Oldie Success Story - Molly and Marmite

Back in October 2015, a gorgeous little cat called Molly came into our care. Her previous owner had gone into hospital and unfortunately there wasn’t anyone able to care for her. At 14 years old, she was one of the oldest cats in our care at the time; she was just as active and playful as a cat half her age. She loved to play with her toy mice and enjoyed sitting on our CCAs laps.

Molly in her new home

She spent a few months in our care which included spending Christmas and New Year with us, and then finally in the middle of January she found her perfect home. We have heard from her new owners via email. They’ve said “Molly is enjoying life to the full in her forever home. She likes to chill out quite a lot, but she really enjoys cuddles and she is happy to be cuddled. She gets to sleep on the bed at night. Molly's new feline friend isn't too keen on her being her new housemate - but Molly isn't too worried." We're very pleased at Molly's age she has managed to find a loving home and has settled in really well.

Marmite looking relaxed in her new home

In January of this year a sweet cat called Marmite came into our care. Like many of our cats we get in the centre had to move out due to the landlord not allowing pets. Marmite was a very affectionate girl who loved a fuss and being groomed by our CCAs. She only spent a couple of months in our care before finding a new loving home in March. Her owners have also been in contact via email too, they said “Marmite has been with us now for less than a fortnight and we just wanted to let you know that she has settled in really well. She is a sweetheart and has made herself quite at home as you can see from the attached photos”

We would like to say a special thank you to Molly and Marmite’s new owners for getting in contact with us and sharing your lovely photos with us. We’re hoping these success stories will help promote adopting an older cat, Marmite is 10 years old and Molly is 14 years old.

Here’s some of the benefits of adopting an older cat….

What you see is what you get!
Older cats have already developed their personality so there will be no surprise personality traits in the future to deal with.

Older cats are much less destructive!
Kittens and younger cats are more likely to run round your house, knocking things over, chewing things up and scratching your furniture; they are also more likely to have toilet mishaps for you to clean up! Older cats have got over the excitement of youth and are much happier to sit and enjoy your company and a good fuss.

Older cats have more common sense!
Kittens are much more likely to get into trouble, ingest toxic substances, to fall from window ledges and to wander off and get lost. Older cats have learned the lessons of youth and are a better choice for busy families who don’t want the hassle of supervising a young cat for long hours. Older cats are also likely to be much more used to younger children and will be less likely to get injured by them as they will know when it’s time to run and get out of the way!

Cats are living longer!
With advances in veterinary care and more protective and informed owners cats can expect to live way into their teens quite happily, so taking on an older cat doesn’t mean you will have to say your goodbyes too soon; you could have many, many happy years of love and fuss ahead for both of you!

If you are interested in adopting one of our adorable oldies, please visit our website www.axhayes.cats.org.uk. Thank you.

 

FIV cats looking for their purrrfect indoor homes.

We currently have two loveable boys Sooty and Edgar who have been diagnosed with FIV. They are both looking for loving indoors homes. We thought we'd share some info about FIV and some advice to keep them happy and healthy in an indoor environment.....

Meet Sooty - He is 5 years old, he came into our centre after his owner could no longer keep him.

Sooty

Meet Edgar....he is 5 years old, he's travelled all the way down from Wales to find a loving home in the Westcountry. 

Edgar

What is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?

FIV is a virus in cats that is similar to the human virus, HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. However, FIV does not infect humans, and HIV does not infect cats.

How do cats catch FIV?

The virus is present in the blood, saliva and other body fluids of infected cats. It is very delicate and is unable to survive for long periods outside of the cat – so it cannot be transferred to other cats from your hands or clothes. Cats primarily pick up the virus through fighting – via bite wounds – or through mating behaviour, but it can also be passed from an infected female cat to her kittens.

Do all cats that get the virus become permanently infected?

Yes. A cat will produce antibodies, but these are ineffective and once a cat has FIV, they will be FIV positive for the rest of their life.

What are the signs of FIV?

There is an incubation period of months or even years when your cat may be perfectly healthy before signs of infection show. Many infected cats have years of normal life and may die from something else entirely before their FIV infection causes any problems.

