The RSPCA is hoping to find a special home for a senior cat who was sadly abandoned by his previous owners in a property in March.
Thankfully, the 11-year-old cat, named Captain Pebbles, was rescued by an RSPCA officer and came into the care of the charity’s Newbrook Farm Animal Centrein Frankley Green, Birmingham, earlier this year.
The golden oldie was snapped up by an adopter fairly quickly but sadly was returned because he didn’t get on well with the other cats in their home. Now the staff at the Birmingham animal centre are desperate to find this senior gentleman his forever home.
Emma Finnimore, Cattery Supervisor, said: “Poor Captain Pebbles was abandoned in a property by his original owners so we know very little about his history or what kind of home he came from before. But we do know that he can be a little timid at times and it takes him a few days to settle and show his super sweet and affectionate side.”
New figures from the RSPCA show that the number of reports of abandoned animals during the first four months of this year – when compared to the first four months of 2021 when the cost of living crisis began to take its toll – have increased by more than a third (37%). The charity is working hard to try and keep owners with their pets amid the financial crisis – and has launched a Cost of Living Hub and dedicated phone line, and has provided over 1.75 million meals to pets as part of its Pet Food Bank scheme.
Emma added: “Despite his ordeal after being abandoned by his previous family, once Captain Pebbles is comfortable, he will come over to us straight away and adores having as much fuss as possible! He’ll roll over and purr to show how much he loves it, and he’ll give a little head bump to show he wants more fuss. He’s a very sweet cat and quite a chilled boy. He isn’t too interested in toys and prefers company instead.”
Captain Pebbles will need to be the only cat in the home and he’d prefer not to live with a dog. He could live with families who have children of primary school age or older and he’d like to be able to have access to the outdoors to explore.
It can sadly take longer to rehome older rescue animals as they can often be overlooked for younger kittens. The UK is currently experiencing a cat crisis and with kitten season in full swing (from May to September – when most kittens are born) animal adoption centres are often at full capacity. Considering adopting a kitten before buying from a breeder means giving a home to one of the many thousands of cats who are looking for their forever homes.
However, whilst adopting a young kitten may seem cute, it isn’t for everyone – kittens need lots more time and attention than most older cats and need to be socialised to ensure they settle into their new life. For some, an older cat who does not have as much boundless energy as a kitten would be better suited especially to someone who may work during the day.
For more information on adopting Captain Pebbles please see his profile, here. To enquire about adopting him, please fill out a ‘perfect match’ form and send it to RSPCA Newbrook Farm Animal Centre on [email protected]
