Cat looking for alternative home still waiting after 113 days in RSPCA care

An “inbetweener” cat who has been at the RSPCA in Suffolk for 113 days whilst staff have searched for the perfect home for him is sadly still waiting and is yet to have much interest from potential adopters.

Grey and white Poppet arrived at RSPCA Martlesham Animal Centre in Suffolk as his previous owner could no longer care for him due to a change in Poppet’s temperament.

Poppet’s plight is being highlighted as part of Adoptober – the RSPCA’s month-long rehoming drive – as the charity faces a rehoming crisis with many centres and branches having record numbers of animals in their care.

The two-year-old (pictured above) has been labelled an “inbetweener” cat – who needs a little less human interaction than a more conventional lap cat, but is not fully independent like a feral cat.

Poppet was initially very reserved and unsure but has gradually started to gain confidence. With some patience and time from kind staff and volunteers, his personality has begun to shine through.

Neutering has also helped to calm Poppet down.

Getting male cats snipped can stop them from spraying in the house to mark their territory, getting nasty injuries from fights and they’re less likely to wander off as cats who’ve been snipped tend to stay closer to home.

Poppet will need an experienced owner who understands cats and their quirks and is willing to give him the time and space to settle and build trust.

He would also benefit from a larger, more spacious environment whether this is within a typical home with access to lots of outdoor space or an alternative rural setting such as a smallholding, farm or stables with plenty of outdoor access.

But Poppet is not a typical “farm cat” as he will likely enjoy human interaction with any new owners.

Alice Potter, RSPCA’s cat welfare expert, said: “One of the most interesting things about cats is just how varied each of them are.

“No one set home is going to fit all cats. Cats’ personalities are a varied spectrum with an affectionate, lap cat, an ‘inbetweener’ cat who needs less but still some interaction, and all the way to a feral cat who will happily live independently from humans.

“We know that our centres and branches often struggle to find homes for our farm or outdoor cats and one of the reasons is a lack of awareness amongst the general public that these cats need homes but enjoy living an outdoorsy lifestyle.”

With an understanding owner and ideal environment, the RSPCA hopes Poppet will relax and allow his affectionate side to grow.

For more information on adopting Poppet, potential adopters can visit https://rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk/cats/poppet/

With record numbers of pets in the care of the RSPCA they have a rehoming crisis.

This Adoptober, they urgently need kind and caring people to adopt and foster, so it can continue to rescue animals from cruelty and neglect.

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