Signs of FIV are varied but usually result from a weakened immune system and therefore a vulnerability to other infections. Once disease develops, infected cats may:

·         become repeatedly ill e.g with cat flu, sore gums, skin disease or digestive upsets

·         simply seem ‘off-colour’ or have a high temperature

·         take a long time to recover from infections

·         lose weight

·         develop tumours

How do I have my cat tested for FIV?

Vets can quickly perform a test that detects the antibodies to the virus in blood. It is recommended that positive results – particularly those from otherwise healthy cats – are sent for confirmation using a different test at an external laboratory, as false positive results can occur.

Kittens less than five to six months old may have had antibodies passed on to them by their infected mothers, but not the virus itself. On average, only a third of kittens born to FIV-positive mothers actually have FIV themselves. A special test to detect the virus should be performed on such kittens and antibody tests can be repeated when the kittens are five to six months old. Results can give a false negative if a cat has only recently been exposed to the virus.

Is there any treatment for FIV?

There is currently no reliable treatment for FIV and it is not possible to predict if and when signs may develop. Vets will treat each FIV-positive cat individually, depending on the signs they develop, but treatment may involve:

·         antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs as appropriate for secondary recurrent infections

·         drugs that may help through direct anti-viral activity

·         keeping infected cats indoors, with a good diet and ensuring they are fully vaccinated and regularly treated against fleas and worms. This will help to protect them from secondary infections, as well as help to prevent the spread of FIV to other cats.

Cats Protection recommends that FIV-positive cats are kept indoors and only allowed outside in an impenetrable garden or safe run. They should not be allowed direct contact with FIV-negative cats.

Indoor life....

Ideally all cats would be allowed access to the outdoors to express their natural behaviour. However, cats can adapt to living indoors, particularly if they are used to it from a young age. Some cats need to be confined indoors due to medical conditions and others prefer an indoor life. If they become bored they may develop behaviour problems so there are a number of ways to keep your cat happy:

Keep them occupied…

Domestic cats that have free access to the outdoors will still often engage in hunting activity even if there is no access to prey – e.g. playing with fallen leaves, or grass blowing in the wind. It is important to allow cats opportunities to exhibit hunting behaviour, as it keeps them mentally stimulated and releases feel-good hormones called endorphins. Indoor cats aren’t able to play outside, so it is important to provide them with toys and activities to keep them occupied.

If you are out of the house all day, you might consider getting two cats. They may keep each other company and stop each other from becoming bored. However, while this set up can work well if the two cats have been brought up together, this is not a guarantee. Even some siblings may prefer not to remain together once they reach adulthood.

If you do introduce a new cat to your home, it is critical to do this slowly and carefully to avoid lifelong tension which may lead to behavioural issues and conflict. If the two cats do not get along, it can be even more stressful for them if they are confined indoors and can never escape each other.

Indoor benefits

• Your cat will be protected from loss or outdoor hazards, such as road accidents, physical attacks from other animals and outdoor poisons, if they are kept solely indoors

• Your cat may be less likely to contract parasites or infectious disease through not having direct contact with other cats or the environment used by cats or other animals

• Your cat won’t hunt if kept solely indoors – assuming your house is rodent-proof – however, opportunities to play and express hunting behaviour must still be given

Keep your cat safe indoors….

·         Indoor hazards – It’s important to remember to keep cupboards, washing machines and tumble driers closed. Toilet lids should be kept down to avoid any risk of drowning. Balconies and windows should be safely fenced over with strong wire mesh or screens, making sure there are no gaps that your cat could fall through

·         Houseplants – some plants and flowers – particularly lilies – can be toxic to cats. It’s probably best to ensure you don’t have plants that are dangerous to cats in your home, or certainly not within your cats’ reach

·         Household products – cats are very susceptible to poisoning. A number of everyday household items can pose a danger to cats and should be kept safely away

·         inactivity and obesity – indoor cats need to be provided with opportunities to exercise to avoid them getting fat or inactive which can lead to other health issues

