Alf and Sam's Story

We have been a cat lovers all our lives and have been extraordinarily lucky to have adopted cats that have given so much unconditional love and devotion.

Our last cat a rescue Russian Blue, named Blue, died about two and a half years ago. We were devastated. He had a long and happy life but he developed liver cancer which eventually took him away from us at the age of 17 or 18. He is buried in a local copse called Bluebell Wood. He rests under a lovely tree. We NEVER expected to home another cat as he was so special to us and our kids.

One day I typed in Ragdoll Rescue on the computer.......clicked on UKRCC and browsed the site where the rescue cats were shown. I looked for a number of weeks and made some enquiries. I then told my husband that I was looking for a new cat! Our boys were in the care of the Cats Protection League in Gwent, South Wales. Being cats that required specialist needs they were placed in the care of the UKRCC. That's where we came in.......

What luck....two beautiful, affectionate little boys were looking for a home. Their names were Chester and Winston at that time. They came to live with us and were officially renamed Alf (a two year old Norwegian Forest Cat) and Sam (a four year old Ragdoll) the "Boys".

Sam is a soft grey and white with blue eyes to die for, Alf is rose and white with green..green eyes that melt the heart.

Sam is a huge Raggie who squashes Alf when he decides to sit on him. Alf seems to be made of plasticine he spreads out like a fur rug and doesn't seem to mind at all! Alf grooms every person that he is in contact with cupping is huge paws on your face, if he can reach it. It's like being rasped by rough sandpaper. We all make weird faces and groan as he scratches his tongue over and over on our faces but we never move away....don't want to offend the little chap!

They boys have changed all of our lives for the better. Retiring suddenly through ill health I found that I had a lot of time on my hands. The kids were away and my husband was at work. The boys fill my day with joy. We spend breakfast together in the conservatory, tea and toast for me, Whiskas for the boys. Lunch in the kitchen, tea and a sandwich for me, prawns for the boys. Dinner in the lounge . Dinner for the boys ,(not us)is followed by a stretch, yawn a quick wash and brush up of the fur and bed.....exhausted!!!

Have to share this with you, the boys adore prawns and will do lots of tricks to get them. Sam sits, begs, wave his paw as if he is saying goodbye and will shake your hand. He tries to "eat" water as it trickles from the tap...always ends up with a earful! My husband gave them ice cubes to chase on the kitchen floor one day....literally they play ice hockey it's hysterical to watch. Not so good for me though I have to mop the floor after play had finished!

I hope this story will make people who are interested in adopting a feline friend a flavour of the fun, love, joy and sense of commitment that goes with the territory of the relationship between a rescue cat and the adopter. These cats may come with a little baggage at first and will need comfort, love and patience initially but be strong and love will win through!

May I take this opportunity to thank the UKRCC, Helen in particular and all the other volunteers for their often unsung background work, you are appreciated by all of us.

Alf and Sam have their say......

Hi Human Buddies

We are "The Boys from Wales" I am four year old Raggie and my mate is a two year old Norweigian Forest Cat. We started off life in a loving home but circumstances changed and we were put into the care of the Cats Protection League where we were put up for adoption.

The CPL contacted Helen who placed us on the UKRCC website.

Helen our guardian angel wrote a short synopsis of our character and showed a few mug shots. This did the trick. My human Mum and Dad saw the website and hey presto we were adopted!

Mum said that we have made their house a home and breathed life into what was once a black hole. My Dad says "cat litter tray needs cleaning!"

The advantages of being older are being trained to toilet appropriately. Our characters and characteristics were known, making it easier to be matched closely as possible to our new family. Injected, flealess and healthy. Purrrrrfect in every way.

Life is sweet when the love is on both sides of the equation. We only need a chance, just a little time to prove ourselves and we won't disappoint. Having years of life and love to give.

We give our love unconditionally, even more unconditionally if we are bribed with a succulent prawn!

Loveable rouges, devoted companions, appealing sweeties that's us!

We Raggies are easy to train. I can beg with dignity, wave my paw to say goodbye, (gets them every time), stalk my mouse with conviction, sit on command...a show stopper.. and nag , my speciality. My mate....well.... he is pretty to look at!

Hoping this gives you a flavour of what we "mature" cats have to offer and tempt you to consider cats like us who are in need of loving homes.

"It's goodbye from me and it's good bye from him!"

Sam the Raggie and Alf the Norweigian Forest Cat