Sassie's story
Sassie
is proof that cats can change completely when given the right, loving home
environment. In the cattery Sassie was incredibly timid. She clearly was not
happy , which is understandable. She suddenly found herself in a pen surrounded
by strange people and strange and frightened cats. What too few visitors to the
cattery do is put themselves in the cat's situation. Sassie would hiss and even
lash out at visitors so few people wanted to adopt such an 'aggressive' cat.
However, this wasn't the case when one visitor called to see her.
Instead of seeing an aggressive, bad tempered cat, Sassie's owner Jane saw her as ' a really frightened cat that needed a home'. She was right! Sassie was reserved until Jane could take her home. Once in the right environment, the transformation was bigger and faster than any of us could have hoped for! Even Jane said she was more than prepared for the long haul.
On entering her new home, Sassie hid herself away as would be expected. Her new owner left her to settle, knowing she would need some time to come round by herself. However, once she called 'Sassie', out came the once timid cat! Gone was the timid little thing who would hiss and lash out through fear, instead she jumped up onto Jane's knee and started purring away!
Now Sassie follows her rescuer as if she were a shadow. She even loves to be picked up and cuddled, as the picture shows. If she's had enough of being fussed she will simply push away with her paw, with claws safely retracted. A far cry from the poor cat who would scratch to keep people away. Now she is constantly purring and has even made friends with Jane's other cat, Phoebe. After the expected bout of hissing, they will now even play together.
Even when friends come round, Sassie shows herself to be a loving and affectionate cat, doing the round from knee to knee to get all the attention that she can. She is living proof that every cat deserves a chance, and that a cat who may seem aggressive or unloving is probably just scared and feeling insecure.
I will end this wonderful success story with a few words from Sassie's new owner, words which certainly put a smile on the face of everyone at Oldham Cats as we remembered the hissing, scared little cat we thought would be with us forever:
"I just can't believe the change in Sassie. With your care she turned around from what you told me she was like when she first arrived. As soon as I saw her I knew she was the cat for me. I am over the moon for her and so happy that I am able to give her a home and she is able to show me her true colours and be a loveable, affectionate little cat. I love her to bits!"