·         over-dependence – a solitary indoor cat will rely on its owner to provide stimulation, companionship and exercise and can become over-dependent

·         escape – keeping windows and doors shut to prevent an indoor cat escaping can be difficult in busy households. If the cat does get out, they’ll be highly stressed and disorientated as they’ll have no experience of the outdoor environment. It is recommended that you microchip your cat, even if they live indoors to increase the chance of them being reunited with you if they go missing

Cats in the wild spend a lot of their time on short, frequent hunting expeditions. In comparison, domestic cats are given food bowls, so it doesn’t take long for them to eat their daily ration or allow them to make use of their great senses. Try using feeding puzzle balls to give part, or all, of your cat’s daily ration. It is best to let cats get used to this gradually, to ensure they have enough to eat and don’t become frustrated.

Enhancing and maximising the indoor environment for all cats

Cats should be provided with a stimulating and safe indoor environment, whether they go outside or not. If your cat is solely kept indoors, then this is particularly essential. If you have more than one cat, offer enough resources in different locations where your cats can eat, drink, toilet, rest and hide.

Play and exercise

Keep your cat amused with toys, climbing towers or activity centres. These can be bought or made – a cardboard box with holes cut into it or a ball of tin foil can be perfectly adequate. Play is more fun if you get involved too – you can use fishing rod toys with feathers on a string to mimic their prey! Opportunities to exhibit hunting behaviour are often triggered by toys which move and attract the cat’s attention. Older cats will love playing three or four times a day, but the type of play may need to be adapted to suit their needs and level of mobility.

Alfie FIV cat homed 2015 - with a puzzle feeder

Younger cats will be happy to play 10 times a day or more. Very short games of one to two minutes are fine – cats use their energy in short bursts when hunting, so try to mimic this. Create interest at meal times by hiding biscuits around the house for your cat to find. Make a pyramid out of cardboard toilet roll tubes and hide food in the tubes, or use a puzzle ball. Swap toys around regularly to keep them interesting.

Somewhere to hide

It is important to always provide your cat with an easily accessible place to hide which will help to make them feel safe and secure. A hiding place can be something as simple as a cardboard box on its side, or upside down with large holes for access. Alternatively, you could purchase an igloo style cat bed, or offer space under the bed or in a wardrobe with the door left ajar. The cat shouldn’t be disturbed while they are hiding.

Somewhere to get up high

Cats feel safer if they can view their surroundings from a height and this also increases their territory by providing extra vertical space that they can use. This is a common coping mechanism for cats that feel anxious or fearful. You could place a cosy blanket on top of a wardrobe and provide access by placing a stool or similar item next to it. Cats also love to sit on window sills and shelves. Extra consideration should be given to elderly cats.

Sleeping

On average, cats spend about 16 hours a day sleeping. Cats generally rest or sleep intermittently throughout the day and will prefer a warm, comfortable and safe place. There is a large range of cat beds available, including igloo beds, or hammocks for the radiator. A simple cardboard box with a blanket inside will also do the trick.

Scratching and climbing

A scratching post will provide exercise, claw maintenance and a focal point for your cat to express this natural behaviour

– it will help protect your furniture too. Cats like to stretch and scratch after they wake up, so try placing the scratching post near where they sleep. A good scratching post has the following features:

• a strong sturdy base so the cat can lean against the post without it wobbling

• tall enough that the cat can stretch fully

• a vertical thread that allows the cat to scratch downwards

Eating grass

A type of grass that cats particularly like is Cocksfoot – it has long broad leaves so it is easy for them to bite. It is believed that eating grass helps cats to cough up hairballs. If your cat can’t go outside, Cocksfoot grass can be grown indoors. Seeds are readily available from garden centres and pet shops. If no grass is provided, your cat may try to eat other household plants which can pose a risk.

