Monday, September 7, 2009

Evie

This ladycat is a very very special ladycat for us. We love her. Evie was our first adult foster. When she came to us, we were told she was pregnant. This turned out to be incorrect, but it meant that we got to spend 3 wonderful months with her.
Evie was a real mystery for us. We don't know where she came from, or what she had been through, but we definately think it affected her. From what we understand, she would have come from a breeder. We believe she was a Devon Rex, as she had the curly cat that we understand only occurs in purebred Rexes. We contacted every breeder of Cornish and Devon Rexes in Australia with photos and a description of Evie, hoping to trace where she had come from. Because the people who brought her to the shelter said she was a stray, we thought there could have been a chance that there was someone looking for her. Unfortunately, none of the breeders recognised her. She tested positive to FIV, but we don't know whether this was from an actual infection or a vaccination.
Evie did have some behavioural issues that we believed could have been linked to mistreatment in the past. She used to recoil from hands that came too close to her, and didn't like it at all when somebody walked too close to her (within about 2 metres). It made mum sad to see her flinch and shy away when she went to stroke her, as if she expected mum to hit her. If Evie was sitting in a lap when someone went to stroke her side or back , she would bite. She didn't like to be left alone, and when mum would put her in her room for the night, Evie would run at her and bite her feet and ankles as she went through the door. Needless to say, mum has a few Evie scars to remember her by!
Mum and dad spent a lot of time trying to be patient and gentle with Evie, and show her that she was safe. She slowly started coming around, and the aggressive responses and shying away started to fade away. She remained overly aggressive at the vet though, and sent several vet techs to the doctor with bite wounds. Mum thought there was a good chance that Evie had initially been in a home where she was loved and safe, and was used to affection and gentle touches, but had an experience before coming to us that made her doubt her safety. She was a very good girl when it came to things like cleaning her ears and clipping her nails, and wore a harness very happily.
While Suey and I tried to escape our Halloween outfits, Evie seemed to enjoy being dressed up! She was a fascinating girl, and very special to mum.
We never really got to meet Evie, because she did not like other cats at all. On the one occasion mum tried slowly introducing us, she charged at me and tried to bite my bum. So that was the end of that. She did relax with humans though, and became a really affectionate girl who loved cuddles, and enjoyed meeting human visitors. She was also very patient and gentle with children.
Evie eventually went to a new home in Sydney, where she has a little doggie brother that she has made great friends with, but not before giving mum a major interest in feline behaviour. We hope she will have a very long, happy life with her new family.

19 comments:

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

AWW!! She does look very much like a devon, what a special little girl (and so cute in her costume!!)

Cat with a Garden said...

Evie came a long way thanks to your mom and dad. She looks as special as you describe her.
Purrs!

Poppy Q said...

You guys did such a great job of giving Miss Evie lots of love. We hope she is having an awesome time in her furrever home.

Anonymous said...

Hooray for Evie and getting extra time with you and her 2nd chance at a new life!

Whitey had to learn to trust, and is still learning. Mom has a terrible bitey from Whitey from early on when he first saw Feather at the office - 3 out of 4 fangs went very deep in Mom's leg and left some nasty scars! That is partly why Mom was so nervous about introducing Whitey to Gandalf and Grayson. She did not want Gandalf and Grayson to be bit.

Parker said...

We remember her! We are so happy that she has a great forever home now!

Unknown said...

Evie is so pretty! We is so glad a loving furever home took her in. Sometimes when beans spend just a little bit more time on us, we regain our trust.

Teddy Westlife said...

She's a sweet looking girl! I am glad she found a good home.

Huffle Mawson

Cory said...

She is such a lovely girl and we are happy she found a great home.

Our Nigel still flinches and runs if you try and pet him in an open room. He's quite comfortable and loving if he's on his cat tree or if he's on the bed with mom and dad...he turns into a lovebug mushhead. We know he went through a lot in his years on his own, but he's coming out of it slowly.

JC said...

I'm so glad she found a home ...

Ariel said...

Awww sound like Evie was a tough cutie.I love the Halloween photo and I'm glad she found a good home.

Reese =^..^= said...

Oh, she was so precious!

Daisy said...

She looks like a Devon Rex, for sure! I am so sorry that she went through something to make her so scairt. It's wonderful that your patience and gentleness helped her begin to trust again. I hope she is having a happy life now!

Charlemagne and Tamar said...

We remember reading about Evie and we think your family did a wonderful job with her. We're so glad to hear that she's found her forever home!

Charlemagne and Tamar

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

She had a rough time in between her first home and yours, but your Mom and Dad taught her that life could be good again. We are glad she got her furever home.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

Poor little girl. Thanks to your parents that she learnt to love again. We are glad that she now has a forever home.

Mickey's Musings said...

How wonderful to see Evie again!! Your Mom did such a wonderful job with her. It must have been a bit hard to see her go as she is so lovely :) We are happy she is in a great home now though.
We are happy too, as our computer is fixed!!!!! WOOT, we missed you guys.
Happy Belated Birthday to your Mom!!
Happy Belated Father's Day to your Dad!!!
Purrs Mickey,Georgia & Tillie

The Island Cats said...

We remember Evie! We think it was due to your mum's patience and love that Evie learned to trust again and was able to find a furever home!

Life With Dogs said...

Good luck in your new home Evie. I love happy endings!

Amy & the house of cats said...

Oh Evie is such a pretty girl. She is lucky to have found a caring and patient foster home to help her be less afraid.