A heavily pregnant Bengal cat who was found in Greater Manchester with serious injuries has been nursed back to health after nearly a year in the care of the RSPCA – and now all she needs is a forever home.
The young cat was taken to a local veterinary practice in Rochdale for urgent treatment after being picked up with painful open wounds and extensive fur loss by a member of the public in September last year.
Emaciated, anaemic and riddled with fleas, she weighed less than 3kg (6.61 pounds) and was also heavily pregnant at the time.
The team from Wendy Lane Vets who treated her was so worried about her condition that one of them took her home overnight. After her condition stabilised, she was then transferred into the care of the RSPCA’s Rochdale & District Branch, giving birth to three healthy kittens not long after.
Named Felicity after one of the vets who treated her, she was sadly not microchipped – now a legal requirement for cats once they reach 20 weeks old – so attempts to trace a possible owner were unsuccessful.
Once her kittens were weaned, the vets were able to start investigating the cause of her skin condition and trialling different treatments. In January she moved into the home of RSPCA fosterer Elizabeth Corfield – who has experience of keeping Bengal cats – who has worked closely with vets to manage Felicity’s symptoms and the transformation in her has been remarkable.
Elizabeth said: “Felicity was found in a terrible state, she had large patches of missing fur and she was covered in sores, infested with fleas and severely underweight. She then gave birth to three kittens so she became a mum on top of everything she was already going through.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, and then some, not knowing if we could even get her to a point where she could be rehomed.
“Finally, after months of perseverance, we found medication and food that worked, and her skin and coat are just beautiful now – she looks like a different cat.
“She’s been so tolerant of all the vet visits, tests, food trials and medications, I’ve never met a cat who is more resilient and deserving of happiness than Felicity. We’ve poured absolutely everything into getting her back to good health, it’s been exhausting, but it will be all worthwhile if we can find her a wonderful new home.”
The young cat, aged about two, has many of the typical Bengal traits; she’s chatty, playful and intelligent and loves to climb – one of her favourite spots is a bookshelf in Elizabeth’s home – and she has incredible hunting reflexes which she puts on display when she’s playing with her toys.
She’s also extremely affectionate and adores a fuss, especially when she’s in her bed where she will purr loudly.
Felicity is on a combination of hypoallergenic food and medication for her skin which she is good at taking and she will need to stay on this indefinitely. Her new owners will need to be prepared to work closely with their vet to find the lowest effective dose for her.
Because of her medication, she can’t go outside, so she’ll require a spacious indoor home and access to a catio or a safe, contained garden with suitable pet fencing which can be discussed further with potential adopters.
Felicity can live with children aged eight and above but not cats, although a friendly feline friendly dog may be a possibility. An experienced Bengal owner who understands the needs of her breed is also a must.
Anyone who meets the rehoming criteria and is interested in giving Felicity the new home she deserves can email [email protected], call 0161 480 4754 or complete an online application form.
Felicity is being rehomed by the RSPCA’s Stockport Animal Adoption Centre which is based at the Pets at Home store in Didsbury Road. Its small team of staff and volunteers have re-homed 65 cats so far this year and are always on hand to help people find a furry friend to join their family or offer general animal welfare advice.
Details of all their cats who are looking for homes are on their website.
