Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Rescue & Rehoming => Rescue & Rehoming General => Topic started by: alison67 on March 29, 2007, 20:45:38 PM
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as some of you may be aware we rehomed shabba 2 weeks ago from a private house
we was told he was very friendly and when we went to visit him we mentioned we had 2 dogs and had he ever had contct with them
we was told owners in laws had dogs and when they visited he never bothered with them
he also told us that he had phoned 4 other rescues and they couldnt help him but if he told them how he was maybe they thought he would be to hard to rehome so changed his story :scared:
anyway we brought him home and let him settle for 48 hours before introducing cat to dogs
they are cat friendly so i knew there would be no confrontation from them..
also had feliway plug in
he was ok with us at first because he was upstair all the time and we stroked him as we walked past him
now for the past 5 days all he is doin is attacking the dogs and 1 of them is attcking him and that is so out of character
mine and bethanys arms look as if we self harm as they are full of scratches...
i only put my nightie away yesterday and he attacked my hand :censored:
had to have today off work as last night there was a bad do with him and dog
i think that i was misled by the previous owners on his temperment
now we are having to look for another home for him and this is how i think i should describe him
he is 2 years old, neutured, NOT to go with children under 12, Not a lap cat, and would say not dog friendly, not sure how he would get on with other cats
am desperate now to rehome him because of all the confrontation with dogs and bethany
edited to add since last monday bethany as had sleep in our bed coz shabba sneaks in her room and goes on her bed and on monday he woke her up twice scratchin her arms
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Alison I'm sorry to hear that Shabba is not fitting in with your family.
For now I would try to keep him away where he has a safe place that is just his so that he can get comfortable and feel like he has his own place. Something must have triggered his aggression so may be worth looking into that.
You may also want to consider taking him to the vet because if he's striking out at you all the time it may be worth finding out if he has any kind of injury etc.
I am pretty useless at this type of advice and hope others on here can give you advice on what to do. The above are just some things that come to mind. Lexy lashes out at me if she is touched and doesn't want to be touched. Its taken her a long time to get completely comfortable.
Good luck.
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Sorry to hear Shabba isn't happy. Sounds to me like he probably isn't that happy around dogs and his fear is resulting in the aggression. He is probably lashing out at you as you will "smell" like the dog (please don't take that the wrong way Alison) of course I'm only guessing this is the reason because last week I went round to visit my friend who has a large soppy German Shepherd dog who I sat stoking for several hours .... when I walked in the house Zephyr greeted me as usual then gave a good sniff and hissed at me!!!!!! I immediatley knew I smelt of DOG!!!
I'm not sure what to suggest to do next with regards to Shabba but hopefully someone with more experience of this sort of thing will be able to advise.
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Start the introductions again. Put him somewhere on his own for 48 hours and then begin the introductions gradually.
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we cant lock him in any room angie as he goes mad at door and scratches at carpet
its not fair on the dogs either because they not normally locked in :-[
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have you got a dog pen or can you borrow one to put him in?
Cover half with a blanket, put his bed, food , water and litter tray in it. That way he can be with you all but feel safe.
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:Crazy: no havent got one but even if i borrowed one there wouldnt be any room for one
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he goes mad at door and scratches at carpet
You could try that see through plastic stuff. you know about 2' wide, It is about £2,99 for a few feet. It is usually by the door mats in Morrisons. It works wonders to protect carpets. I also have it in front of litter trays.
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poor shabba.
