Kats & Kits

In a week when the RSPCA reports that cruelty to animals has gone up by 25% I want to tell you the story of Timothy, because he is typical of many of the cats at Kat&Kits, unable to care for himself but not acceptable to many rescues because they would not be able to re-home him.

Timothy appeared suddenly, a small bedraggled tabby running nervously close to the ground scavenging for food put out for the birds. It was impossible to see him clearly as at the slightest sound or movement he would disappear, it looked as if he had never had a home or certainly not for a very long time. Amongst the sleek local domestic cats he stood out a mile but they ignored him and he was certainly not aggressive towards them.

We would see him every few days and after about two weeks he was noticed asleep in the adjacent playing field. Creeping closer we could see that he had a large sore on his shoulder which looked like an abscess. As soon as he realised we were near he was gone, leaving us to worry about what we could do to help him. Food was left in the same place and he came regularly over the next few days and the sore place seemed to have improved. When he arrived a day or two later however he was very lame and could hardly walk, it was obvious that he needed help urgently if he was to survive. After a few phone calls we borrowed a trap and discovered from a neighbour that he was going through a hole in her fence nearly every day so this seemed an ideal place to set the trap, this is the only way to catch a timid, frightened or wild cat in safety for cat and catcher alike.

As soon as the trap was set the heavens opened and we had torrential rain for two days. Nothing was seen of the little tabby and we were frightened we were too late. On the third morning the call came through that he was caught. He was very small, had raw sore places on his legs but was protesting at being caught every time we came near. He was taken straight to the vets in the trap because it would have been impossible to transfer him safely. Once there the vet had the unenviable task of trying to anaesthetise him, which she did through the bars of the cage. While asleep he was neutered, had a long lasting antibiotic, his legs were treated also his skin which had a flea allergy and because we did not know how easily we could do this again his ears and teeth were examined. He was also given the name Timothy so that he could be registered.

After a couple of days he came to the sanctuary. He has a good size pen with an outside run front and back so that he can get used to his surroundings and see the other cats coming and going. Of course we worried how he would react. For a short while he hid behind his bed , but if you are a cat who has never had enough to eat you cannot resist a generous plate of food for long even if it is liberally laced with wormer. We are not convinced he is feral, though he hisses and grumbles if you get too close , he loves his bed and armchair, uses his litter tray and enjoys his food. Everyone talks to him but take care not to get too close.

What will happen to him? The plan at the moment is that he will stay for some time in his pen and when the time is right and he realises he can come and go as he pleases and that food will always be available Lorraine will lift the cat flap and we will hold our breaths while we wait to see if he likes us enough to stay. Kats&Kits has thirteen acres in which cats like Timothy can have their freedom but also food, shelter and company, feline and human. We have many cats from farms and factories, all living how they choose, some after several years coming into the house others still keeping their distance but well fed and cared for.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION TO KATS & KITS PLEASE RING : 01380 828850

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DEVIZES KATS & KITS IN CARE

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The Winners of the August 100 Club Draw are:-

Jackie Davies from Codford

Linda Boulter from Devizes

Valerie Northway from Devizes