Hi, I’m Gravy
I am an ex-feral cat who is learning to trust humans and looking for a special home!
More About Us
Breed - Domestic Shorthair
Sex - Male
Age - 4 years
Colour - Black/ white
Neutered - Yes
Vaccinated - Yes
Microchipped - Yes
FIV/FeLV blood tested- Yes (Negative)
Live with children - Adult only. Older teenagers 16+ okay
Live with other cats - Yes. Slow and careful introductions will be needed.
Live with dogs -Potentially a calm, cat-friendly dog
Temperament - Ex-feral. Has made really good progress over the last few months and now accepts fuss on his terms. He really enjoys the company of humans.
Very chatty - as you can see from his pictures!
Indoor-only or outdoor access? Due to his past, Gravy will need to be kept strictly indoors for at least 6 months but maybe longer, this will depend on how well he settles in and gets to know his new humans. In his previous home, he lived outside, which we want to avoid him reverting to, so ensuring that he is happy and settled before going outdoors should help. Once settled, he can have access to outdoors, or can remain as an indoor only cat if he is happy. We are however looking for a home where outdoor access is possible if this is what Gravy wants (when he is ready).
My story so far…
Hi, my name is Gravy. Yes, I know. Our carer had a Christmas dinner theme for names and I think I drew the short straw! My carer tends to call me G, which I do respond to. Although if I’m honest, I think I would respond to anything if I think I will get food!
I came to the sanctuary with my brothers Mash, Sprout and Parsnip. Our family had sadly been evicted from their home and needed to find a new home ASAP, unfortunately this was quite difficult with 4 cats, so they needed to find somewhere safe for us to go. Two of the carers came to our house to catch me as our owners couldn’t get me into a carrier, I gave them a bit of a run around but they managed to safely catch me in the end. I didn’t make it easy for them of course.
In our previous home, my brothers all lived happily inside, but for some reason I had always preferred to be outside. I would go indoors to eat but once finished, I would go straight back outside. Our family had taken us on as young stray kittens (all at different times), but I never seemed to adjust to an indoor homely lifestyle like my brothers.
I do love my food and am very food motivated, so my carers have used this to their advantage when trying to make friends with me. When I first arrived, I was very scared and would hiss, growl and swipe at them as they tried to clean my pen, but after a few weeks I began to calm down slightly and would just hide while they cleaned my pen and wait for them to give me my food.
I have been making lots of progress over the last few months. My main carer began slowly making friends with me using positive reinforcement. She didn’t want to force me to be touched as I was obviously uncomfortable around humans, so she wanted to help me feel safe around them first. It only took a few weeks before I was screaming at the humans for food whenever I saw them, so they knew that food would be the way to my heart! Although I still did not want to be touched, I was then quite happy to be around my trusted humans. It took me a long while before I would come out of my pen as I was scared, but now there’s no stopping me! I will run out of my pen just to be involved in whatever the humans are doing! Once I began coming out to explore, my confidence grew very quickly.
After a few months, I began to show that I felt really comfortable being around my carers. I would happily take treats of them and eat right next to them, which was major progress! I also started to rub up their legs, which I soon realised made them happy so I now do this all the time! I love to chat away to them, in case they forget I am there (apparently this is impossible, because I am always screaming! Slight exaggeration, but yes I admit that sometimes I do lose my voice, not sure why?) Slowly my carers began to stroke me gently while I was occupied with eating, starting with small tickles only on my head. I will now accept fuss even when I am not eating, although it is all on my own terms. The humans know my signals and know whether I have had enough fuss or when I just don’t want to be touched at all. I will often still give them a slap if I feel like it though.
Home I am looking for…
As I have made such good progress here at the sanctuary, my carer is confident that I could live happily in a home environment. We just need to find the right person or people who will give me the time, patience and understanding that I need. It is highly likely that it will take me a long time to settle into my new home, and it may be that the best option is for me to have my very own room to live in to begin with, while I settle in. This will be my safe space and will have everything I need in there, this will help me get used to my new home. Once I am ready, I can then start to explore the rest of my home. You will know when I am ready, and then once I am comfortable with you, I will not leave you alone!
Of course, any potential adopters will need to be aware that they may not be able to physically touch me for a few weeks or even months, but that I will show my love and appreciation in other ways. I may not ever be a typical loving lap-cat, but I will be really grateful to whoever opens their home and heart to me. My carer says that taking on a cat like me can be extremely rewarding and once we are friends, we will always be friends. That doesn’t mean you won’t get a slap if you deserve it though, sorry!
I am basically looking for humans who will be happy to have me living alongside them in their home, but not push me or expect too much of me. The slow and patient approach has been the best for me, and this is what my new humans will need to understand. I don’t want to end up living outside again as I really do enjoy being inside and cosy, but I do need to know that I am safe and can trust you in order for me to feel happy. My carer knows that in the right home and with the right people, I will continue to make lots of positive progress, and who knows, if you choose me, maybe one day I will sit on your lap for a cuddle!
As I am very used to being outside, I would likely eventually enjoy being able to go outside to explore in my new home. However, my carer says that we need to avoid me reverting to my old ways of living predominantly outdoors, therefore it would be best for me to live strictly indoors for at least 6 months. If after this time, I feel comfortable and happy in my home, then I can be slowly introduced to outdoors, however please be aware that it may take longer than this for me to get to this point. Of course, if after this time I am happy living indoors and you feel I don’t need to go outside, then this would also be perfectly fine. But my carer wants to find a home where safe outdoor access could be an option, just in case going outside is something that I would like when I am ready. A catio or cat-proofed garden would also be a good way of giving me a secure outside space to enjoy, while knowing I cannot roam and go too far away from home.
Of course, I am looking for an adult only home. I could however live with another cat or dog. I haven’t had much interaction with dogs, but I think a calm, laid back dog who has lived with a cat before and will give me space to get used to them will be okay. I do really love other cats, obviously I am used to living with multiple, and like to chat to the other cats here at the sanctuary and rub up their pen doors. However, I did like to argue with my brothers in our previous home, and am not afraid to slap cats, just the same as humans. I am non-apologetic for my personality haha! If I were to live with another cat, it would have to be a laid back cat who probably would be happy with me coming in and being boss cat straight away!
An extra thing to note is that I really do love my food, and will find it! So, my carer has told me to tell you (reluctantly) that it will probably be best for me not to have access to the kitchen while food is prepared, or at least ensure that food is not left out and potentially have child locks on food cupboards. What can I say, I love my food! I do really enjoy puzzle feeders so my carers use this as a way to keep me occupied and entertained, and quiet for a few minutes!
Thank you for reading my long website profile. I know that I am looking for a very special type of home, but I also know that my perfect human(s) is out there somewhere, and until you find me, I will be right here waiting…
Medical history…
I am a healthy boy with no known health issues.
If you think you could offer me the home I need, please fill out an Adoption Enquiry Form. Please make sure you have read about my needs and the adoption policies before applying.
Forms lacking in detail or with questions unanswered may not be considered, we need to ensure we are matching our cats to the right home for them.