Poor Pansy needs help

Hello fellow cat-lovers! It's a joy to be here. My mother and I work for Lincoln Cat Care (in the UK) and last Friday we picked up a starving, emaciated little darling Persian (golden, doll-face). Her coat was all matted and she was so weak she couldn't even stand properly. We took her to the vets and en route we fell in love with her. On Tuesday morning she came home to live with us! She is soooo thin you wouldn't believe she could live. She only has two teeth and her head shakes when she is frightened. Her coat is still matted underneath.

That's the bad news - the good news is that she eats like a horse, has started grooming herslef, has purred and today she played for the first time!! We just adore her, she's sweet, loving and trusting. I would like your advice on building her up, giving her confidence and getting her looking as beautiful as she can.

We discovered her background yesterday when her owner telephoned Cat Care to claim her back (can you believe it?). She wasn't alowed in the house and has been outside for FIVE years, which is how old she is. Apparently, her teeth just fell out ... After a few pointed questions from our 'Lost and Found' lady the owner is signing her over to us.

All this explains why she doesn't want even to LOOK outside through the patio doors and why she flinches if we make a sudden move. She is not used to being groomed or petted but she loves us doting on her. She is no longer hiding and is a gutsy little thing! She's still too weak to leap on to chairs but likes to sleep on my chair in front of the computer.

She's actually settled in amazingly well considering everything and she seems to think she is in heaven. We have a dog (Jack, 11, German Shepherd cross rescue) who is very gentle and quiet with her. In fact, he's been a star but she is naturally a bit wary of him. Any tips on bringing them together?

We would value your words of wisdom, please help us to help our little Pansy.

All I can say is bless you for taking her in! There's lots of info and lots of knowlegeable folks here, so lots of help and ideas!

What a story! Pansy is a lucky girl to have come to a home where she will be cherished as she should have been all her life.

Since your questions seem to be mostly concerning her behavior, I'll move this thread to the Behavior forum.

Welcome to TCS & congratulations to Pansy & you both, on your new relationship together! Sounds like Pansy IS in heaven and Jack is a real saint. Since Pansy is so new, and considering her background, it sounds like things are progressing well. I'm sure that you'll find more info in the health & behavior forums. Please keep us posted on how things are going for you all! Susan

I would start scanning thru the different topics...there are tons of stories and questions about bringing families together and I am sure you will find a wealth of information. I think it is wonderful she is doing so well!

Are you feeding her moist food??? Did the vet do a thorough exam??? Can you cut off the mats then shampoo her. Even though I would myself want to do that I would wait until she is more trusting as you don't want to shock her. Can the prior owner be prosecuted for animal neglect??? I would hunt around the sites to see what info you can fnd.

Maybe you can find some help in this thread

Starlight

Bless her little heart! This woman doesn't have any more cats in her home does she?.

We'd love to see some pictures of Pansy!.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and thoughts - Pansy and I appreciate them. You're right, Jack is a saint! As soon as I can take a pic of Pansy without frightening her too much, I let you take a look, she's such a pretty girl. She's taken to copying Jack and sits on his bed in the sun, grooming herself, or sits at our feet, staring up while we eat. She knows she'll be fed regularly and as soon as her saucer comes out she lets out the most melodious meows.

We're taking her to the vet for a check-up tomorrow, so I'll ask about cutting away the clumps of hair. You're right, we don't want to shock her and are taking things a step at a time.

The previous owner says she has 5 more cats, so I'm asking Lincoln Cat Care to go round and check them out. They can always say they're giving a progress report on Pansy in order to gain entrance. We can't let her treat any more cats like she has with Pansy. However, all the others live in the house and Pansy wasn't allowed in - I don't understand people at all. How can they claim to love an animal they are starving to death?

Anyway, Pansy's at my feet now, snooozing. Din-din time soon.

Thanks again for your welcome, I'll check out the different topics. I've looked on some other sites as well - this one is the most friendly.

Bless her! I'm pleased your organisation is going to check on the other cats she has, because if this woman can do this to one cat what else is she capable of?!.

You've come to a brilliant site in TCS!, and i promise you you will love it here

Let us know how the vet visit goes with Pansy, and we look forward to seeing your little girl

Can you take a before and after picture of her?. I don't know if you looked in the link that Hissy put up for you on Starlight?, but the difference to that poor kitty was amazing.

Oh that poor little cat! I'm in tears just reading your story. Congratulations, and bless you, thank God Pansy found her way to you! It sounds very like you're going to be exactly what she needs and love, good food, gentle grooming and time will be the real medicine she needs to be the beauty she sounds like she should be. My precious doll faced persian came to me from a rescue home and arrived in a state emotionally and physically. It took about three years before he truly recovered, his coat came to it's full glory and his anxious behaviours subsided right down, he was one of the most special cats I ever owned. I'm sure this little girl will be the same for you, persians are such loving cats.

