Paws & Mittens

08/08/2024

*** Rufus ***

Rufus is a darling, middle aged boy, now 7 years old, who first came into care at Paws at just 7 weeks old.. (yes, hes grown!)

Rufus was homed to a wonderful family, who adore him and have done so the last 7 years, but a sad and tragic event in the last few years meant that Rufus had to integrate into a new feline family, alongside his existing one.

In his previous "gang" he was always a bit of a "Billy Bully", but in the new family home, hes gotten worse with the resident cats, so very sadly.

His human family adore him, always have done, and adore the rest of the group to, and having spent a good few years trying every "trick" in the book, including vet check, medications, plug ins, herbal sprays, feline Psychologists in etc and beyond... Rufus is not a happy boy and neither are his Feline friends.

Rufus, with people he knows, is a HUGE snug bug! He loves adults, people and loves nothing more than a snuggle up from 6pm on the sofa for a chin tickle, a lap to sit on and someone to "talk to" (hes a people cat, not a cats cat)

Is he snuggly enough we would suggest he would be homed with young children?.. No. Hes a gorgeous boy and loving, but has his independence about him and certainly would not tolerate being popped in a push chair! 🙂

Rufus is a HUGE big boy, full of love.

Hes fully litter trained but does like to go outside and toilet outside (though he doesn't venture beyond the garden usually)

Rufus needs to be the only cat.

Rufus has not been dog tested and therefore we would suggest no dogs in the home (consideration may be given for a very old, cat friendly, placid dog)

No young children please, under the age of 10 ish.

Rufus is:

Neutered
Micro-chipped
Vaccinated
Fully up to date on Flea and Worm treatments
Litter trained

Medical needs:

Rufus is vet checked on a regular basis, his only medical need is that he is partially deaf. He can't hear low level noises but can hear loud noises.

If you have a home, that you feel may be suitable for Rufus, away from any busy main roads, or train tracks, please do MESSAGE us and tell us more about the home and family you could offer this gorgeous boy.

Home check applies and an minimum adoption donation of £60 would be kindly requested.

Rufus is currently in his home in Maningtree, Essex.

29/07/2024

*** Gomez ***

An exciting update for dear Gomez, who came into care 5 months ago. A stray, not neutered, not chipped, full of mats and a bit shy, approx 6 years old 😞

We had him chipped, snipped, full shave to rid of his matts, vet checked and blood tested, which sadly showed he was FIV Positive (not uncommon in older not done cats, especially Males)

Not a death sentence, by no means, but usual re-homing procedure by a rescue for FIV+ is Indoor only and no other cats.... (to reduce the risk of spreading FIV+ if they fight - it can only be spread from deep bite wounds and mating)

Gomez had a bit of a dodgy hairdo at the vets lol bless him! And lots of it, is not growing back.... what with this and his need to be indoor only and the only cat, we had NO interest in him what so ever 😞

BUT, in those 5 months, in a pen next to our forever fosters, who are in at night, but out in the day, who all have been through the mill and stayed with us for one reason or another, he started to make friends, and REALLY Really try to get though to their pens to say hello, and was sniffing the fresh air he has been so used to for all his years on the streets.

Not a decision we took lightly, but for his well being and sanity, he joined the forever fosters, under very careful supervision and us looking on, very closely.

Hes loves them! and they love him! No fighting, no biting, just playing and none of them leave the garden at all.

He loves to be outside in the sun and long grass, he loves to be with his pals, he comes in every night to sleep and will not toilet outside, but comes into use his tray...

We couldn't now condemn Gomez to an indoor only life, with no furry friends, it would be cruel.

So, how hes settled, how he is, yes; hes joined the "forever foster" crew here at Paws ❤

We are delighted to welcome him and hes more than happy here, and his new furry friends love him very much too.

