The Oriental Cat Association have created a charitable trust to care for cats of our breed who need rehoming.
Please get in touch.
- If you need help to rehome and Oriental cat.
- If you would like to offer a home for an Oriental cat.
Visit our website on the following link www.ocwt.org/
A Very Special Story from Val
During the early part of the year we took in a very disturbed and lonely stud boy. He was under three years old and in good physical health, but very frightened and untouchable. He had not had any experience of domestic life or much contact with people. He was defensive and avoided us at all costs. If we were cleaning the sleeping quarters he was in the run, when we cleaned in the run he was in the sleeping quarters!
The first vet visit was a nightmare. Catching him in the first place was difficult and could only be done by throwing a blanket over him; the worst thing that can happen is to have several failed attempts and allow the cat to become stressed.
The vet took him out of the carrier and immediately she released her hands he fled, round and round the room at top speed and dashed out of a ventilation window into the corridor, then into the reception area where he met two huge mountain dogs! Finally he went into another waiting room and tried to squash himself behind a rack of leaflets. By this time he was panting with fear. Again the blanket technique was employed to get him to safety.
When the vet realised how frightened he was she kept him at the surgery and, under sedation, completed his castration, gave him a thorough check-up, and vaccination.
We initially found it hard to make any progress with him, but when we weren’t in sight we could hear him batting his toys around the pen. We had tried tempting him with food and treats – to no avail. So my faithful helper, husband John began a programme of play with him, fishing rod toys and a Mylar wand. This proved to be a miracle and the cat gradually began to look forward to these times of interaction.
These play sessions included having to jump on and over John’s legs or on the box next to him, and John giving him a fleeting touch when possible. At first these were greeted with defensive looks but gradually they became the norm. The next stage was for John to pick him up and place him on his lap. The first time was a quick on/off, but gradually the cat learnt to stay and lift his body to the hand stroking him.
He was inclined to bite and these bites could be sharp and draw blood but they weren’t the bites of a cat that was vicious, more of one who didn’t know how to react. So, wearing leather gloves helped to protect John’s hands.
As the second vet visit approached a carrier was placed in the pen and the play sessions included chasing the wand or the fishing rod toy into the carrier briefly and then getting a chicken treat in the carrier.
So when the vet day arrived he went into his carrier without a problem and coped with the vet visit without stress. The vet was amazed to find him a much calmer cat.
A lovely couple who had adopted an ex-stud boy from us many years previously had been in contact and said they had sadly lost the rescue to old age and wanted another. The couple had now moved to Jersey. So with the help of a pilot friend our boy went off to his new home in a private plane. It took more than six months, but this lovely young boy is now enjoying a happy life in his new home; he
is loved and is enjoying attention. The new owners are still working with him and carrying on the programme we set out, but he’s doing well. In fact VERY well!
We do our very best for every cat that comes into our care, and we remain of the opinion that each cat needs their own home; but these ideals do come at a hefty cost to the charity. We thank those who financially support us throughout the year.
This wonderful story is testament to the wonderful work done by Val with the invaluable back up of her husband John for the OCWT (Ed)