Animal's Name and Type
Sam is a small black female cat of indeterminate breed.
What is the animal's story?
We adopted Sam after finding out that a friend's brother needed to find new homes for all his pets. Sam came to us scrawny and undernourished, a year old but not yet spayed, infested with ear mites, and terrified of people and other cats. When I picked up a broom to sweep the hallway, she fled. It was clear she'd been neglected and mistreated. She was also probably the runt of her litter and might have suffered some brain damage; she's really slow to learn, and sometimes quite clumsy. Fortunately our other cat was very patient with her and taught her how to mew, knead, chase toys, and do other cat-like things.
Advice
- If you want to go through a breeder, consider getting cats that don't "breed true". My father's cats were all Scottish Folds who were born with normal ears. The breeder couldn't show them and most buyers didn't want them. If my father hadn't bought them, they might have wound up in a shelter, so they're rescues too, in a way. And they were inexpensive while having all the benefits of coming from a breeder.
- If you go to a pet store, look for one that gets its pets from shelters and rescue groups.
What is this animal's life like now?
Sam is now plump and happy! She's not a lap cat and still gets nervous when someone picks her up, but she likes being around people, occasionally cuddles up to us, socializes well with visitors, and will even let our other cat groom her sometimes. I think she knows she's finally safe and well-loved.