Welcome to the Paws Forever Foster Gang Gomez, you gorgeous boy. I hope you feel life has changed for the better for you now ❤ No more cold winters in the bushes or harsh Summers trying to feed, You've landed on your Paws big fella xx

15/07/2024

*** New Arrivals ***

Despite being full, and sadly turning away calls for help daily, over the weekend, one of our beautiful "had retired" Foster Mummy's answered a very urgent plea from a local vet.

Meet Mumma cat and her 5 x 2 week old babies.
They had been left in a carrier at the vets door just after closing on Saturday.

PLEASE NOTE This post is NOT to Judge those who left her and the babies, and we would appreciate no nasty comments.
We understand a lot of people are really struggling just now, and asking for help, and all the rescues are full. Thankfully they were not "just released" in a wood etc or left somewhere relatively more unsafe.

Mummy looks very young herself and looked after, babies are very young but all look well.

Of course, super early days as yet, but we will be working with the feline family over the coming months to ensure they are all fit and well, and when ready, Spayed and Neutered, Micro-chipped etc etc.

Of course, we are not at any point ready as yet to be looking for homes for Mum or Babies, so please no enquiries. They will be posted when ready with full details of their needs, characters, bonds with siblings etc.

Just the first 24 hours bill of flea, wormer, panacur, litter, good food for Mum etc is £200, and the spay , neuters, chips, food, litter, flea, worming, and ongoing vet checks etc we know, for 6 will exceed at least £2000 absolute minimum.

If you'd like to make a donation to Mum and Kittens care, you can do so via PayPa to pawsandmittens@hotmail,com, you can call Highcliff Veterinary Practice in Brantham and ask to make a credit to our account, or do please message us about sponsoring a cat in our care from £5 a month.

Thank you.

We will of course keep you up to date on the babies, and Mumma's progress and of course more photos, and names, once decided on their characters! x

Finally - An appeal to the owners if you are reading this. If you can contact us, and let us know more about Mum, her age, her name, any past health issues etc, kittens birth date etc... please do. We will not judge you. You can message us directly. Thank you x

15/07/2024

Some of the cats in our care take weeks, months and sometimes Years to be ready to re-home and, eventually, trust us.

Time is NEVER a factor for Paws and Mittens.

Each cat / kitten / senior, has their own demons to work on and our foster Mums are there for them, for as long as it takes.

14/07/2024

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 All of our little paws are crossed for our large lion paws this evening! Come on Lions! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

10/07/2024

⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🦁 All of our little lions here, are cheering on our big Lions in Germany! Come on England! Be Pawsome! 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️

10/06/2024

*** As of today, it is now LAW that your Cat is Micro-chipped ***

Yes! At last! :)

Of course, ALL cats adopted Via Paws are Microchipped. If you have adopted from Paws, and have moved since adoption or would like reassurance of registration etc, do please message us!

If you have a cat, not from Paws and not chipped, please contact your local vets ASAP to arrange chipping.

Its a very very quick and painless procedure and could really help you, and your cat, if they ever got into a pickle and helps rescues and vets so much to quickly identify cats and their owners when needed.

13/05/2024

Happy 6th Birthday to my beautiful forever fosters, Trumpton & Chigley 💕🐾💕

They came in to care just short of 6 years ago, as tiny spiky Ferals with their mumma. After years of rehab, they have been forever here since, as my beautiful boys and then playing “uncle “ and “friend” to so many rescues in care.

My gentle boys, Happy Birthday 🥳 💕🐾💕

05/05/2024

*** All Paws matter ***

04/05/2024

The beautiful Hedgehogs are coming back to our gardens after hibernation and will be so hungry and thirsty!

Do provide Water please only; no milk!

And if leaving food; MEAT based Cat food (wet or dry biscuits) are advised, not fish flavours.

And as much as they love Meal worms.. a big no no! They are not good for them xx

03/05/2024

*** Autumn ***

A late update we missed to post!

And what an update!

Darling Autumn came into care WAY back in September 2022.
Clearly not feral, but clearly a left behind domestic, skin and bones, and barely any fur on her body with a awful flea allergy. All attempts were made to find owners, but sadly we couldn't. Given the area etc, we do maybe think she had an elderly owner who passed away? Sadly no microchip.