He must be very traumatised i think by the sounds of things. I'm not sure if your ad for rehoming is going to win any potential new homes for him though..you got him from a rehoming rescue didnt you ?? im sure i remember first seeing him in a thread and his piccy was in a rescue gallary, surely they will be taking him back ?
shabba sneaks in her room and goes on her bed and on monday he woke her up twice scratchin her arms
In all my years with cats (erm most of my life) ive never heard of a cat purposely going to a sleeping person and attack them by scratching, is beth sure he wasnt reaching out / stretching you know like they do on a scratch post rather than actually attacking her ?? also i know cody is fab with the kids but he has his limits and if he has had enough of being lifted etc he lets them know about it (by biting or a warning "snap" on their faces..altho he's never bitten properly this is what he does instead of scratching..he has never been chastised as he only does it when he's had enough or doesnt appreciate their faces on his level)
I'm not sure if 2 wks is a fair length of time to have tried various things, and sometimes animals shouldnt even be in contact with the other animals in 2 weeks, often it takes longer with them being in separate rooms to get used to each others smells with small visits to each other building up when the "novelty" wears off. My dogs would never touch a cat but they were still bounding around like tigger after 2 wks of cody being home coz he was a new thing in the house.
what has the rescue centre you got him from said to you ?
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Willow was like that for 3 years being in the same space with Kylie. She used to attack me all the time when kylie was close. Now she is upstairs in the kitchen, she is a different cat. She is no longer aggressive. Her ears were permanently forward but now they are normal. Even though Kylie does wander up there once in a while, willow knows it's her area. I think it's only fair to try every avenue as it will be more upsetting for Shabba to be rehomed again.
If he really has to go, I would go more along the lines
Nervous cat, not used to other animals and children. Would need to be only animal. Suit older people with the time and patience to give him the comfort and reassurance he needs.
Poor Shabba
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I have to agree with what the others are saying and 2 weeks is nowhere near long enough for some introductions. In this situation I would use a folding dog pen, I know you said you haven't the room but I'm sure you'd be able to squeeze one in somewhere. It won't be forever and it may be a way of preventing poor Shabba of having to go through all the trauma of being rehomed again.
When a kitty is frightened, they react in all different ways. I rehomed a couple of feral babes a few weeks ago, they were only kittens and I'd got them to the stage where I could cuddle and stroke them. I rehomed them and after a couple of days, rather than getting better, one of the kittens turned into Satan. I went over and even I couldn't get near him, he was hissing, spitting and growling at me. Eventually I got him in a carrier and whizzed him off to the vets thinking he had something wrong........he was petrified and this was why he was reacting like he was. Basically he needed more time, the people were too scared of him to have him back which I could totally understand.......even I was scared of him. I got him home and he was fine again :Crazy: Shabba will settle down but he needs some tlc and time......this is the only way you will get results.
Another thing that would be worth doing is contacting Wizz on wizz@briggs8888.fsnet.co.uk She is a cat behaviourist, and has the patience of a Saint and is a lovely person.......explain in full the problems you are having and leave her a contact number, she usually contacts peeps very quick. Have a chat with her and see what she says, good luck.
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Lynn, it was actually a private adoption, we only advertised him on our website. Some of the things in Alisons original post weren't mentioned to us - when we asked his original owners about dogs, we were told he had never been in contact with them, and that they couldn't guarantee what he was like with them. Also, Alison said it was the dog attacking the cat and not the other way round. I have come up with various suggestions for her, as I feel that 11 days (as it was when she first contacted us) wasn't sufficient time for them to all settle in, and also that they were introduced too soon - her dogs might be cat tested, but we knew that the cat wasn't dog tested, and a lot of the suggestions have been covered on here as well. We have told her to contact the original owner in the first instance, and if not, we will see what we can do.
The clear stuff that Ela mentions can be bought from Wilkinsons Alison, but i dont know if you have one in Shaw, there is one in Rochdale, but am sure there must be other places in the area that will sell it, haven't seen it in Morrisons myself, but then I dont look in the doormat section (partly cos I didn't know there was one!!).
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I think shabba deserves more than 11 days thats for sure.
Out of interest why were the previous owners rehoming him ?
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He was too playful, and they were concerned for the baby on the way - did try and tell them that he would probably avoid the baby initially, but they werent having it.
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Shabba had started being left outside by the time Alison said she wanted to rehome him. The chances are this poor guy is wondering what the heck is going on and is rebelling. We were told he hadn't been dog tested so he's gone to a strange house with 2 dogs - he's probably petrified and is lashing out - I don't know the answer to the this problem but as Des said we're on backup - its a case of trying to find somewhere suitable for both Shabba and those who will be living with him - I have a toddler - which rules me out and Des is looking into trying to juggle her current 4 cats in such a way that Shabba might be able to be isolated - we're trying every route possible for him.