Lennie FIV cat homed 2012 - eating cat grass in his pen

Toileting

It is a good idea to have one litter tray per cat, plus one extra – especially if your cats are kept indoors. Place the litter trays in different quiet areas of the house, away from the food and water bowls. Cats don’t like using dirty or soiled trays so make sure the litter tray is cleaned at least once a day. This helps to prevent accidents as well as being more hygienic. Cats generally prefer at least 3cm depth of litter and a litter of a sandy texture. Make any changes to the tray, the litter or its location very slowly to avoid accidents.

Indoor cats can make extremely rewarding pets and giving a home to an FIV positive cat may give you both many years of happiness together. For more information please visit our website www.axhayes.cats.org.uk. Thank you. 

Success story-Lavender

 

Lavender was one of our long stay cats at the centre last year. She is a 3 year old female who came into care when she was upset by the arrival of her owner’s new baby. She was being kept as an indoor cat and could not escape outside for a break.

Her previous owner had only good things to say about Lavender. She's a sweet, affectionate and playful cat who would love a new home with a safe garden to learn about the outside world.
 
Originally she was called Guinness but as this wasn't a very feminine name for such a sweet cat, we decided a change of name was needed.
 
She is one of the few cats who really love to play with water. Every day we would fill her drinking water bowl up with fresh clean water. She would then proceed to dunk her paw in and splash it all around as well as licking it off her paw.



Lavender in her pen

We recently had a lovely email from her new owner Connie and would like to share it with you.

 I just thought I'd email you to let you know that lavender (now known as Mia) is settling in very well as you can see in these photos.

 

 

 

I'm so in love with her!

She can be a bit of a madam but she's very playful & affectionate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She's been quite shy especially with new people, but she's getting much better

 

 

 

 

 

I think she has also lost a bit of the weight she put on being in a pen, probably because she runs so fast if she hears the treat bag!

 

 

 

 

I don't know how she ended up in the centre twice because she's an absolute gem, and thank you for recommending her to me. My partner says she's me in cat form!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your help and I'll make sure I donate to cats protection in the future to help more cats like Mia.

 

 

If you have a success story we can share on our blog page, please email us some photos and a message about your cat. 

 

If you're interested in adopting, click on this link to our website  http://www.cats.org.uk/axhayes/adopt-a-cat

 

Moving house with your cat.

With Spring just around the corner, you may be moving to a new house. Here's some helpful advice to make the move a lot less stressful for you and your feline friend.....

On the move

Moving house can be a big deal for cats – much of their feeling of security and ability to relax comes from being surrounded by the familiar sights, sounds and scents of their own territory. It is also very stressful for humans too, so some thought and careful planning will ensure it’s a smooth move for everyone.

 Planning ahead

There are two options for moving day: booking your cat into a cattery or taking them with you as you move. Which one you choose depends on your own personal preference and your cat’s character, as every cat is different.

Booking your cat into a boarding cattery

If you book your cat into a boarding cattery for a few days, you won’t have to worry about them while you move. This may be the easiest solution for both of you, but you will need to organise it well in advance and make sure your cat’s vaccinations are up to date prior to moving.

Keeping your cat with you

This option requires a bit more planning. What follows is just a guide and, as everyone’s circumstances are different, you may need to alter parts of it to fit your own situation and your cat’s character.

First, allocate a room in your home that can be cleared of furniture a week or two before the move. At the same time, decide on a room in the new home where you can put your cat when you get there. Ideally, both rooms should be out of the way so your cat can be left undisturbed for as much of the move as possible.

 About a week before the big day, start getting your cat used to ‘their’ room. Pop an additional sleeping place, litter tray, cat carrier and blanket in there. You could begin feeding them here too so they become really familiar with their ‘safe place’. On the evening before the move, move their scratching post, toys and water bowl into the room and shut them in to make sure they don’t go missing. If you have more than one cat, make sure they have separate resources if possible, to help prevent further stress or any toileting accidents. If you know your cats don’t enjoy each other’s company, it may be better to give them separate ‘safe rooms’. You could also use a synthetic form of facial pheromones, which are available from your vet. Feliway is available as a plug in diffuser or a spray. The scent helps to create a reassuring environment and may help to reduce stress.

