My rescue cats mysterious past

For all your feline miscellany - any interesting stories, news or subjects that do not fit in the other sections.
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Sarcazm
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My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by Sarcazm »

Well, his past isn't so mysterious anymore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpK-puPbkpc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My little boy gets screen time at about 24:37, 34:12 (he biffs another cat out the way at dinner time...awkward) 34:57 and several other times
It's so weird to see him in his life before he was part of my family, its actually made me cry a bit...or a lot.
It's nice to know he wasn't abused, but that kind of makes it sadder that he was taken from a man who did love him, but was just over whelmed. And now I know he was originally called Charlie...and now I'm so so sad and I'm not sure why. I kind of wish I didn't know.
Would you want to know your rescues past if you could?
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meriad
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by meriad »

how absolutely fascinating.

I definitely would like to know more about the past of two of my boys; Monty and Harry. I know a bit about Monty but not very much about Harry but both boys have some issues related to their past.

My other 4 I've had from quite young; Abbie, Jamie and Henry I got when they were about 5 months and Ava I got as a 12 week old kitten
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greenkitty
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by greenkitty »

I know two of my four. Pip I've had since she was 6 weeks old and Tig was with a foster mum from birth until he was 7 months old.

Hector and Noodle were both strays and around a year old. Both very friendly so had obviously had a home or human contact at some point in their lives but neither were neutered. Noodle was found with her two kittens but the kittens had had no human contact and were feral, they were taken off to a special foster home to try and socialise them. Hector was captured with a pregnant female, you could tell by his condition he had been living rough for a while as his coat was thick, wiry, almost like a blanket, he hadn't been vaccinated and was suffering with the early symptoms of cat flu. They didn't know if he was the father of the kittens but needed to separate them as unneutered males can kill kittens so they decided not to hold up his rehoming and split him from the female. He's never lost his "will this be my last meal" stray mentality and is a greedy boy!

Funnily enough they are much friendlier than Pip and Tig who've had a home all their lives. I wonder if they're just more appreciative as they've know tough times?!!
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by Jacks »

How amazing, BUT great to know he was loved and not abused. He's your boy now, that's the important thing. One of ours Jessie, was born at the back of our garden, but of the others - Lara was found as a tiny kitten in a bucket, apparently, somewhere in London. I would love to know Sophie's past as she was found by the RSPCA as an emaciated stray, but is very loving and people oriented, so she must have been so lonely poor little love. I also wonder about Mrs Socks, why he ended up as a feral and whether he was abandoned, as some neighbours think. I think probably I'd like to know about Sophie most as she's petrified of dogs and scared of being picked up, but I don't think she was abused. I think she may have had kittens at one point as she has a swingy belly, but I'll never know x
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by Crewella »

That's so interesting - I saw that programme when it was on, too.

Of my six, Minnie has been with us for 19 years and since birth. We had her mum and grandma too, and helped deliver her. Merrick and Grumpy Nellie were both loved for the first 10 years of their life, then had to be rehomed when their owner sadly went into hospice care - I was given pics of them as kittens when I adopted them. Daz was a stray tom cat, yellow and with that wiry 'stray cat' fur - I believe he was quite well known in the area as he had been around for about 3 years before they trapped and neutered him. He must have been loved as a kitten, though, as he loves cuddles. Peaches was a feral found with kittens in a hen house and taken in to rescue, I've always assumed she was born as a stray, as she seemed to have no concept of being stroked (she's catching up now!). Basil must have been loved for his first 10 years, before his owners moved away, as he adores laps and cuddles.

I'd always be glad to hear any other history for any of them - they're MINE now, but I don't mind that they had previous lives.
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by SarahT1 [PLLE] »

I know this is an old thread but it intrigues me! I think because I know the most about Pepsi's past because I knew her second Mummy well I actually feel more possessive of her and I don't like to dwell on her 'old' life when she wasn't 'my' girl. But I know she was loved and cared for before her then Mum became too ill to care for her properly and after she died my friend's OH only fed her but didn't interact with her or seek vet's advice for her heslth issues so after two months of that we took her to be with us.

