Floof or not floof...?

Winston's new look  (KH)

When Oscar and Winston came to the Sanctuary late last year, they had been surrendered to us for peeing problems – which our vets diagnosed as idiopathic cystitis. A period in a cage on a special diet was followed by release in the SingleWide, and no signs of stress that might provoke another flare-up.

Oscar & Winston out and about together (KH)

We hoped that they might settle down to an adoptable extent, but it appears that one or both of them still love to leave their signature as soon as a determined volunteer or staff member has scrubbed crucial corners down – those places cannot be left pee-free, and our boys are right on the spot to deliver!  We have had several cats who have been surrendered for bad bathroom habits that have probably been stress-related (think: a new baby, a noisy dog next door, family violence) and have shown no sign of it when with us, but when the habit continues, it’s more habit than stress. 

Looking alike, after their early shave cuts   (KH)

So Oscar and Winston have become permanent residents of the SingleWide.  When they first arrived they had had a pretty major shave in order to deal with an infestation of fleas, and they were both obviously embarrassed by their nakedness. But a nice warm cage in the office, and a procession of visitors to make a fuss of them did much to make them feel better about things, and eventually they were released to have the run of the building.

Oscar  (KN)

We tend to speak of them as brothers, but in fact Oscar is a British Shorthair, and Winston is a British Longhair. From his admission pic, we had an idea of how his fur would grow, but it felt like it had a mind of its own – over the past six months it grew and grew... Oscar recovered his fuzz and looked very teddy-bear-ish, but Winston seemed to get larger...    

(KH)

and larger...

(KH)

Cats with Persian genes – and there’s certainly Persian in a British Longhair – need regular grooming, and as the Sanctuary Salon blog illustrated, we don’t have enough groomers to stay on top of all the matting that goes on.  Winston looked wonderful, but under all the floof there were some nasty mats, and he was not happy about having them dealt with – so he was one of the cats who went to the hospital to have a complete lion-cut.

Posing...  (KH)

It’s obvious that he really approves!  From a cat who preferred lying around like a large dust-bunny, Winston has become active and enthusiastic about exploring – he can be found climbing on top of the cages more than being tucked in his favourite cat-retreat.  As the weather cools, he’s not affected – he can stay in the warmth, or venture out on the deck for a little fresh air, as he pleases.

Pre-cut, and still well-furred  (KH)

Unlike his initial get-rid-of-those-fleas cut, when everything came off, he has the classic lion-cut, so his wonderful head floof is still in place, and his legs sport home-grown Uggs – not quite the same length, but I don’t think he’s too concerned about fashion.  What does concern him is that he feels light and mobile again, and obviously enjoys the attention the new look has brought him.

Winston at optimal fur-length   (KN)

We're going to have to keep a close eye on him and give him a trim more frequently - perhaps find someplace between the extremes he's lived with this year.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Kim Howe & Karen Nicholson