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Alison, I do understand your concerns. But to be fair, Shabba hasn't had that long to settle. Is there no room you could "re-jig" a little to fit a dog cage in, just for a week or so?
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Morrisons myself, but then I dont look in the doormat section (partly cos I didn't know there was one!!).
And I only go in to get the clear mat stuff. I hate going in there as to get round the shop you have to go past the fish counter and it absolutely stinks, and makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.
I would also agree that 11 days is really not long enough. Given time and patience these things usually work out. But really you do need a separate room/dog pen initially so the incoming pet starts to smell like the pets already in the household and the new pet is acquainted with the smell of the household pets. If this cannot be done then perhaps another home would be in Shebba's interest. Very recently I re-homed a very nervous cat (Lucy) who had lived almost 24/7 up a tree for months. and was the hissing Queen when I took her in. The new home has cats and a dog, but Jenny put Lucy in a room for a couple of weeks then gradually introduced Lucy to the rest of the household. It took a few weeks but now is all sweetness and light.
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Morrisons myself, but then I dont look in the doormat section (partly cos I didn't know there was one!!).
I hate going in there as to get round the shop you have to go past the fish counter and it absolutely stinks, and makes me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.
You would hate Whitstable - I'm the same, walking through the fish market in the harbour makes me :sick:
I see people eating all kinds of muck with tentacles etc :sick: but I wait and have a baguette :evillaugh:
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Shabba needs more time and lengthy introductions poor boy :'( :'(
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When we first got Olly it took us nearly 2 months before him and the dog could be in the same "space", they never became best friends but did learn to tolerate each other. Unfortunaltely Olly went to the bridge when he was only 11 months old and William (the dog) pined for ages.
Shabba sounds like he needs lots of TLC and needs to learn to trust again, as others have said 2 weeks is not long at all.
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kelly has this about right the poor little lad is disorientated,and the others are right by saying he needs to start again whether it be at his new home or with someone else,and he is frightened and frightened cats do silly things some times.
whatever I wish him well and hope he finds some peace soon.
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I have spoken to the original owner tonight, and he can't go back there, I know the reasons and I understand and accept them. I have got background on what he was like while they owned him (from a kitten) and it sounds completely different to what he is like at Alisons, so it sounds like he is unhappy and stressed, so have e-mailed Alison with the offer of having him here and see how he goes - he has played with cats before so hopefully the 4 already here wont be that much of an issue!! Now just got to figure out how to jiggle the 2 fosters so everyone is happy. At least I have RR, but I might need the whole bottle just for me!!!
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I am so pleased that Shabba is coming to you DEsley. ;D
Gosh this is almost like the old times at your house in the cC days. I do hope he settles cos sounds such a great cat and needs to learn to trust again.
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Hmm, I'm not to sure about that Gill, and neither is Lucy, she is a bit put off from being turfed out of her room!! But, it is similar to the last overweight cat I integrated - he got turfed out sooner than expected to make room for the next lot too!!
I hope he can settle and become the cat he was at his old home.
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The downside to rescue when things don't work out - :'(
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Awww such a shame things didn't work out but I know what's like to have your home turned upside downside when a cat doesn't settle :(
Fingers crossed that a solution is found that helps everyone xx
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thanks for all your suggestions
havent been on as got plurasy and was at emergency docs last night
waitin for delsey to get back in touch with me
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havent been on as got plurasy and was at emergency docs last night
Hope you are feeling a little better I know it can be painful when you breath sometimes. & be thankful it is not Leprosy ;D
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kelly - at least it doesn't happen that much to us. Have replied to Alison, so fingers crossed this can be sorted.
