RSPCA appeals for homes for farm cats
Farm cat Archie was rehomed by the RSPCA last December, and is growing in confidence.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has appealed for homes with outdoor spaces, as it creates a list of potential farm cat adopters.
The list will enable the charity to rehome farm cats quicker, potentially avoiding the stress of keeping them in a cattery.
Farm cats prefer spacious, outdoor settings to living indoors, and are often nervous around people. However, they still need a carer to provide food, water, shelter and veterinary care.
Despite the name, owners of farm cats do not require a large farm or riding stable to keep them.
The charity is looking for homes of all different types to add to their list, to allow for the many different types of cats they rehome. In the past, some farm cats have found alternative homes in a model village, an orchard and a gazebo company.
One farm cat which has benefitted from the RSPCA’s rehoming work is Archie, a ginger tabby cat. He was rehomed by Karen Owens last December, and was initially shy.
Ms Owens provided a large shed for him to move into, however it seemed that he had found a different vacant shed to move to at first. Although Ms Owens never saw him at this time, she often found empty food bowls, showing that he still relied on her for food.
He soon moved back into the original shed, and is starting to show more affection to Ms Owens – including greeting her with a ‘meow’ and eating from her hand.
The appeal comes as the RSPCA launches its ‘For Every Kind’ campaign, teaching people to rethink their relationships with animals.
Dominika Jagoda, pet welfare expert for the RSPCA, said: “We want to educate the public that not every feline will be an easy-going lap cat. Just like us humans, there are a range of personalities and preferences across each individual cat which comes into our care.
“Farm cats will need less human interaction than a typical domestic cat but they still need someone to look out for them and over time they may want to spend more time with you and allow you to give them a little fuss!”
For more information visit the website, or see the farm cats available for adoption here.
Image © RSPCA
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