Lucky's Story
In 2022, we were asked if we could help with a cat who was living outdoors in all weathers. A cat with a messy, dirty coat and too scared to approach people, but begging for food. We were sent this photo.
The cat had been living in the bushes alongside a very busy, fast train line. Not a very safe or peaceful environment at all for any animal.
Being so hungry for food, the cat was able to be caught relatively quickly by setting up our cat trap with tasty treats.
He was caught on a Friday 13th, and thankfully didn't have any visible injuries, considering where he had been living.
We called him "Lucky".
On Lucky's arrival at All Cat Rescue, he was placed in a cosy pen, with an indoor and outdoor area.
Seeing him up close, it was obvious that he had been living outdoors and fending for himself for some years.
His long coat was dirty, and he was quite stinky (unneutered males usually pong). Poor Lucky was very scared and wary of humans, and would cower and hiss if anyone got too close.
We took him for a health check at the vets, and - because no owner had been located - he was booked in for future vet visits, to get everything he needed: neuter, microchip and vaccinations.
However, as with all arrivals at All Cats Rescue, he needed some time to adjust, and for staff to assess him. We had no idea at this point whether he could eventually be homed in a domestic environment.
Over days and weeks, Lucky's appearance started to improve.
There was no need to subject a scared cat to the traumatic experience of being handled and bathed when there is just plain dirt and no nasty substances on their fur.
Now sleeping somewhere clean, and having access to fresh drinking water, he was able to properly groom his coat for the first time in ages.
Where his fur had looked grey on arrival, it was now starting to show it's proper colour.. a smart, brilliant white!
It wasn't just Lucky's appearance that was changing either!
Although he still wasn't keen on anyone getting too close, he had been spotted waiting at the front of his pen for staff to arrive, as if looking forward to visits.
We had been keeping up our routines of serving him his meals and cleaning his pen while chatting to him in gentle, friendly tones, and we were starting to see a difference in his reaction to us.
Whereas before he would mostly keep his distance and give us a distrusting side-eye, he was now sitting up nearby, and listening to us with a curious look on his sweet face.
and then... one day, as staff went into his pen to start cleaning, and doing the usual - chatting to him gently, asking him about his day - Lucky just walked straight over, propped himself up on staff's leg, and gave a friendly head butt!
From that moment on, Lucky's trust in humans was back, and he wanted to be stroked and smoothed every time staff visited. He was of course duly showered with as much attention as he wanted.
We were just so happy to finally know that Lucky could eventually be homed in a domestic environment as a beloved pet, and be cared for and loved forever.
Lucky indeed found himself a loving forever home, and he is completely doted on by his family, who he adores.
We can't tell you how happy it makes us that he is now living his best life - as evidenced by the update photos we are kindly sent.
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