Eleanor

Meet Eleanor

Eleanor:

Eleanor is a `mature` gal who will need a close relationship with a veterinarian. She is considered a hospice cat due to mammary cancer. Interested potential adopters can learn more about her medical history and prognosis during their visit to meet Eleanor.

I have the potential to be a sweet, gentle companion with a very cat-savvy adopter who is willing to put in the extra effort to help me come out of my shell. I would be ideal for a gentle, quiet adopter looking to help out a cat, but one that has low expectations for who that cat is and what I might become. Someone who will `let me be who I am` type of person.

I have excellent history living with other cats! I would most often be found playing with my housemates and I really enjoyed having feline friends. BUT one of the cats from our group just tested positive for FeLV. The rest of us tested negative, but out of caution, we cannot be adopted into a home with an existing cat unless that cat is FeLV positive. And we need to be re-tested in six months for the final determination of our FeLV status. Feline leukemia is a disease that only affects cats it cannot be transmitted to people, dogs, or other animals. FeLV is passed from one cat to another through saliva, blood, and to some extent, urine and feces. The disease is often spread by apparently healthy cats, so even if a cat appears healthy, it may be infected and able to transmit the virus.

Expectations should be kept low at first, and understand that I will need time (weeks to a month+) to show more of my true personality. Based on history in my previous home, I will always be a bit skittish with new people, so a low-traffic, quiet home will be best for me. I will be great with people within my bubble after time, but I am not the type of cat to go up and greet visitors.

I should have a slow transition to my new home, starting in one room where I can decompress after my transition out of my shelter stay. My adopter should be comfortable with keeping me confined for as long as it takes for me to be displaying calm, confident, affiliative body language and be using my litter box 100% reliably for several days in a row. My adopter should plan for no less than two weeks, but it could take longer for me to settle in. Once I am ready to more beyond the initial confinement space, my adopter should be prepared to give slow/incremental access to the rest of the home. This may involve small outings into the rest of the house with most doors closed, or simply allowing for access to one additional room at a time over the course of a few weeks or longer.

It must be stressed strongly that she needs to adapt at her own pace and that she is who she is and needs a patient understanding person who will not push or expect her to be anything else than who she is. Her adopter is encouraged to reach out with any questions on how to help her adjust at home!

My ideal adopter will express an understanding that patience is the name of the game with me, and that I will do best going as slow as possible.

The shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon 4:30pm, with no appointment needed to meet available cats.

Compatibility:
Cats: Because the final determination of my FeLV status will not be known until my second test in six months, I cannot be adopted into a home with a healthy cat.
Dogs: Possibly if mellow, cat-savvy, and will respect the cat`s space and not chase.
Kids: Older, quiet and cat-savvy