Size
(when grown) -
Details
Not good with kids,
Needs experienced adopter,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Shale is an adult male cat who is estimated to be 2-3 years old. He was caught as part of a TNR project but was in rough shape, so it was decided he would stay indoors long enough to heal before being put back. During his stay it become apparent that he is actually a friendly cat who is believed to have been raised by people and either lost or dumped.
Over the months I have had Shale, I have seen him transform from a skeleton of a cat to a fluffy and playful boy. He likes to play with toys such as mouse toys, spring toys, and other individual toys that can be batted around, but he especially loves to play in the tunnel and to pounce on things. A wand toy that is pulled around a corner and/or object is his favorite to pounce on and he has one of the best butt wiggles.
When he's not playing, Shale is a relaxed guy who likes to chill in a cat bed or on a chair nearby. A sunny spot is always a go to or my computer chair, which he steals from me every chance he gets. He likes to be pet, not near his butt or tail, but all around the head, his chin, and especially the bridge of his nose. He is not very vocal, but has meowed when locked into a room. His cuddliness is untested as he is currently limited to 2 rooms, neither of which has a bed or couch.
Since Shale is of unknown origin we can only speculate on him, but it seems he may have been raised alone as he has trouble interacting with other cats. It appears that he wants to play and interact but doesn't understand that other cats might not immediately like him. He comes across as almost aggressive in his behavior due to his actions, such as staring at the other cat and walking right on over without caution. Due to this, it is not recommended that he be adopted into a home with another cat unless adopter is experienced enough to do a very slow introduction and aware that it might not work.
Additionally, Shale needs an experienced cat owner as he has a few bad habits from being raised alone. He is very playful, but doesn't understand that his claws and teeth can hurt you. It is likely that he was played with as a kitten and learned that a person's hands are toys and doesn't know not to be rough. We have been working with him and he has reduced this behavior tremendously, but it does still happen, so he should not be adopted into a home with any young children for safety reasons. His nails can be cut, he is reasonable about it. Petting Shale is a game of chance sometimes, once again due to his playful nature he will try to wrestle your arm.
He is not very used to being picked up but tolerates it for a minute before wiggling to be put down. He does not like being brushed but he does need it occasionally.
Overall, Shale is a good cat, who with more training and proper correction can become a great cat. He needs someone patient who is willing to work with his flaws and love him for who he is becoming.