I feel saddest though for Lou Lou who is the sweetest, most loving girl but was sent to Battersea because her owners were 'downsizing'. I don't know how they could have let her go. Although Pepsi is her Mummy's girl and very bonded with me there is something about Lou which makes my heart ache, she is so tiny, sweet and gentle and I worry about her most of all.

Edgar was a genuine stray and has a cropped ear to prove it but I think at some time he was loved because he is so affectionate and friendly with a purr that resonates like a traction engine. The poor boy was in rescue for three years so he was desperate for a loving home and he adores his Mummy and Daddy and his tiny sister Lou Lou.

I'm so glad that we could give a home to three precious babies who were effectively unhomeable because of age and/or health and all three have flourished and I love them more than words can say.
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by lilynmitz »

Their early lives are enough to break your heart sometimes. Lily and Mitz were loved but left in rescue age 8 and 6 when their owner went into hospital, and never came back for them. They languished there for 2 awful years, during which time Mitz lost his sight (congenital problem) and Lily just retreated into her shell and lost all muscle tone in her back legs. She was traumatised by the whole thing. The moment I brought them home they just rolled all over the carpet, stretched out in the sun (which they hadn't seen for 2 years) and were lap cats and cuddle monsters from Day 1. I lost Mitz to cancer 4 years later, but Lily is still making up for lost time and being heaped with love to make up for their horrible two years in Alcatraz.

Mo was in rescue from a kitten until 6 months as he kept getting flu, but went bonkers with excitement when he saw my house and never calmed down till the day I lost him to cancer 7 years later. Daisy was found on a beach in Morecambe, where she'd been dumped. She had obviously been a family cat, as she loved children, and she was constantly bewildered by what had happened to her. I hate to think what awful sod got rid of such a beautiful and loving cat, or why, but she didn't deserve it.

Tidds started as a stray in London, with medical students, which showed in her fear of beer cans! Then she was moved up to the midlands and her owners who lived next door couldn't keep her, so I happily took her on. Then she moved to the Lake District with me, and her expression when she saw her first cow was priceless!
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Camdengirl
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by Camdengirl »

What was the program? The YouTube link has been taken down...

I'd love to know more about Pip's past...she was picked up by the RSPCA in a bad way with an abscess on her back and passed on to a small charity (the RSPCA would have had her pts)...she was a pretty wild little thing and had been neutered and ear-tipped before she wound up in rescue, so I suspect she was part of a feral colony or TNR scheme. She'd been in rescue nearly 2 years by the time I got her, and the last 10 months of that time had been in a foster home, where she had spent her days hiding behind a bath panel and her nights coming out to eat/use the litter tray. It's fair to say it was not love at first sight on her part, our early interactions mostly involved her hissing and spitting. It was a long road but she slowly grew bolder and more accepting of fuss, and about two years in suddenly morphed into a bossy and demanding little madam. I would have another timid cat in a heartbeat, watching her personality slowly come through and her trust for us grow was incredibly rewarding.

Poor Hops has a traumatic past. He was badly hurt in an attack by a dog, we suspect he was used as bait by dog fighters. He had clearly had a home before, because he understood the word 'no' and once he came out of his first 24 hours of hiding he stuck to me like glue. I do often wonder about his previous owner(s), if he was used in dog fighting it's likely he was just snatched off the streets, and there may be someone out there still wondering what happened to their lovely young ginger lad.
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by SarahT1 [PLLE] »

These stories are so moving. Dear Hops, how sad to think that a family may have grieved him without ever knowing what happened and that he is happy and well. I'm so glad that dear Mitz had four years of love before he went to the Bridge. Anna - ((hugs)) - you must miss him so much, and dear Lily must too.
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by Sniper1 »