Autumn was of course vet checked, micro-chipped, blood tested, flea and worm treated and then went on to spend well over a year in care! :(

Why so long? Despite being SUCH a loving girl, Autumn had her "moments" and could be very vocal at times! (All mouth and no trousers!) so, she didn't "view well".... She did get an amazing chance after about a year but soon in her new home, was very dominant over the resident old placid dog, sadly she had to come back :(

We were losing hope, knowing what such a gorgeous girl she was, if only she could find someone happy to ignore her swearing at times! (and no other pets in the home!)

And in January this year, her Angel came along... her new Mummy, Leni

29/04/2024

*** Gaston ***

Our beautiful boy, after coming into care in December 2023 is finally ready for his new home! ❤

He was a poorly boy and after many months of bloods tests etc, we established this dear boy has low level Kidney Disease and is Hyper-Thyroid.

Gaston WILL need a special Kidney diet for always and his medicine for his Thyroid for always with vets checks approx every 3-6 months.

Gaston is an incredibly loving boy, a huge chunk at over 6kg, who loves a fuss and a cuddle!

He is fully litter trained, Vet checked, Neutered, Micro-chipped and up to date on his flea and worm treatments.

Gaston; once settled, will need outside access in ways of a "catio" or away from any main roads or train tracks.

Gaston would be fine living as the only pet, but he possibly could live with another laid back / cat friendly dog or cat with very gentle introductions.

Gaston could live with younger, cat friendly and gentle, young children , again, with gentle introductions.

Gaston is currently in foster care in Harwich, Essex.

If you feel you may be able to offer Gaston the perfect forever home, please do MESSAGE us and tell us all about the home you could offer him.

A homecheck will apply, and a minimum donation of £75 is kindly asked.

17/04/2024

*** Gomez and Gaston ***

Fantastic news this week; after months and weeks of care of both our gorgeous boys, including Thyroid issues, FIV+ Diagnosis, Kidney disease and rehabilitation needed, we are SO SO pleased to announce, that after Blood tests (yet again), for both boys, and more than £3000 spent in vet bills, love and care for the two boys, they will, next week, both be ready for adoption!

Fantastic news!

14/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/pwsSmkNEGzRHyc4W/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Attention cat owners! 🐱

From 10 June 2024 cats over 20 weeks old must be and registered on a compliant database 📆

By microchipping their cats, owners can increase the likelihood that they will be reunited with their beloved pet in the event that they go missing.

05/04/2024

*** Gaston Update ***

4 Months now in care and gradually, we are getting dear Gaston well and diagnosed.

Initially, he was Chipped, vet checked, FIV/FELV blood tested and thankfully they came back clear.

BUT, his awful upset tummy continued and his lots of drinking, weeing and "shakes"

Blood tests number 2... showed Gaston is in stage 1-2 of Kidney disease and is now on a special diet.

A month or so later, an improvement but still issues... Blood tests number 3.... Gastons Kidneys have stabilised on his new food, but his Thyroid levels are high. cue Thyronorm medication

Tummy still not right, despite food changes, intensive worming etc... so poo sample now sent off and back showing he has Giardia Virus in his tummy :(

Launch 5 day intensive medications to cure that!

Darling boy! We have to say through all of this, despite the need to wee, drink and poo a lot, he has been so settled and such a beautiful loving boy and we have now, hopefully, faced our final hurdle!

Gaston is back at the vets on Monday for bloods again, where we are hoping his Kidneys have remained stable, his Thyroid is under control and his tummy is for sure on the mend!

That would mean.. soon ready for a loving new home sweetheart! Fingers and Paws firmly crossed!

Gaston's medical treatment alone has cost just in excess of £1000 to date, not counting his special food and biscuits etc.

Any help is always so much appreciated, be it via donations, calling our wonderful vets at Highcliff Veterinary Practice to help towards our bills, or; you can sponsor a cat in care for £5 a month... message us and us ask how! :)

For now, Gaston is settled, loving life with his wonderful foster Mummy and we will let you know how he gets on on Monday x

01/04/2024

07/03/2024

02/03/2024

Please welcome our new beautiful boy into Paws care.

