Middle-aged Derby cats missing out on adoption to cute kittens

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Older cats at a Derby charity are feeling left out after struggling to find new homes as cute kittens are snapped up by adopters.

Cats Protection Derbyshire Cat Centre in Ashbourne has experienced a downturn in cats aged around nine or 10 being noticed by potential adopters, leading to a glut spending long periods in care.

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While staff and volunteers at the centre ensure they are as comfortable as possible, a cat adoption centre can be a busy, noisy place and is no match for a quiet, permanent home.

Centre Manager Helen Wood said: “We have a large number of cats in at the moment, and an ever-growing waiting list of those needing to come in, with many of them middle-aged. They may have lived nine or 10 years in one home and to suddenly find themselves homeless and living in a rescue centre can be traumatic for them.

Tutu came into care with SpiroTutu came into care with Spiro
Tutu came into care with Spiro

“While kittens are easy for us to rehome, we are unfortunately finding these cats trickier to place. Thanks to better welfare and vet treatments available, cats are now living longer, often into their late teens and even into their 20s. Older cats already have established personalities so require little training and can neatly slot into family life.

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Among residents at Derbyshire Cat Centre needing new homes are:

  • Mouse and Diego, both nine, who have been at the centre since July after their owner could no longer take care of them. This brother and sister are a bonded pair so will need to be rehomed together. While they have been indoor cats up to now, it is thought they would enjoy access to the outdoors.
  • Tetley and Manny, also aged nine, are another bonded pair who need a home together, ideally as indoor cats as Tetley has little road sense. While Manny is the more reserved of the two, with Tetley loving meeting new people, they both enjoy attention and fuss.
  • Best friends Tutu, 10, and Spiro, four, arrived at the centre together three months ago. Tutu has undergone dental surgery and treatment for ear mites, meaning she is no longer living with pain and discomfort. An unsettled home-life living with multiple cats has left them understandably wary but, given time, they will grow in confidence and blossom into loving family pets.

Cats Protection has a strong track record of rehoming older cats. Two years ago, the charity helped rehome Flossie, who was recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest living cat just weeks before her 27th birthday.

Spiro and Tutu came into care togetherSpiro and Tutu came into care together
Spiro and Tutu came into care together

Flossie who is now 28 and doing well was rehomed with Vicki Green, in Orpington, Kent, who said: “I knew from the start that Flossie was a special cat but I didn’t imagine I’d be sharing my home with a world record holder. She’s so affectionate, playful and sweet, especially when you remember how old she is. I’m immensely proud that Cats Protection matched me with such an amazing cat.”

To enquire about adopting any of the cats at Cats Protection Derbyshire Cat Centre visit www.cats.org.uk/derby

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