Some wonderful stories on here from wonderful kind people,all mine are rescuus some untouchable ferals,some cuddle cats some with issues from previous trauma what I will say though some of the most loving were abandoned at vet surgery's ,in carriers on car parks etc some with notes about their likes/dislikes/medical history etc as a rescuer of over 30 years I learned not to judge people too harshly sometimes they are desperate and try everywhere for help but there just is none so they do what they know is wrong and breaks their hearts but they simply cannot find another solution
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by filardimarg-9 »

I would really love to know Bella's past, I was told at the RSPCA that she was a stray in Birmingham, trapped by a lady & brought in to them, that was last September, I rescued her on 1st October, she was very thin, but her long fur was not matted or in bad condition so I think she hadn't been a stray for long or her fur would of been shaved, she was very loving in the pod at the rescue, loved almost craved affection, when I got her home she was so frightened of everything, but did still love affection, second night of having her she decided she would sleep on my bed down by my feet, she has lived upstairs ever since, hardly ever comes down. I know she is happy, I can see that in her face, she eats well, hardly ever plays with her toys or with me.
I am so pleased I got her, she is a gorgeous girl, but I just wish I knew why she was a stray & almost shut down, but I love her what ever.
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by topsitall »

how absolutely fascinating.some wonderful stories
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Re: My rescue cats mysterious past

Post by Ruth B »

Its always been my one regret when I adopt a cat that I'll never see them as a kitten or really know their past. With the exception of Freyja I would consider all of mine to be rehomed rather than rescued cats.

My latest addition is Stroppy and at 17 is the oldest cat i have adopted. She was my Mums cat so in a way I have known her from a kitten, but when my Mum had to go into a nursing home there was never a question as to what would happen to Stroppy.

Next are the juniors, Saturn and Freyja, both adopted from a rescue centre at the same time. I don't quite know whether Saturn was born at the rescue or submitted along with his Mum and siblings when he was days old, I did manage to find a photo of him as a kitten on the rescue site so that is one I actually have. Either way, the first 6 months of his life were spent in the centre, he was always loved and cared for, but like so many black or black and white cats, he was always overlooked.

Freyja arrived at the centre at about 12 weeks old having been found in a taped up cardboard box with barely enough room to move in it. At first they thought she was seriously ill as she refused to move, in the end it was just that she was frozen in fear. Three months at the centre and she was coming out to eat and use a litter tray but would run and hide if anyone came near. My heart just went out to her and as she had started to take some confidence from Saturn he ended up my second choice.

Tiggy is heartbreaking in a different way. She came through CPL under their direct rehoming scheme. Her previous owner had had to move into sheltered accomodation and was only allowed to keep 2 of her 5 cats, the other three had to be rehomed. How she managed to choose which to keep and which to rehome i'll never fully know. I was glad she could keep some but I felt so sorry for her.

Finally Blue, my old Ragdoll, now over the rainbow bridge. Blue came from a broken home, his owners had divorced, the husband lived in a flat and had a long commute meaning that Blue was left alone most of the time. Any one with any experience of Ragdolls will know how much they need company and Blue was suffering. The man's mother did try and take him in but she already had 7 cats and he couldn't settle even though he had lived with another cat previously, so it was decided that he should be handed in for rehoming, it was the week between Christmas and New Year. Even though his owner had signed Blue over and was happy for him to have another home, the Grandmother suddenly decided she wanted Blue, even though he hadn't managed when she had tried to look after him before. At about the same time I lost one of mine to terminal illness and the other was pining for her, I need another cat quickly and most charities were shut. My Mother at the time fostered for the charity that had Blue and knew what was going on, the grandmother was constantly on the phone pestering and becoming quite nasty about it. A phone call to the actual owner to let him know that a home had been found and as it was a relative they could confirm it would be a good one, and to confirm that he did want Blue to go to that home and not back to his Mother. He was more than happy for Blue to go to the new home and it was better for the charity to be able to say he had already been rehomed next time she called. As my parents lived in Wales, we always joked afterwards that he had been smuggled out of the country under cover of darkness, after all it was about 5.00 when we left, and in early January that is after dark.

I think every rescued or rehomed cat has a tragedy behind them one way or another. The best we can do is to make things as good as possible in their future.
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