Poppy – the little cat who just needs someone to believe in her.

Poppy probably isn’t going to be the cat who attracts lots of enquiries.  She’s nervous, she’s cautious, and she needs a very particular kind of home.  We really hope that somewhere out there is someone who will look beyond the fear and see the little cat she is slowly becoming.

At four years old, Poppy suddenly found herself unwanted and came into our foster care after being neutered.  She was incredibly shut down and withdrawn and we had no idea how long it would take before she felt safe enough to show us who she really was.  But slowly, quietly, Poppy has started to make progress and has begun to reveal the cat underneath all that fear.

She now plays with fishing rod toys, has zoomies, and throws her catnip furry rat all over the place.
She has started accepting gentle strokes, even nudging your hand for more.
She LOVES creamy cat treats and will happily take them from your finger.

These might sound like tiny things, but for Poppy, they’re huge.  Every little interaction is a glimpse of the cat who has been hiding behind her nervousness.  Although Poppy still retreats to her safe space when feeling worried or overwhelmed, we believe there’s so much more of her waiting to emerge. 

Poppy has lived with other cats previously, some who may have been her offspring, although we don’t know how comfortable she was in that environment. Her future home will therefore need to be carefully considered around her individual needs.

What Poppy needs most is time.  A quiet home with a patient person, someone who won’t expect instant cuddles or be disheartened if she hides. Someone who understands that earning the trust of an anxious cat doesn’t happen overnight.  She needs an adopter who will allow her to set the pace, and who will recognise that her progress may come in tiny steps.  For the right person, those tiny steps will be incredibly rewarding.  We don’t know exactly how far Poppy will come, we can’t promise that she will ever become a confident lap cat. But we can say that she is already showing us that she wants to engage, that she can play, that she can enjoy affection — and that there is a loving personality waiting to emerge.

Poppy may be the cat that many people scroll past.  But perhaps, somewhere, there is one special person who will see her potential.  We hope so.  Could you be the person willing to wait for Poppy?