An affectionate cat recovering from a painful condition that turned his eyelashes inwards so they scratched his eyeball needs a loving home to speed his full recovery, an Island animal charity says.
Cats Protection Isle of Wight is appealing for considerate new owners for O’Malley, a gentle and loving boy who had long suffered from a condition called entropion when he was relinquished from his previous home in Sandown.
One of O’Malley’s eyelids turned inwards and the lashes rubbed irritatingly against his eye. As well as being painful for the cat, if left untreated, the condition could have led to ulcers and infection.
Quirky look adds to his feline charms
The charity arranged an operation to fix his eye and, thankfully, 13-year-old O’Malley has rallied well. Indeed, the only real consequence of the operation is that his healed eye gives O’Malley a slightly quirky look, which only adds to his feline charms.
Cats Protection is appealing for a caring home but, as Centre Manager Mel Read said, that is proving easier said than done.
“It is never easy finding a home for an older cat but if they have a history of poor health – even when cured – people are reluctant to take a second look.
“O’Malley enjoys the company of people, especially if they have a warm lap where he could soak up all the love, but he is finding it really quite lonely at the centre.
“O’Malley has lost his spark and we need someone to help get it back. Surely that’s not too much to ask.”
A warm indoor homelife is favoured
Although O’Malley was kept outdoors for many years, a warm indoor homelife is favoured now. During his time in care, it has become clear just how much O’Malley loves his home comforts, curling up in his bed, enjoying delicious meals, and even playing ping pong.
O’Malley is one of a growing number of older cats looking for homes at the cat centre in Ryde. The centre has 13 cats aged nine years and over in its care, as the charity reports that older cats are overlooked in favour of kittens and young cats.
Older cats take longer to rehome
On average this year, it has taken the centre in Ryde 26 days to home kittens and young cats aged up to one year old and 34 days to rehome cats aged one to seven years. Cats aged more than seven years old take significantly longer – 44 days – to find a home. But senior cats (11-15 years) get the toughest break. They are particularly hard hit, taking an average of 50 days to be rehomed on the Isle of Wight – the longest for any age group.
Often, adopters opt for kittens when an older cat would better suit their home and lifestyle. Cats Protection offers an online service to match potential adopters to their ideal new cat.
Mel said,
“Older cats can make ideal pets and often slot neatly into a new family.
“Many of them have lived ten years or more in a loving home and it can be traumatic to suddenly find themselves homeless in a rescue centre.
“When eventually they are homed, they can be so loving and appreciative of regaining their home comforts. They have so much love to share.”
Find out more
To enquire about O’Malley or any of the older cats visit the Cats Protection website, email [email protected] or call 03000 120251.
News shared by XX on behalf of Cats Protection Isle of Wight. Ed