Yet to be named as he has been with a feeder for a few years, a foster for a fews days and will arrive in care here at last on Monday.

This gorgeous boy is a bit scared and confused but is NOT feral, clearly maybe lost / left behind in a move etc approx 3 years ago.

We have this week had him neutered, flea and worm treated and micro-chipped, he has had had to have a huge shave as so full of matts :(

We also had him "snap" tested and our darling boy is positive for FIV.

We are not surprised sadly :( But not a death sentence, it just means we need to place him so carefully once he is settled and assessed.

Welcome darling boy, you've a little way ahead of you yet, but no way you cannot be ready for a lovely rehome in the very near future. You will be the most special addition to the perfect home for you :)

14/02/2024

🐾🌈 Sleep well, beautiful Kevin 🌈🐾

It is with great sadness that we said goodbye to our beautiful girl, Kevin this afternoon.

Kevin came into care under a sad surrender just over a year ago, at 14 years old.

Kevin struggled to find a new home, but then as the months passed, we soon realised Kevin was showing symptoms of Dementia. Lots of talks with the vets over the following months, medications started to help her...

The last few months has shown a quick decline in Kevin's Mental health and sadly in the couple of weeks it was clear that at times she was now becoming distressed.

Kevin fell asleep this afternoon, with me, on my (our) bed which she adored, having cuddles, fuss, and love, with help from our wonderful home visiting Vet Lucy.

We will miss you so much Kevin, you were such a character and a huge part of our home and family the last year.

Sleep peacefully, shine brightly in the stars. See you at the bridge one day. Love you Kev-Kev xx

08/02/2024

Up to £250 in vouchers towards the cost of neutering your exempt XL Bully from Blue Cross

The costs of neutering your dog

We know that neutering an XL bully type breed can be expensive. So, to help at this challenging and stressful time, Battersea, Blue Cross and RSPCA are providing support towards the cost of neutering your XL bully type through our Veterinary Care Fund.

From 5 February 2024, the fund will provide up to £250 to eligible owners for this procedure for those struggling financially. If you need more urgent support before this time, RSPCA may be able to provide a voucher towards the cost.

Who qualifies for help?

Those XL bully type owners who:

are experiencing financial hardship

have applied for a certificate of exemption (deadline for online applications is midday on 31 January 2024)

agree to send confirmation of neutering to Defra once the procedure is complete

Full details here https://www.bluecross.org.uk/neutering-your-xl-bully-support?fbclid=IwAR3uSbTMXKLN9nZPOQ6iF3oeLRlalSGC8_BtD_rnGS_AoOzI-3mMBiNGSGo

27/01/2024

*** Buster *** (updated Jan 2024)

Our darling Buster has now been in foster care, looking for a home, for over a year 😞

We have assessed him a lot throughout his time in care and have changed his needs as we have gotten to know him, but of course now, a year in, we are certain of what this darling boy needs...

Buster is about to hit is 11th ish Birthday.

He came into care terrorised by other cats, a dog attack that caused awful injuries to him and huge stress issues.

He has though, always been the sweetest and most gentle of boys, hes such a love bug 🙂

Buster must have a home with no other cats or Dogs. He can live with well behaved children, who are gentle with him.

Buster hates to be left alone and this causes him his upsets at times. He does need a home where someone is home almost all of the time, and when out, a "safe room" such as a kitchen with a tiled floor etc in case he gets himself in an upset pickle, which happens so very infrequently and only when left for a long period of time.

Buster will not often sit on a lap, but he will sit as close as he can to you on the sofa, in bed, and paws at you and purr for loves and fuss 🙂

He loves to play with his toy mices.

He could possibly be indoor only, but he does, once settled, love to zoom about a garden and enjoy some sun bathing!

Due to his dog attack and injuries, Buster cant jump very high at all, so needs indoor only or a secure garden.