Moving day

If you are taking your cat to a cattery, do this the day before if possible, so they are away from all the commotion. If they are staying at home, keep them in their room, feed them a small meal, make sure they have fresh water, clean the litter tray and shut the door. Once you are ready to leave, you can put them into their carrier and load them into the car along with all of their belongings. Your cat may be less anxious if the carrier is sprayed with the synthetic facial pheromones a few minutes before placing your cat in the carrier. If they are prone to travel sickness it is worth withholding food for three to four hours before the journey.

Once you have arrived at your new home, take them to their secure room with all their familiar bits and pieces. You might also like to give them something that smells of you, like an unwashed item of clothing, to help them settle. Provide them with something to eat, a box or something to hide in and make sure they have a litter tray. Then close the door and leave your cat alone for a while – tell the removal staff and the rest of the family which room your cat is in so they don’t disturb them or accidently let them out. You may also want to tack a sign on the door.

A helping hand

Talk to your vet about artificial pheromone products such as Feliway. When cats rub their faces around furniture, corners or doorways they are making themselves feel secure by marking their home territory. Artificial pheromone sprays and diffusers are available that mimic the scent from a cat’s facial glands, helping cats to feel more secure. You can get these artificial pheromones from the vet and use them in your cat’s new room to help them settle in. Alternatively, you can take a clean, unused cloth and wipe it around your cat’s face to pick up their own scents and then wipe this around the furniture at cat height.

Settling in

It is a good idea to keep your cat in their new room for a few days; it can be overwhelming to have access to the whole of the house straight away. Most cats will let you know when they are ready to venture further and it very much depends on your cat’s individual character. However, when you let them see the rest of the house, make sure that all doors, windows and cat flaps are closed – they’re not ready for the outside world yet! Make sure they always have access to their ‘safe room’ in case they feel the need to retreat.

 
 

Going outside

It’s important that your cat feels relaxed and secure in their new house before exploring the great outdoors. Some cats go missing shortly after moving house because owners have let their cats go outside too soon. These cats sometimes find their way back to their old houses. Cats should be kept indoors for at least three weeks to allow them time to regard the new house as a secure place and to build up a scent profile to help them find their way back.

When you do let them out:

• do it just before a mealtime when they are hungry so you can call them back with their favourite food

• open the door and step outside encouraging your cat to go with you

• don’t pick them up – let them make the decision to go outside themselves

• leave the door open so they can run back into the house if they feel insecure

• only let them out for short periods at first – you can gradually build up the time they are out until you are confident they can come and go as they please

Before letting your cat out, make sure they are microchipped so if they wander off they can be traced easily. If they are already microchipped, don’t forget to change your address details on the central database when you move.
In the UK, you can update your cat’s registered details by contacting your existing UK database company, or Petlog – on 0844 4633 999 or via www.petlog.org.uk – or Anibase – on 01904 487 600 or via www.anibase.com.

Also, don’t forget to register with a new vet, who is likely to request your cat’s veterinary history from your previous practice. If your cat has existing health issues, you may wish to organise this before you move.
  

Enrichment toys

All of our cats on rehoming have had a busy afternoon on Friday playing with our puzzle feeders. Cats especially feral cats can spend eight hours hunting each day. In contrast, cats in care often get their food in a bowl and often spend very little time and energy engaged in getting their food. Being penned up for many weeks, it is important our CCAs to break up our cats day with social interaction, playing with a variety of toys and giving them puzzle feeders.

Selection of Puzzle feeders

 

Max

Squeak

Marley and Angel

We give our cats at the centre a variety of different puzzle feeders (enrichment feeders) to help lessen the unnatural boredom that can result from cats eating food from bowls and provides some exercise and mental stimulation. Thanks to our buyers from our Amazon wishlist, we have received a wide variety of different puzzle feeders so each of our cats can have a different type of feeder each day.  

Elsa

 

It can be great fun to think up different ways to provide cats with stimulation and to watch them using their minds to work out puzzles. Happier and more stimulated cats are also likely to be easier to home.

