopt cats their ability to help more cats decreases so are more than happy to be the temporary carers which are much needed.

How do the cats get homes?

When the cat or kitten is ready for homing, you may bring the cat to the Adoption Centre to be rehomed or liaise with staff at the centre to meet the potential adopter(s). We always carefully match the right people with the right cat by asking a series of questions so you can rest assured that once you have cared for the cat or kitten it will be very well taken care of in their new home.

What about holidays/breaks?

Fosterers liaise directly with the adoption centre staff to plan and arrange holidays and breaks. We can make arrangements for cats to be moved to back into the centre, to keep your space free until you come back or are ready for another cutie!

Becoming a cat foster carer is hugely rewarding, it not only benefits the cat and kittens, it also provides cat lovers with an opportunely to give back and help cats in the best way they can. Please get in touch with us if you would like to find out more about becoming a cat fosterer.

If you would like more information please contact our Adoption Centre Manager Mark on 01395 232377 or visit our website www.axhayes.cats.org.uk. Thank you.

Oldie Success Story - Basil and Sooty

Sooty and Basil were two of our gorgeous oldies who found a home together back in January this year. Basil is a lovely 10 year old boy who came to us in a terrible state; he had been living as a stray so he was very thin and needed one of his eyes removed. Sooty is a very sweet 15 year old boy who found himself at the centre after his owner moved house and couldn’t take him too. They both needed operations and lots of TLC from the CCAs, after a couple of months they both found a home together. We have received a lovely email from their new owners, what they’ve said really demonstrates why old cats make the best companions……

“Dear All,
Thought you might like to see some pictures of Sooty and Basil and how they have settled into their new home. Sooty likes an old water bottle cover filled with a soft pillow and Basil likes to be tucked up

 

Sooty

With Sooty & Basil we couldn’t have wished for more, they are such fantastic pair of felines and very mischievous. They both sleep on the same sofa together and it was only last night Basil walked over to Sooty rubbed noses with each other and then both settled down to go to sleep as if they were saying “good night see you in the morning”

Sooty is full of energy and very much loves his cuddles, very good appetite and basically he’s wonderful. Sooty hasn’t been interested in going out he likes to stay within reach of food, water and cuddles. Sooty does have a loud snore which is quite funny when he’s synchronised with John snoring

Basil has settled in very well still nervous at times but more due to noises he’s not heard before. He too likes his cuddles and is a big softie. When he has a wash its more of a bath he washes for England and is very clean. Basil went out for the first time this weekend just gone and we were very much the nervous parents, no problem he came pounding back after his adventures, promptly got on his blanket on the sofa and went to sleep

Basil

The two of them together is wonderful to see and Sooty is very much like the Dad and he’ll tell Basil off at 03:00 in the morning when he decides to start running around and Sooty wants to sleep, then Sooty likes the idea and he too starts running round.

They are such a fantastic pair and it’s such a wonderful feeling to have them both with us in their home just as much as ours.

Basil snoozing

Once again thank you to all of you for allowing Sooty and Basil to come home with us and for the complete care and attention you gave to both of them whilst they were with you to get them back onto the road of recovery which they have definitely made. I know for Basil at the beginning it didn’t look good for him as he was so poorly but you must be so proud for what you achieved and got him back to his handsome self. Sooty what do you say, he went through a lot, he’s a little fighter and such a fantastic character”

We would like to thank their new owners for getting in touch with us. We hope their success story will help inspire anymore who is interested in giving an older cat a happy loving retirement home.

Help us raise funds for free when you shop online!

Shop online and raise funds for FREE for Cats Protection - Friends of Axhayes Group.

It's easy! Just visit  http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/catsprotectionexeteraxhayesadoptioncentre and follow the simple steps to sign up before you start shopping.  Then you can start shopping using the links to over 2000 retailers, including Amazon, Next, Argos, M&S and John Lewis, and every time you shop, a donation will be given to us at no additional cost to you!  Brilliant!  And on behalf of the cats, thank-you!

In the last year, our supporters of Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre raised £266.16 for our lovely cats and kittens! Thank you very much for all of our support!  

Please help Panjo

This is poor Panjo’s second stay with us. She came to us originally as a stray, and was in a bad state - she has a terrible skin condition which we are treating with medication and TLC. Panjo eventually found a home, but it was a busy household and was too stressful for her, so she has come back to us. We are desperate to find Panjo a home as soon as possible, not just because it is her second time here, but because a pen situation isn’t good for her.

 

Panjo last year - with her fur grown back

 

Panjo last week

 

She is looking for a quiet home where she will be the only animal, and where there are no young children, ideally with someone who works from home, or who is around a lot of the time because she loves company. She will purr for hours when you stroke her, and loves to chase her ping-pong balls and she needs to be distracted from grooming herself too much. Panjo would make a wonderful companion – she just needs to find the right home. Could you help Panjo?

Please call us on 01395 232377 for more information. Thank –you.

Success story-Snowball

Snowball is a very special 'Wobbly' kitten who was given her first home in February last year. She came to the centre with her mum & siblings but then developed a problem with one of her back legs after her routine vaccination.




