WHEN Jodi Claxton took on two cats to foster, she already had three of her own.
“I had my three boys – William, Henry and Ralphie – who has since sadly died,” she says. “Yorkshire Cat Rescue was looking for somewhere ideally with no other cats, but my house has four floors, so I said I could keep them separate.”
Jodi was perfectly suited to fostering Kammy and his brother Polo, who suffered from a long-term health condition.
“One of my cats, Lucy had suffered from the same condition – hyperthyroidism – so I knew all about it and knew how to care for him.”
Hyperthyroidism in cats is a condition in which the thyroid glands in the neck develop abnormal tissue and produce too much thyroid hormone, causing bodily functions to speed up.
Kammy and Polo has arrived at Yorkshire Cat Rescue in Cross Roads, Keighley, after a family member from their previous home could no longer look after them due to allergy.
“I had no idea what they looked like before they arrived,” says Jodi. “I took them into their room and opened the cat boxes. Kammy was stunning with long, thick fur. Polo could not have looked more different. Because he was ill he had clearly not been grooming himself and his fur had become matted. He had been shaved and looked like a little gremlin, but was the cutest thing I had ever seen. He bonded with me immediately.”
Polo had to be shaved as his fur had become matted
Polo soon settled in
Jodi, of Holmfirth, who runs a doggie day care centre and also cares for cats when people are on holiday, knew that Polo would need more attention due to his illness.
“I have a lot of experience of all types of animals, so know what to do, and you are massively supported by the cat rescue,” she says. “They are super – I cannot fault them. They supply you with everything – they provided so much food and litter when the cats arrived and they provide all the treatment and medication if needed. There were a couple of vets visits I couldn’t go to, so they came and collected the cats and took them to their appointments.”
Over time, Polo’s fur grew back. “He looked amazing. They are such beautiful cats – I think they are Siberian forest cats.”
Kammy in one of his favourite spots
Kammy relaxing on the cat scratcher
Kammy and Polo were happy to be around Jodi’s other cats. “They were real characters. Polo was very possessive of me and he would chase William. Kammy used to sleep around my partner Lee’s neck. They were lovely.”
After six months, Jodi wanted to keep Kammy and Polo, but a new owner had come forward and was a good match for the pair.
Kammy
Polo
“The hardest thing is that you want to keep them, but I was happy that they were going to a nice owner.
“I made him a book telling him all about them and we keep in touch. I really enjoyed fostering, it is very rewarding. I would definitely do it again.”
*If you are interested in fostering a cat please contact yorkshirecatrescue.org; Tel: 01535 647184. Phone lines are open every day from 1pm to 4pm, except Wednesday.
