BRACKNELL, ENGLAND – The Bracknell and Wokingham branch of Cats Protection has recently rehomed its oldest cat ever.
Dougal the cat is actually 20 years old, or 96 in cat years. Dougal was left alone after his owner died and needed 12 teeth removed.
He also had a bleeding paw and his tail needed a drastic shaving when he came into the centre.
Dougal on his first day at his new home
Once Dougal had been rightly cleaned up and cared for by foster mum Kelly, who discovered his “adorable purr”, an appeal to find him a new home was launched.
The Facebook appeal alone reached more than 3,555 people.
Linda Evans from Newcastle-under-Lyme saw the appeal and rang to adopt Dougal having lost her own elderly ginger cat back in February at the age of 22.
Dougal just arrived his new home on Saturday, April 30.
Dougal when he first came into the Cats Protection centre
Like their owners, cats seem to be living longer than they used to but the average older cat takes five times longer to be adopted than a kitten.
Dougal exploring his new home
Lynne Pothecary, publicity officer for the branch stated: “It is a shame because older ginger cats, such as Dougal, still have a lot to offer.
“They tend to stay closer to home so make great companions, their characters are fully formed so you know what sort of cat you’re getting and they’re less likely to scale the curtains or knock your ornaments off the shelf!
“Though the Bracknell and Wokingham Districts Branch looks after all the cats in its care very well, life in a pen is no substitute for a permanent home so I would urge people to consider adopting an older cat.”