Adopt a Senior “Kittizen"

It’s easy to overlook our “Senior Kittizens” in favour of a younger cat but adopting a golden oldie has its advantages and can be a wonderfully rewarding experience!

What you see is what you get!
Older cats have already developed their personality so there will be no surprise personality traits in the future to deal with.

Older cats are much less destructive!
Kittens and younger cats are more likely to run round your house, knocking things over, chewing things up and scratching your furniture; they are also more likely to have toilet mishaps for you to clean up! Older cats have got over the excitement of youth and are much happier to sit and enjoy your company and a good fuss.

Older cats have more common sense!
Kittens are much more likely to get into trouble, ingest toxic substances, to fall from window ledges and to wander off and get lost. Older cats have learned the lessons of youth and are a better choice for busy families who don’t want the hassle of supervising a young cat for long hours. Older cats are also likely to be much more used to younger children and will be less likely to get injured by them as they will know when it’s time to run and get out of the way!

Cats are living longer!
With advances in veterinary care and more protective and informed owners cats can expect to live way into their teens quite happily, so taking on an older cat doesn’t mean you will have to say your goodbyes too soon; you could have many, many happy years of love and fuss ahead for both of you!

But the most important reason to adopt an older cat is: It might be their last chance to have a forever home.

Used cats aren't like used cars. They aren't at a shelter because they are defective or worn out. They may have simply outlived their former owners or been unable to join them at a hospital, nursing home, or new apartment. Some cats get lost and end up at a shelter. Many are brought to a shelter after a family member develops allergies, or an aversion to the family cat. Why not offer one of our Golden Oldies the retirement home they deserve? Come to Exeter Axhayes and meet our oldies, here are just some of them......

 

Bartholomew-10 year old  male black & white cat

Bartholomew came to the centre due to a family break up. He came in with 3 other cats so will be able to live with your cats. He is still settling in and is not happy in a pen environment. At his age it's hard to see him without his home comforts. He would like a garden to explore and a chair to curl up on. Could you offer Bart a quiet retirement home?

 

 

 

Chester & Rosie-10 year old male black & white and female tortoiseshell

Rosie and Chester are two delightful senior cats who were brought into the centre when their owners circumstances changed. Being slightly older they are looking for a quieter home where they can have a lap or two to cuddle up on but with a nice outside area for them to safely explore! Can you give these two a loving home to settle down in?

 

 

 

Huckle & Berry-10 year old male black cat and 11 year old female tortoiseshell  

 

Huckle and Berry came into our care when their owner could no longer look after them. They are a sweet pair cats who would love a new loving home. They would a nice home with safe garden to play and explore in. Could you give these lifelong friends a new forever home?

 

Emily-14 year old female black & white cat

 

Emily has spent all summer wondering in a lovely south Devon seaside resort. But now the weather has started to turn she thought she should find a nice warm house to reside in. While Emily has been here she has shown herself to be a very friendly, happy little cat who it just content with life. We all know Emily deserves a proper home with people that will love and care for her. Emily is a calm cat who just needs a quiet life, we are sure she will not cause any trouble. Please take her home today.

 

Paddy-17 year old female black cat

 

Paddy is our oldest cat at the centre, at the age of seventeen this is really no place for her. She should be in a loving home curled up by the fire this winter instead of being in a pen. She came here in October when her owner had to move into a house where Paddy wasn’t allowed. She is looking for a quiet forever home where can be free to do her own thing, although she is friendly and sweet, she has an independent nature too. She has been used to a garden but doesn’t like to go too far. She has been ok with neighbouring cats in the area, so she could possibly live with other cats. Could you take Paddy home?

 

Patti-14 year old female black cat

 

Patti is here sadly because her elderly owner went into residential care. She has come to us from another CP branch which she went to back in April. Patti can be a little grouchy at times, we put this down to being fed up in a pen. Patti needs a warm, quiet home were she can just relax. She is not fond of other cats or dogs. As long as she has warmth and regular meals she is happy. We all hope she will find the perfect old cats home soon.

 

 

 

For more information about our adoption process, please visit our website at www.axhayes.cats.org.uk.