The RSPCA’s Hillfield Animal Home in Burton upon Trent is hoping for a feline fairytale this Christmas – a new home for its longest-staying residents.
Chesney, a 12-year-old British Shorthair, was once admired at pedigree cat shows, but is believed to have been initially given up for adoption when he became too old to compete.
Handed in to Cat’s Protection when he was about three years old, he was paired up with nine-year-old pedigree partner Crystal – also a British Shorthair – and the devoted pair have been inseparable ever since. They were adopted and lived a happy life for many years, before their owner sadly had to go into a care home in July and they came into Hillfield Animal Home in Stretton.
Last month, staff thought they had found the duo a new forever home, but a family member subsequently became allergic to them and they were returned to the RSPCA, where they are finding the cattery environment for the third time in their lives very hard.
Cyan Hulland, administration supervisor at Hillfield Animal Home, said: “Chesney and Crystal are quite the celebrities here. We adore every animal that comes to us, but these two have a very special place in our hearts due to their perfect nature and heartbreaking past.
“Chesney was actually a show cat and we assume once he was too old they didn’t want him anymore. They then lived a wonderful life with their previous owner, who very sadly had to part with them when they went into care. We thought we had found their forever home last month, but unfortunately a family member was allergic to them and they came back.
“They have never put a foot out of place, yet they have been in a cattery for rehoming three times in their life. I work with them every day and can honestly say that I get excited to see them every time I go in. They are the softest cats I have ever met, there’s just not a nasty bone in their body. Every morning they greet us with their meows and purrs and you can see it in their eyes that they just want love and attention. Chesney adores a brush and Crystal is a cat-nip lover.
“We are desperate to find them their final retirement home where they can get all the love they so desperately crave. We think they would be ok to live with other older cats, but dogs may be a little too much for Crystal as she can be a bit scared of new things. Children of all ages would be fine, as long as it is understood that both of these cats are older and will need time and space to relax and take things easy.”
British Shorthair cats have small and short airways and sometimes their eyes are sunken in a little. This isn’t so much the case for Crystal, but Chesney will need his eyes cleaned with cotton wool and warm water twice a day.
He also has a suspected weakened colon, which is managed very simply with a laxative that is put on his food. He may need the occasional trip to see a vet, but considering his breed and age, staff say he is doing well. Full information about his health needs will be shared with potential adopters.
For more information about Chesney and Crystal please call the animal home on 01283 569165. Phone lines are open every day from 10am until 4pm, but closed all day on Tuesday. Or you can email [email protected].
Our rescue teams will be out in all weathers this winter, rescuing animals from abuse, neglect and suffering. To Join the Christmas Rescue and help our rescuers be there for the animals in need, please visit www.rspca.org.uk/rescuexmas
