Kats & Kits: Helen and Sprout

Helen and Sprout can definitely be called character cats, totally different in every way, but both needing special arrangements to enable them to live happily at Kats&Kits.

Helen came to us first, in the early days of the rescue. She had been very badly treated and this had left her with a very unpredictable temperament. She obviously could not be homed with children, other animals or anyone not used to cats. Eventually she found a quiet home with a single person who was willing to accept her as she is. This was very successful for some years, but when her owner died she came back to us. Finding her another home proved very difficult, and although she had a nice pen with an outside run, everyone felt if she was to stay with us she should be allowed her freedom. The answer to the problem was surprisingly simple. Dave put a cat flap in her pen and she wears an electronic collar so none of the other cats can go in, thus avoiding a confrontation. When she is outside she grumbles a bit if they get too near but mostly they give her a wide berth. Lorraine has always been able to stroke her but now she has mellowed and enjoys attention from us all.

A Cat Called Helen

Sprout was also one of the early arrivals, he had been in a road accident and as a result lost his tail and was left doubly incontinent. It was hoped that this would improve over the months and he could be found a home. Sprout is a lilac Burmese and very much a people cat. So he could be in the middle of things, he had a pen in the garden and one of our first fund raising projects was to build him a large outside run. When his condition did not improve we knew it would be difficult to find a home for him, so it was decided to let him out in the garden during the day. Unfortunately , though he loves all the helpers and the visitors, he is very naughty with the other cats attacking, especially the timid ones, at every opportunity. How did we solve this problem, well as you can see from the photographs, when Kats&Kits moved to its present site there was room to build him a heated pen and then a large covered outside run, and finally this year an enclosed proper garden with grass and trees. This was all done through the generosity of the Kats&Kits helpers such is their affection for him. He is right in the centre of things, gets lots of attention and can see all the other animals and is a very happy cat. He is pictured with Judith, one of our helpers and Sprout`s sponsor.

Kats & Kits

The Diary of a Rural Cat Sanctuary

Character Cats

11 November 2006

Helen and Sprout

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