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30th October 2024

How long can an affectionate cat with love to share be overlooked? That is the question posed by puzzled volunteers at a Sussex animal charity as a loving senior cat marks six months in care.

Meet Merlin, a laid-back and charming 14-year-old cat who had lived with his elderly owner since he was a kitten and was taken in by a benevolent family member when the woman was unable to care adequately for Merlin any longer. 

When he didn’t take well to living with the family’s other cat, Merlin was reluctantly relinquished to the volunteer-led team at Cats Protection Mid Sussex. 

During his time in care, other cats have been successfully rehomed while Merlin has been repeatedly passed over. Now the charity is appealing for a loving home for this black and white chap, ideally with a quiet garden to explore. Given his recent experience, Merlin shouldn’t be homed with dogs or other cats. 

But that is proving easier said than done, Team Leader Liz Gross said: “As much as we like to see Merlin’s little face every morning, be greeted by his mews, it’s upsetting to know he had to spend yet another night alone in our care. 

“I can see in his eyes that he misses his home comforts. Merlin enjoys the company of people, especially a warm lap where he can enjoy lots of fuss, but he has to sleep alone in his pen every night wondering if he’ll ever have a loving home again.

“Merlin has lost his mojo and we need someone special to help get it back. That’s not too much to ask.”

Merlin is one of a growing number of older cats finding it hard to find new homes, Cats Protection reports. Across the charity’s centres this year, it has taken an average 39 days to rehome cats aged one up to seven years but those aged more than seven years old take significantly longer - 51 days. 

With age, the time in care only increases and senior cats like Merlin (11-15 years) take an average 56 days to be rehomed by the centres. Elderly cats (15 years and over) get the toughest break, with an average of 67 days in care.

Often, adopters pick kittens without realising that an older cat would better suit their home and lifestyle. To help find the best feline fit, Cats Protection works to match potential adopters to their ideal new cat.

Liz said “It is never easy to home an older cat but it seems worse than ever. It’s such a shame as these older cats have so much love still to give but people seem reluctant to give them a chance at life. 

“Older cats can make ideal pets and often integrate more easily into a new family. When they have lived most of their lives in a loving home it can be traumatic to suddenly find themselves spending nights alone in a pen. When they are homed, they can be so affectionate and appreciative of regaining their home comforts.”

Merlin has been neutered, his vaccinations are up to date and he is microchipped in line with the law. 

To enquire about Merlin or any of the Mid Sussex cats visit www.cats.org.uk/midsussex, email adoption@midsussex.cats.org.uk or call 01444 647 012.

Ends

For more information, please contact Cats Protection’s Media Office on media.office@cats.org.uk or by calling 01825 741 911.  

https://www.cats.org.uk/mediacentre 

Notes to editors

  1. Cats Protection helps an average of 184,000 cats and kittens a year through its national network which includes around 200 volunteer-run branches and 32 centres.
  2. Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity, founded in 1927 as the Cats Protection League. Please use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity.
  3. Cats Protection is a registered Charity No. 203644 (England and Wales), SC037711 (Scotland) and is listed as a Section 167 Institution by the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (06772997). Registered office National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT
  4. Visit the charity’s media centre
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