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Poor Shabba :( :( :( :(
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Am meeting Alison at 4.15ish to go and do the swapover, so he shoudl be here by 4.45ish
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WEll, he is here, and is just acting like a very shy, timid cat at the moment - but is allowing fusses, and has let me pick him up with no signs of being vicious, so hopefully it wont be long before we can think about another home for him. They are all having chicken for tea cos of the disruption today!!
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Aww bless, im sure you'll work some magic on him 8)
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Cuddles and strokes to Shabba from me ;D ;D
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awww he sounds lovely Des. So glad you have him with you now :Luv:
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He is lovely, he has sat on my knee for 5 mins, and despite hiding in one part of hte bathroom, he comes out for a fuss when I go in, bless him
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He is lovely, he has sat on my knee for 5 mins, and despite hiding in one part of hte bathroom, he comes out for a fuss when I go in, bless him
wow he never sat on my knee :-:
wonder if it was the dogs causing the aggressive behaviour then and when he hid he hid you couldnt get him out til he wanted to come out >:(
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:-)
Must have been the dogs, but we will know if he changes in the next 48 hours. He only cried once in the car, and that was when I put the blower on cold cos it was warm, and I couldn't reach his window!! AS soon as I switched it off, he shut up.
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Hehe, sounds like Shabba knows what he likes....and it ain't dogs or the blower in cars! :evillaugh:
Glad he's settling down, Desley. Hope he's calm enough to go to a new forever home soon. :)
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Alison - forgot to add that he didn't choose to sit on my knee, I put him there and he accepted it. He has been fine over night, not a peep. He has yowled twice this morning, the first time when I went in for his bowl and left him and then when I left him after feeding him, but it was just once each time then he shut up. He tries to get out of the room with you, but doesn't attack the carpet or anything, so hopefully, we can place him back on the rehoming page this week.
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Brill news Des - I'm glad he seems a little less aggressive now - will make sure it is put on the rehoming page that he doesn't like dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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glad that he is more settled at your place :Luv: i bet it was the dogs then that was upsetting him
hope he can have a forever home were he is more settled now then than he was at ours
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Me too - he likes the bathroom windowsill today, which is odd as it is tiled!! It must have been teh dogs.
I am sure he can - I gave him a kiss and a chin rub last night from Bethany.
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Me too - he likes the bathroom windowsill today, which is odd as it is tiled!! It must have been teh dogs.
I am sure he can - I gave him a kiss and a chin rub last night from Bethany.
thanks she was upset last night when we was goin to bed about him :Luv:
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Aww, bless her.
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Have got some pics of him - he is more interested in having a fuss than having his pic taken though, so not the best. He has also let me cut his claws with very little fuss, the only fuss was trying to check his back claws, but even then he wasn't aggressive.
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/faceon.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/dontwanttostandstill.jpg)
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Awwww what a sweetheart :Luv: :Luv:
Shabba looks like one of the foster kittens I had last year :)
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awwww he is lovely des, hope he finds his forever home soon :Luv:
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Good boy Shabba ;D
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:Crazy: :Crazy: how the hell did you manage that
im so glad he is more settled at yours i have just uploaded some pikkies onto computer from when he was at ours so will try and get them on and you can see how his face is agitated(http://)
it wont let me do it lol
i can see his pyramid bed we bought him has he been in it yet :wow:
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How did I manage what?? He has had a nice play session this eve too - did try and play with my hand though, so got given a toy instead!!
Would like to see pics of him at yours. He hasn't attacked the carpet once when he has been left alone, and he has even stopped yowling when I leave him
Not really, no, he sniffed it, and prefers his hidey place next to the bath!!! Did he eat a lot of wet food at yours?
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yes he mainly ate all his wet food morning and nite then during nite must have ate his dry food
i meant how did u manage to cut his nails :Crazy:
shall try again with pikkies
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Ah right - he hasn't touched any wet yet, but has eaten some dry.
Erm, picked him up, popped him between my knees and clipped them - have done all 5 this weekend, he was the most co-operative out of the bunch, had to pin the rest down!!
