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Sam's Story
I rehomed Sam, a 9 and a half month old beautiful blue colour
point Ragdoll, on 15 June 2005. Here is my rehoming story.
My old tabby Persian cross, coincidentally also called Sam, died
on 3 June 2005 and we were heartbroken. He left a big gap in our
lives. We still had Bonnie, a 12 year old black and white longhaired
moggie, whom we had desperately tried to socialise in the year
that we had had her, but still wasn't a very affectionate house
cat, and preferred to spend most of her time in the garden, especially
since Sam died. We needed another cat to love and cherish more
than anything, not to replace Sam, but to give a loving home to.
I looked at the local CPL site and every cat that I liked could
not be rehomed with either other cats or children, hmm, big problem!
I looked further one afternoon on the internet, and looked at
my bookmarked pages which I had put aside many months earlier
while browsing. One of them was for the UK Ragdoll Cat Community!
My love affair with Ragdolls has stretched back many, many years
to when I was first married and got my very first cats from a
local rescue centre, quickly followed by my beloved British Blue
boy and Sam (senior). I researched all cat breeds and quickly
fell in love with Ragdolls, both for their temperament and their
beauty and character. I read up about them, poured over their
pictures, but at that time felt I could (a) not afford one, and
(b) did not want to keep an indoor cat as I worked full time.
The years passed but I did not forget Ragdolls and still had a
secret wish to have a Ragdoll one day, but I didn't ever think
it would happen as we were not in a position financially to buy
another pedigree cat.
I browsed the UKRCC site and found that they had a rehoming section
for Ragdolls! I couldn't believe it - I was more than willing
to give a nice loving home to a Ragdoll if we were suitable, so
now it was just the case of emailing and enquiring about rehoming.
(These days I only worked part time so we were both around at
home much more, and a Ragdoll was a possibility). This done, I
really didn't think I would get anywhere, but within a few days
of receiving my courtesy email reply from Helen at UKRCC, she
phoned me! I was driving down the M3 at the time and gave my phone
to my son who answered, and when he said it was a lady from the
Ragdoll rehoming group, my heart started pounding I was so excited!
I phoned Helen back and couldn't believe my luck when she asked
me whether I would consider giving a home to a Ragdoll called
Sam who needed rehoming. He had unfortunately been let out with
his companion Raggie Ben, and Ben had tragically been killed on
a busy nearby road. Their owner was desperate to rehome Sam so
that he didn't succumb to this either. Sam was used to going outside,
and was said to scratch if he couldn't go out and Helen knew I
had a secure garden well away from roads. However, as Raggies
really do need to stay indoors, I was asked if I could keep him
in, as long as he did not get overly stressed, to keep him safe.
Everything sounded great. We have a long garden, backing on the
village church, which although not totally secure, having fences
which can be jumped over by most cats, it is on a no through road
and well away from any busy roads. However, I made up my mind
that I would try to keep Sam in and safe if at all possible. Arrangements
were made for a Rehoming visitor to visit me the next day, and
the lovely Liz Percival drove down to meet us and check our suitability.
Luckily, we passed! Liz also fell in love with our mad cat Bonnie.
The next thing we needed to do was to arrange to collect Sam,
who luckily was only an hour and a half away. I arranged this
for 15 June, my next day off work, and I took my elderly friend
Brian with me for company and help. I didn't want to be driving
all alone with a cat meowing all the way home and wanted to be
able to talk and reassure him.
Sam lived in the lap of luxury in an exclusive area complete with
electronic gates! He was hiding behind the sofa but I coaxed him
out easily and was overcome with gladness and sadness all at the
same time; sadness at the fact that he would be leaving his lovely
home and his very upset owner, but joy that I had been given this
wonderful opportunity to care for such a lovely animal. Sam was
indeed a very beautiful and playful boy, getting up to all sorts
of mischievous tricks in his old home. He also came and sat besides
Brian and I on the sofa for strokes, and was so relaxed that he
actually slid off the sofa and onto the floor! Apparently, this
gave Sam's owner all the satisfaction that she needed for him
to be so relaxed with someone that he slid off the sofa! She said
he didn't take to some people and didn't like her cleaning lady
at all. Sam's owner was very generous and provided me with his
litter tray and a supply of litter, plus food and brushes and
a scratching post, so that he would be used to his own things.
She also gave me his carrying box.
After about an hour of going through Sam's history and health
etc, the time came for Sam's owner to say her goodbyes. After
a very tearful farewell and a promise that I would let her have
photos, updates and calls and that she could visit whenever she
liked, we commenced the journey home. Sam miowed pittifully all
way home, and seemed very upset, pawing away at his bedding in
his carry box and making it a right mess!
Finally, we reached home and I could let Sam out of his basket.
I placed it on the floor in the dining room, placed his litter
tray in the kitchen and put some food out for him. I shut the
door to upstairs and also shut the lounge off so that he was just
contained in these two rooms. For the next couple of hours Sam
explored everywhere, looking curiously at his new home. I was
pleased that he didn't just run and hide and was thankful that
he was out in my company exploring. He didn't want to eat or go
in his litter tray and finally tiredness overcame him and Sam
retreated under the tv unit in the dining room and there he stayed
for the next 3 or so hours!
By the time Mike came home from work, Sam was still under the
unit, so Mike had a look at him under there and couldn't believe
how big he was!! I had to go out to the school in the evening.
When I got home, Sam had come out and greeted his new "daddy"
and they had already shared a lovely cuddle and had had a brush.
Later on, Sam came and sat between us on the sofa for strokes!
It was difficult trying to stop the children running after Sam
all the time, as they were anxious to meet the new addition to
the family, but we all managed to give Sam plenty of time to settle
into his new home and with a bit of time he ventured out from
under the bed more and more, and by day 3 was eating more than
just the odd nibble of food and was drinking and toileting normally.
By the end of the first week, Sam was really well settled in and
seemed very very happy. He was so affectionate, so gentle and
so relaxed!
To complete our family, we also rehomed a Maine Coon about 3 weeks
after Sam arrived. I had enquired about the possibility of rehoming
an older maine coon at the same time as I enquired about a Ragdoll,
as I love both breeds and love both their gentle loving easy going
natures. Bella was a retired breeding queen, aged 3, and we had
booked to go and see her even before Sam came home. Having got
Sam settled, we discussed it over and over and felt that Sam would
probably like some company on the odd days we were both at work.
It was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off hugely, and straight
away Sam and Bella took to each other straight away and are now
best of friends.
It is so rewarding rehoming any animal, but I am so glad that
I did rehome Sam. Hopefully I have avoided any possible harm coming
to him outside as he is kept totally indoors and shows no stress
being kept indoors. I haven't even used the harness I bought "just
in case". He seems very at home and settled. He is a young
cat, now just one year old, and still very playful. He probably
still has some growing to do and his coat will maybe fill out
more too.
I am so pleased to know he is safe indoors and happy with his
companion Bella. Sam is so loved and I am just so grateful to
have had the opportunity to love him and care for him.
Claire Florit
25 August 2005
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