Buster is a dream boy, so loving, so handsome, and craves company.

If you feel you could offer Buster the perfect forever home, please do message us (comments can be missed) and tell us more about the home you could offer him.

Buster is currently in foster care in Harwich, Essex. He is vet checked, Neutered, Micro-chipped, up to date on his flea and worm treatments and will use his litter tray.

Thank you x

26/01/2024

*** Pilgrim, May and Jones ***

Back in July last year these 3 babies were trapped from a notorious feral site. (despite years of efforts, mumma cat has always been so elusive to traps etc, but more on her to come..)

Hissy, spitty, feral babies.

Jo our lovely foster mum took hours to trap them and then took them under her wing to rehabilitate. It took some time and wasn’t an easy job!

In the interim, of course, they were neutered and spayed, chipped and vet checked.

Jo then had to have respite following surgery and foster mum Aid stepped up and took the babies for their final stages of rehabilitation.

I said all along, they were so bonded and took trust in each other, we could only wish for a home for all 3 together…. Which was a huge ask, but we so didn’t want to separate them.

Just after Christmas, our prayers were answered and the most lovely, kind, patient, caring, of mummy’s came forward and adopted all 3 babies! To be forever together!

Pilgrim, as always, the most confident, settled within hours! Jones and May are settling well but taking their time to be super brave, but are all relaxed, playing, settled and we know are happy to have stayed together 💕

Huge thank you to their two new mumma for taking on all 3 babies and the love and care you are giving them, and to Jo and Aid for all your hard work, patience, care and love, to get these 3 from what could have been an awful, short life as a feral cat on the streets, to all 3 being cherished and adored forever after x

16/01/2024

*** Gaston *** - Update

This darling boy came into care almost at Christmas Eve.

Neutered, but no chip, but his face rang a bell....

After 2+ weeks of posting all over and trying to find an owner, we are 95% this is "Flint" who was rehomed, by another rescue locally 3 years ago! and escaped his new home within a week!

We have left some time to try and locate owners, in case we were wrong, but to no avail.

Gaston went to the vets yesterday, hes not a well boy :(

Hes drinking far too much, urinating far too much, and all though seems well in himself, also an awful upset tummy.

Bloods have been taken and darling boy looks likes hes in stage 2 of Kidney Disease,. Following all vets advice we are changing his diet ASAP to help him. (there is no meds to help , just a diet change to control)

We will be monitoring him closely and back for bloods again in 3 weeks to hopefully, all paws crossed a change in his blood results.

Everything crossed for our beautiful (huge) man xx

04/01/2024

01/01/2024

We nearly missed it! Happy Birthday to our two gorgeous "forever foster" boys, who came into care with the view to being adopted, and for various reasons couldn't.. and stayed with us always :)

Both long term strays before arrival, so birthdays are "ish"

Happy 10th Birthday (ish) "Sir Fluff"
Happy 12th Birthday (ish) "Chester"

We love you both, very much!

31/12/2023

Wishing all our supporters a very Happy New Year!

Thank you all for your support and help over 2023. Be it simple shares of posts, amazing fund raising, generous gifts, incredible sponsorships or amazing adoptions!

Paws has had to reduce in size the last year or two, but we were still able to to re-home and assist over 30 cats this year, alongside many other reunions of lost and founds etc and advice given for missing cats and poorly cats.

Since founding in 2012, we have rescued and re-homed well over 800 cats and will continue to do so in 2024, with your ongoing love and support.

Huge, Huge, Love to the crew at Paws, who help make all this happen. Our Admin, Our forever fosters, and fosters:

Yvette
Sharon
Ian
Jo R
Jo L
Jo B (so many Jos!)
Aid
Annie
& Zoe

28/12/2023

Welcome this gorgeous boy today. Yet to be named. We THINK is a long term stray.

On going investigations to find either an owner or his background, but he has been sleeping rough a long time.

Welcome sweet boy.

Tonight you are warm, snug and settled sweetheart and out of the rain xx