A young cat who was rescued as a stray with a serious infection in both ears has been nursed back to health – but no-one wants to adopt him.
Staff at the RSPCA’s rehoming centre in Yarm Lane, Great Ayton, say handsome Eddie adores human company but they believe his colour might be putting people off – with black, or black and white cats, often taking far longer to rehome than their colourful counterparts.
Eddie arrived at the centre from the Stockton-on-Tees area last September after being picked up by an RSPCA officer from a shed where he’d been contained by a concerned member of the public.
Both of his ears had ulcerated and caused sore, bald patches which required many months of care and treatment.
But despite the feline’s loving and easy-going personality, and the fact he can live with secondary-aged children, Eddie has only had one application from prospective adopters and is now Great Ayton’s longest-staying resident.
His plight has not been helped by the RSPCA reporting a slow down in rehoming as people begin to cut back on spending in the current financial climate. The number of animals leaving the charity’s centres for new homes has fallen by eight percent – while intake has gone up by the same amount.
The centre’s cattery supervisor, Beverley Dunn, said: “Eddie is an amazing cat who came to us as a stray after being found with extremely bad ears. He had to endure weeks and weeks of treatment and wear a protective cone to stop him scratching them, but he coped so well and just got on with it. His ears are now fully healed and he really deserves to find his forever home after the health issues he’s endured.
“He’s a gorgeous, affectionate boy who loves human company and as much fuss and attention as you can give him, although his second favourite pastime is playing with a ping pong ball.
“Unfortunately black, and black and white cats are not as popular as tabby and ginger cats – and it always takes us considerably longer to find them loving new homes.
“The perfect owners are out there somewhere for Eddie and we’d encourage anyone who has been moved by his story, and is in a position to be able to offer him a wonderful new home, to apply through our website.”
Eddie, who is thought to be aged around two, can live with older children, although he’d prefer to be the only pet in the house, and he’ll need access to outside.
As well as Eddie, Great Ayton is also looking after lots of other black, and black and white cats, all hoping for their happy ending too. They include Harry, Shamus, Millie, Morgan, Josie, Digi and Tal.
