Rumi is a middle aged cat who is currently being fostered in Bushey. He’s been living with us since he’s arrived in the UK 2 months ago. He came from our sister rescue: Project Bastet in Cairo, Egypt. He has been in private foster home since November. 

We are looking for a specific type of adopter for him due to his personal circumstances and the abuse he’s been experiencing in the past. 

A few words about Rumi’s personality: 
He is quite stoic, calm and he settles down easily. He likes other cats, but there are some things that trigger him: if a cat growls at him, if they run away from him, or if he hears cats being aggressive, he goes for them, and he’d attack to make them stop fighting. He’s currently being fostered with 20 other cats of all ages, and generally there is no problem, but if he was to live with another cat, it needs to be one right for him. For example, he’s got a great relationship with Gus, a Persian cat who travelled to the UK with him, and who is gentle and submissive, but he constantly attacks our resident cat, who isn’t happy that Rumi is here and who antagonises him with growling. Due to his breed, he is a massive cat, and his presence can be quite intimidating. 

Rumi loves two things the most. He loves chasing a ping pong ball all over the house like a kitten. And he loves humans. You can’t find a cat more grateful for human company. He spent years living rough on the streets, and he has a great appreciation of having a home. He’s incredibly wise, and he’s like a best buddy, checking on every human at the house. He will sit in between his humans, he will guard them, and he will never leave. Whether it’s night time or TV time, Rumi will always ensure that his body is connected to the body of his people. His response to the affection is incredible. He will put his paw on a human hand and he will purr his heart out. He’s a remarkable cat, and to live with him would be a very rewarding experience. He’s particularly suited for an intellectual type of person, and for someone seeking an inspiration or a conversation with a wise, philosophical creature (Rumi was named after a Persian philosopher). 

The adopter we are seeking for Rumi needs to take on board the complexity of Rumi’s circumstances. This is a cat that has suffered a lot of abuse in the past. He survived on scraps given to him by a shop keeper, but when we brought him into our care, he was very poorly. His blood test results weren’t great, showing severe malnutrition, but an X-ray showed even darker past: he’s had broken bones from a solid kick, and his ribcage was dislocated. His teeth were in a bad state, so he needed an extensive dental work. It took us months to get a clean bill of health for this cat, and quite significant effort has been put into this. 

Beautiful pedigree cats always generate a lot of interest, but we are looking for quite specific adopters for this boy. He’s absolutely too frail to be around children or dogs, and he won’t suit those with active lifestyle. It would be ideal if he had a catio. He absolutely needs to be an indoor cat, not only because he’s got a high market value and can easily be stolen, but also because he’s too frail to risk wandering around. 

Rumi has absolutely been someone’s pet once, but unfortunately in the culture he was born, pets generally are not considered as living beings. Pet shops are full to the brim with pedigree looking kittens available for $10. These who manage to survive being kept in the pet shop cages in the African sun, serve as cute toys for children, but when they mature, unfortunately they get dumped on the streets. Neutering is against religious beliefs, but putting strychnine out on the streets or shooting stray animals is being encouraged by the government. The abuse is horrendous. And this is why we do our best to save as many of these lives as we can. These cats come from hell, and we are honoured to have them at our rescue. 

If you are interested in adopting Rumi (he can be adopted with his rescue buddy Gus), please fill up an application: https://bushytailcataid.com/cat-adoption-questionnaire/

Please note: we are seeking for an indoor home with windows secured. Rumi is currently on wet only high meat content and raw food, and the adopter needs to have some level of knowledge of feline diet. Please consider the veterinary expenses and breed-specific needs. 

Pre adoption house check and adoption fee of £300 applies. This is a contribution towards Rumi’s flight, and all the veterinary and boarding fees have already been covered. We are committed to foster Rumi until the right home for him comes along. 

Rumi is: 
-vaccinated including rabies vaccine
-FIV/FeLV negative 
-neutered
-microchipped 
-flea and worm treated with veterinary grade products 
He comes with 5 weeks free pet insurance and he comes with his own passport and DEFRA and APHA approved health certificates that allowed him a legal entry and permanent residence in England.

Rumi currently lives in Bushey, Herts.