In her foster home with her cuddly toy

 



Snowball with her siblings


All five of her brothers and sisters were adopted before her.

We couldn't leave her in a pen on her own as she wasn't able to walk along the cat ladder that she needed to use to access her litter tray







Di, one of our cat care assistants, was lucky enough to be able to foster her and in that time her mobility and balance improved more than we had ever hoped possible.

She has a 5 year old border collie called Dylan who Snowball spent lots of time with over a couple of months and she loved playing with him.
 


Snowball with Dylan the border collie

 

                                                     


She was full of determination & character and did not let anything stop her from attempting to do anything she wanted.  She learnt to run up stairs and developed her own safe way of getting down.  She was a real little mischief, very entertaining and playful.

 

Cerebellar Hypoplasia is a condition which occurs in kittens as a result of interrupted development of the brain leading to uncoordinated movement or ataxia. Affected kittens are often referred to as ‘wobbly kittens.’ Snowball was not officially diagnosed with a condition but does match some of the following symptoms and this information helped us and her new owners to know what to expect.

 

CH occurs in kittens as a result of their mother being infected with a virus called feline parvovirus during pregnancy. It can also occasionally occur if the kitten is infected in the first few weeks after birth. Some or all of the litter of kittens may be affected and some individuals may be affected more so than others. The virus affects the cerebellum during the kitten’s development and it is this part of the brain which is responsible for fine-tuning movement.

Wobbliness becomes apparent when kittens first start to move at a few weeks of age but is non-progressive so does not worsen over time. Cats are affected for the rest of their lives, and generally learn to cope with their condition. Affected cats may:
• stand with their legs far apart • sway when they move • lift their legs high when walking • show nodding or head tremors, which may worsen when they focus to do something such as eat • lose their balance

Is there any treatment?

Once the cerebellum has been damaged in this way, it cannot be repaired, so there is no treatment for cerebellar hypoplasia.

Does a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia require special care?            

Here are a few tips to help improve the quality of life a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia:
• cats with cerebellar hypoplasia often appreciate a deep litter tray with high sides that they can use for support to balance when toileting, but make sure the cat can get in and out of it without difficulty. A large tray gives the cat plenty of space to move around inside it, and ensures it can’t be tipped up • affected cats can be messy eaters – feed in an easily cleaned area and use a sturdy water bowl that isn’t easily turned over – for some cats, raising bowls a little can be helpful • cats with cerebellar hypoplasia can find it difficult to accurately jump – provide easy ways for cats to access their favourite areas – cushions and rugs under windowsills can act as crash mats • use a ramp to give an affected cat access to high surfaces. Make sure it is wide enough and cover it in carpet for extra grip – again a crash mat of sorts can be helpful, just in case • Cats Protection recommends that you do not let affected cats roam outside unsupervised, for their own safety. Their uncoordinated movement may make it more difficult for them to escape easily from hazards. Keep your cat indoors unless he can have access to a safely-fenced garden or run. Make sure he is microchipped and you may consider carefully fitting a quick release collar stating his address and disability in case he escapes. You may need to pay more attention
to an indoor cat’s environment to keep things fun for him. Interactive toys and puzzle feeders can help to create interest. See our  Essential Guide: Indoor and outdoor cats • keep claws trimmed, as it can be more difficult for them to ‘unhook’ themselves if they get a claw stuck • carpets and rugs are often easier for affected cats to walk on than slippery floors

Most kittens are only affected mildly or moderately. With minor adjustments to their care they can enjoy a good quality of life.

 

 

This information was found on www.cats.org.uk/cat-care/care-leaflets/veterinary-guides



Snowball waiting to be adopted

The kind of home we were hoping for would have a small enclosed garden where she could go outside and explore without the dangers of traffic.

We also felt that she would love a playmate to run around with during the day and snuggle up to at night.











Luckily for this little sweetheart, her perfect new owners arrived to meet her at the centre not long after she became available for adoption. They were totally smitten with her and felt she would fit into their family perfectly. I did a home visit to see the enclosed garden with specialist fitted cat fencing and meet her future playmates, a Sphinx cat and a Siamese cat.






Snowball with her new friends

She was renamed Tabitha and settled in very well. We had an email from her new owners and this is what they had to say : 

"We have had a few hissing fits but nothing we haven't been used to in the past and she is eating and drinking well. She is really starting to come out of her shell and I don't think it will be to long for them all to start to bond. We have spent a lot of time playing with her and coaxing our other cats together with her and we both agree we think Sookie and Tabitha will become the best of friends as they have already started following each other around. We both agree she is a very loving and affectionate cat." 

                                  

I have recently been in touch with them again to see how she is doing and get some recent photos of her.

This is what her owners replied :  "She is our little star! 

She absolutely loves the garden and in the spring/summer

spends all her time out there

but for now with the cold weather is quite happy indoors with her box! "

Having  fun with a box and a friend

Tabitha and her playmate

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We would like to thank Paul & Hayley for adopting her

and giving her a happy future.

 

 

Lucky Tabitha a year older