Hugs and best wishes to you and Pansy both, please put a pic up of her soon and keep us posted?

How wonderful for Pansy that you have her. I am sure that you will all be really happy together, and I hope that any more abused cats are taken away from this owner. Good vibes coming for her and Jack, though it sounds like they are getting on just fine!

I'll point some of the persian breeders to you for some information on taking care of her coat and things! We're all pretty close knit up here, and, like you, the first thing on our mind is cat welfare!

Just a quick few names, here:
WellingtonCats: Sam is a great young woman that's an experienced breeder of persians and exotics, and is always about somewhere!

PassiquePersians: Also a breeder of Persians, and is often around

KittenKrazy: Cindy is soooo awesome, but busy, but she's always full of helpful information when it comes to fluffs like that.

Hissy: hissy's been rescuing cats for aeons, and has probably seen almost everything a cat can do, good bad, indifferent.

Pat&Alix: Our Friendly Nutritional expert and cat toy guru! She's excellent at giving dietary suggestion and so forth!

Oh there's heaps of really supernice and helpful people around here!!

Thank you for taking on the poor darling, and I hope that you get your anwers!

Also, Is she spayed?

I suggest reading about the Starlight express that Hissy pointed you to, may answer quite a lot of things, as it's quite a similar begininning (I think that's too many n's)

*hugs*
-D

Bless you for the loving care you are giving Patsy. This thread brought tears to my eyes. I don't know how anyone can treat an animal they claim to care about in such a terrible way. I wish and your new kitty much happiness!

Hi again. Latest update - Pansy is asleep on the sofa, surrounded by soft toys, with her little chin turned upwards, when you lean over her, she gives a big yawn and streches, bless. When we had tea, Pansy decided to lie under the desk in the next room and Jack wouldn't eat, he just kept gazing at her. Eventually, she had to be fetched and placed near Jack, then he was fine and took the titbits I offered him. He really loves her, his tail starts wagging when he leans forward to sniff her. Mind you, she's easy to love and such a little darling. We had a play again this evening. She's still wary of Jack but he must look enormous to her.

Vets tomorrow morning and I'm really hoping he'll take her off the anti-biotics as they upset her tummy big time. I'm trying different food, she can't manage dry stuff cos of lack of teeth so it's all wet. A breeder recommended Hill's Science Plan, which is suitably expensive but I got some tins. She's also having cooked chicken and ordinary Felix. She'll eat anything but an aristocrat (or aristocat) needs good food with no additives so I'm being very careful. She's good about drinking, unlike Starlight, so that helps.

She's booked into a grooming salon for Friday 29th to take away the horrid clumps on her tummy and near her back legs. By then she should have settled enough to be able to face it. It's a good place, recommended by the vet.

I checked out Hissy's story of Starlight - boy, that rang some bells with me. trying to groom, feed, love, play and nurture royalty all at the same time is incredibly time-consuming and tiring! Starlight's recovery has given me even more hope and some very useful pointers, he is a real gem of a boy.

Every day there's less to worry about but she is still so terrified. The window cleaner came and she started shaking badly. Jack to the rescue - he barked and guarded her, which helped but it took a long time for her to calm down and stop looking at the window. She still likes to sleep under something or behind something but I guess that'll change over time.

She's definitely put on some weight but when I comb her, the comb goes bump, bump over her spine, ribs, hips and shoulders. Still she LOVES her back being done! She makes me laugh sometimes too - she tried to groom herself while under the desk, up came the back foot - bang! it hit under the desk. A look of surprise on her face, "I hadn't thought of that!"

Many thanks for all the kind thoughts and the names of people who can help.

I'm going to take a pic of Princess Pansy tomorrow for you guys to see.

All went well at the vets!

I took a lovely pic of her but I don't seem to be able to attach it or put it as an avator. Can someone explain it to me as to a child please?

Hi there,

First of all welcome to TCS to you and Pansy. She sounds like a lovely lovely cat.

I'm a breeder of Persian cats, so any questions feel free to PM me!

I think you have to have a certain number of posts before you can attach pictures, but if you email her picture to me at [email protected] I can post it for you.

All the best to you and Pansy!

Sam.

Many thanks, I've sent an e-mail with a pic of Pansy. I love the pic of your kitten, gorgeous!

Hey, my pleasure! I've received the picture of Pansy so I'll post it here in a second...

Thanks for your kind comments.

Here is Pansy. Isn't she beautiful.