What makes Platypus, in our estimation, a kitty who's going to be difficult to find a home for in spite of his abundant charms? Well, it’s certain "body problem". Please read on and, if you wish to learn more about meeting him at your home and giving him a trial adoption, please be sure to email
[email protected] with your answers to the questions asked below in this description - everyone who sends in answers to the questions will get a prompt reply!
Platypus would make a tremendous life companion for the kind of person (or people) who would "get" him. Many of his ways of interacting with a human match the things on those videos about "signs your cat has imprinted on you" that you may have seen on YouTube. He's got a lovely, baby-ish squeal, even though he's no longer a baby kitten (he was born in late April 2022). He squeals with excitement when he sees you and jumps on the chair or sofa just as you sit down - underneath your butt rather than on your lap as he intended to time it! He's definitely a lap-kitty and you may find that a lot of the pictures you take of him are from an underneath-him angle as he blisses out kneading (and drooling on) your shirt. Good vibrations (literally - because he purrrrrrs)!
He's polite when it comes to sleeping with you at night (once he is done kneading himself into a slumberous stupor), preferring to nestle for the night in the crook of your armpit. Though he likes to play and run around, as any healthy kitten does, he doesn't get crazy or aggressive. Well, not too crazy too often. His personality is on the quiet, timid side, even though he shows vigor and humor when at play (he's not super-intelligent; in fact, he's somewhat simple). He is just the sort of kitty who forms a special bond with his person or people, all the stronger for being exclusive of new/extra people. Those videos explaining about "the signs your cat is attached to you" could use Platypus as a model of the behavior - the squealing vocalizations, the kneading, the lap-taking-over.
But then there is his "body problem" - i.e., he's got a drool issue. He's so happy and purry to see you and to be on your lap kneading and purring that the stuff just flows from his mouth. It’s not so bad when it pours or drips from his mouth; it's when it is more viscous and STAYS there hanging like a solid (syrup? an icicle of drool?) on his chin and whiskers...that's when I think some people would have trouble with him and find him (or it) "unacceptable". You can't resist reaching over to wipe it off his fur, and then it comes back. It's because he's so happy to be with you, and that's touching, but when the drool itself touches your skin - actually, you have to laugh! He's so unself-conscious about how off-putting it can be!
Other potential issues with/about Platypus are his kneading and a kind of outgoing, gregarious timidity. He loves to knead, often doing it on one side of you before changing his position so he can do it on the other side of you. Restlessly, in other words, until he finally soothes himself down into still sleepiness. This can really, seriously hurt if you don't have a sweater, blanket or cushion between his kneading paws and your skin or light clothing. As for his timidity, he gets weird inspirations to go running under a bed, and then just as soon running out again with a happy squeal to see what you are doing in his absence. Sometimes he doesn't seem to know if he wants to run away from you or run towards you, darting his head into your hand so you'll pet him, wrapping his tail all around you to keep YOU from getting away. He's probably never going to be the sort of kitty who is confident with people he doesn't know well. Psychologically, he's honestly a bit of a mess, in a trembly-rabbit sort of way, without ever being mean or scary or genuinely unsocial. (He likes to be where the action is, particularly if he's the one making the noise, by zooming around and bouncing into and out of your lap.)
In addition to his in-your-face "kneadiness" and his taking over of your lap/legs/chest when you might have things to do standing up, he can also show a small independent streak, which is convenient if you can't be home with him all the time.
Because of these issues, we are happy to have him brought to a home for a "trial adoption" or foster period to see how things go. If interested in trying a trial adoption of Platypus in your home, please write in with your answers to the questions below. If we think that based on the answers she and you sound like a good match, we will ask to exchange references and to arrange a time/day for him to come to your home. Everyone who answers the questions is guaranteed to receive a prompt reply! Thanks!
1. What diet/nutrition would you feed Platypus? Please be specific about what brands of dry food (if any) you would feed him, what brands of canned food (if any) you would feed him, and what brands of raw food (if any) you would feed him, providing the approximate ratio of dry to wet (canned or raw/homemade) food you would offer. If you would let him graze overnight or during the day, please mention that too. Thanks!
2. What are your views, pro or con, in declawing?
3. What are your views, pro or con, on neutering/spaying?
4. Under what circumstances, if any, would you consider parting with him? (We are 100% no-kill and would ask to take him back if for any reason at any time you no longer had him in your family/household.)
5. Would Platypus be indoor only, outdoor only, or a mixture of the two?
6. What kind of water and what type/brand of cat litter would you offer him
7. What kind of domicile would you share with him (rented apartment, trailer, owned house, rented house, dorm, yurt, etc.) and what other humans and non-humans would live there with you and him?
8. It can be really helpful in determining a good match for us to know something about you - particularly interests/hobbies/leisure pursuits and your source of income (such as job or profession), since cat care can sometimes be expensive. You can also add details, if you wish, such as your previous experiences caregiving for cats, dog-sitting, volunteering; your age; and so forth.
9. If there's anything about Platypus in his looks or his description that appeals to you, "speaking to you", please let us know what it is!