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new002.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new002.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new006.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new006.jpg)
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new005.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new005.jpg)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new001.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/alison67/new001.jpg)
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Bottom link doesn't seem to link to anything - normally if you use the IMG code under the pic, it shows the pic direct - that is how the above pics were included.
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try them now
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They work now, although the last pic is very odd!!
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coz i was sat in front room and he was at bottom of stairs i had flash on so it makes his eyes look weird :wow:
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Ah right!! I gave him a hug and a kiss from bethany last night.
He was very odd this morning, I went to have a shower, and he kicked up such a fuss!!! More than when I leave him, bless him.
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how do you mean he kicked up a fuss desley ?? was he afraid of the water or shower noise or something ? or just not wanting you to leave him.
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Might have been the shower noise, but he did his yowling like he does when I leave him, although rather than stopping after one or two, he carried on teh whole time I Was in the shower, and couldnt cut it short cos my hair needed washing!!
He has shown his weak spot that makes him snap tonight, but he only warns you, there was no aggression or malice in his reaction (I did it again to see if it was a one off, and I haven't got a single mark on me) - he doesn't like his sides being stroked when he is laid down, he is fine with his head, but not his side, so maybe not a home with young kids.
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You are getting to understand him Des which is great ;D
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Not sure about that Gill, but I learnt my lesson on cats who get nasty when you stroke them too long years ago (and the hard way, fortunately no scars left, just one from Blackie, another golden rule learnt, she only got me once in all her vet visits!!), so now I seem to read them well enough to learn within a day or two!! But, if he had been truly nasty with it, I would have had marks from his first attempt at showing me he didn't like it, and I wouldn't have attempted it a second time to see if that was his trigger!!
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yes ive known quite a few cats not too like that des or the more common one around their rear area. Perhaps much older kids ie teenager if any so they are old enough to understand.
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Yeah, I have said 8+, and with all kids, it does depend on how they are with teh cat.
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desley have just told alex about him when you touched his side and he was saying dave his previous owner told alex that last year he fell out of a tree and had to have stitches on his side top of his leg...maybe thats sensitive to him :scared:
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Yeah, he did tell me that last night, just forgot to post it. Will post the pics of him playing at weekend.
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He is a lot more settled, he sleeps on the bed most of the time now. Must download the playing pics later. We have someone viewing him and one of our other cats today, as awful as this sounds, I would prefer them to go for the other cat as she has been waiting longer, but if they want him, then she will come here then - they are on hol on the 20th till 25th though, so wont let them take him till they get back, as it isn't long enough for him to have settled otherwise. If they pick him, it is better if he is here that extra couple of weeks. He is now flead and wormed - his owner had never actually done either, and the vet had never mentioned worming to them!! So he is goign to be introduced to Sally today, and see how they get on.
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Well, the bloke liked him, so unless something happens, he is going to his new home on the 27th of this month!! He isn't quite so keen on being in the cat room with Sally though, bless him!!
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Thats great news! :cheer: :yayyy: :cheer: :yayyy:
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GREAT NEWS :S: :H: :A: :B: :B: :A: being rehomed is fab hope he enjoys it he wasa like this with dogs :duel: lol hope he gets looked after :Luv: i loved him lol he scrached me though ouch ahh lol :luck: ;D :wow:
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I hope he likes his new home too, there are no dogs in his new home, so I am sure he will be fine
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Pics
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/playing3.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/playing2.jpg)
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Aww bless
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Sadly, Shabba's home has fallen through, so he is still looking for a home. Will be putting him on the rehoming page this week, and I am sure he wont be waiting long.
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Sadly, Shabba's home has fallen through, so he is still looking for a home. Will be putting him on the rehoming page this week, and I am sure he wont be waiting long.
awwwwww no
im sure he will find his forever home soon he is gorgeous
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Sadly, Shabba's home has fallen through, so he is still looking for a home. Will be putting him on the rehoming page this week, and I am sure he wont be waiting long.
People are so fickle. I wonder what changed their mind?
Still rather now than 6 months on :tired:
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Sadly Mark, that tale isn't one for the forum - weirdest one I have ever come across though!!!
