Littlefoot, a very vocal bengal cross, or is she?

Yesterday, Littlefoot joined us at Catcuddles.

Upon arrival and while still in her carrier, she vocalised as if she was in severe distress which was almost upsetting to hear. We took her straight to her garden chalet as she needs to settle in her own space and the vocalisation continued. When I asked Chris whether she was like this with them, he said she was in fact louder.

Littlefoot is a young cat whose past is a mystery. While she was still under 2 years, she was befriended by a lovely family with a 2 young cat and it was their sincere intention to keep her. She is a striking lithe young cat, looks very much like a marbled bengal but my suspicion is she is a bengal cross with much of the behaviour of a bengal. She is very smart too and has been reported to open latches and, naturally, door handles. She has not been staying put however, and after her roaming outside, she was brought in and introduced to the resident kitty only to be found incompatible. So the best decision was taken, which was to bring her in, have her behaviour assessed and hopefully get her a lovely, loving home which will be fine with her personality and temperment and also, her vocalisations.

The main issue with Littlefoot is need to get to the bottom of her vocalising so much. So, I felt the outdoor chalet would help her, particularly because the garden is quiet and there is not much urban noise to frustrate her perhaps, there are no ferals or strays to get her stressed, so in all probability this would help her.

For the first half hour she was in, she was her usual self and it did dawn on my this is a project that might stretch our team abilities as well as our neighbours' ears. So, I wanted to see whether it was human company she was pining for, unlikely given it took her rescuer weeks to stroke her and hear her purr, but worth the try.
Within 5 minutes, I was stroking her and mock-purring back, she was getting more and more relaxed and eventually stopped vocalising. I stayed with her for a good 20 minutes, seeing whether she was going to be making any further progress than enjoying my handling her. She was tentative in play, so not used to it and was also not used to being picked up. The moment I moved my hand under her belly half stroking her to pick up, she dug her claws on the blankie spread out on her elevated bad and would not let go. I thought that was progress for the day and really happy that she stopped her voc.

For the rest of the day, Littlefoot was not heard. She settled, probably had a few long naps and realising she was outside and could smell the soil and garden, she was content. She even had some food, which is great for the first day in a new environment.

I will keep posting on Littlefoot; we had a great start but I am sure this is only the beginning of  her rehabilitation. So far my gut instinct tells me she has had a tough start of life and has learned to cope by vocalising her frustration and insecurity. Still, I see in her a loving affectionate smart young healthy cat and I have high hopes that she is going to be a great turnaround story, but time will tell. Here, she has as much time as she needs, she will set the pace she is comfortable with.

A few words on The Catcuddles Sanctuary

This blog was created to cover a communication and advice need of the Friends of Catcuddles community, the ever increasing number of people who have come in contact with The Catcuddles Sanctuary in Greenwich looking to adopt a cat, rehome their resident kitty, fine help for a stray or feral, seek advice about their cat or help with their feline's behaviour. More on the philosophy and work of Catcuddles can be found on our website.

Catcuddles is a warm, personable charity that was established to help build strong relationships between humans and felines and encourage adoption of all and every type and temperament of kitty by the right loving responsible human family.

To us, no cat is "unhomable", and we do not meant that they are a "charity case"!  Cats have a great deal to offer and teach us humans and they are perhaps the one domesticated pet that has remained true to its nature and lives happily with us by choice, not need. A cat's independence is not only convenient for our busy lifestyles but its serenity and calmness are virtually therapeutic, if we find a way to a feline's heart.

Please contribute freely with comments, stories and questions you may have on felines in your life, behaviour conundrums, and sources of useful info you may have come across online or elsewhere.

Although the nature of this blog is not commercial, we would be happy to receive and research commercial problem solvers relating to cats, their behaviour and their welfare.

Thanks for joining us, and happy reading!