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oh no poor shabba
hope he isnt waitin to long for his eternal home
what was their excuse desley was it cok and bull story i wonder
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Me too Alison. Can't say what their excuse was, it was very odd, and I am undecided as to whether it is true or not.
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Any update for Shabba? Your website says he has been rehomed, or is it the one that fell through?
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No, he is still here. i must get KElly to take him off as being rehomed, thanks for the point out.
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I've left Mark with instructions today - he's off with flu AND tonsilitis so not holding out much hope of it getting done before I'm home!!!
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Shabba has been here a month now, had a bit of interest in him, but this time of year can be hard as we have kittens, so we lost out on trying to convince them to have a young adult rather than a kitten. I might have to re-do my posters next week to incorporate him onto it, but 4 weeks isn't realistically that long. He is a lovely cat though, you can't touch him when he gets in a playful mood, but that is normal, and if you try and walk in the bathroom and ignore him, he likes to swipe at your leg (normally without claws though), and he is out most of the evening and all night now, as he causes very little issues with the other cats, he is quite content to sit either on the kitchen windowsill or on the stairs - unless you try and play with Lucy, that can cause issues as they both want to play with the same toy!! Will take some more pics in teh next couple of days.
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Poor Shabba has been here 7 weeks now with no interest, i can't understand why really, he is a lovely cat, and doesn't try and play with your ankles as much now he is in the cat room with Pumpkin. He is a very tiny 2.5year old though, you should see him compared to Pumpkin!!
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awwww bless him would u not consider keeping him ur self or would that not be possible Des?
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why do you think he is being over looked desley ?
Thank goodness he's with you for the time being and not in a shelter as i suspect he wouldnt get on in that enviroment at all.
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hi lynn
where is he based in the country as i am looking for some cats as my pet cats
please pm me and let me know thanks
shane
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Hiya shane, its actually desley who has little shabba and i'm sure she'd be more than willing to discuss what type of home would suit him best. Perhaps pm her.
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hi lynn
thank you i have just pm her hope she gets it ok as that was the 1st pm i have sent on here
shane
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Hiya shane, its actually desley who has little shabba and i'm sure she'd be more than willing to discuss what type of home would suit him best. Perhaps pm her.
i doubt desley wouldnt let shabba go to the kind of home shane was describing the other day
with a load of dogs on a farm and he doesnt even know if all the dogs are cat friendly or not :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Lisa - there is no chance of me keeping him, not only is he too young for me, but I can't keep every foster, that isn't the point of fostering. 7 weeks in rescue realistically isn't that long, I have had cats here much longer than that.
Lynn - it is kitten season, so very tricky to find homes for adults, esp when we have kittens in. Fingers crossed for him though.
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Checked the diary earlier, and he has been here 12 weeks now, the longest anyone has been with me this year. He is a lovely little thing, and isn't doing too badly with being kept as indoor only, although with how much he sits on the windowsill and goes near the door, I suspect he would like outdoor access in his new home. He is such a lovely, friendly thing, but can mistake humans for toys when he is in a crazy mood!! He gets on well with Kizzy, so would like him to go with her, or to a home with a cat in it, he has had two 'friends' while here and got on well with both.
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Shabba might have some good luck in a week or so, Becky, who adopted Shadow wanted a friend for her, and I have suggested Shabba, she wanted a male, and he is good with other cats. Sadly, we are both busy this weekend, and I am busy next week, so hopefully going to take him over a week on Mon, and see how they get on, if Tinky seems fine, we might leave him there for a 2 week trial basis. Tinky loved playing with the big cats while here, so hopefully she will take to him, for the most part, even Molly and Tiger tolerate him, and they aren't keen on other cats. KEep your fingers crossed for him, I would love him to find a good new home, and then it gives me space to help some of the many we have in at the moment .
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We have everything crossed here for the handsome Shabba :Luv:
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Oh I do hope so ;D
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Paws crossed for Shabba!
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It would be lovely if it works out ;D