OK. Photos simply cannot do justice in showing how unbelievably gorgeous this lovely little boy is...he is a mackerel tabby, a little under a year old, sweet, mellow, loves other cats...and has a story to tell!
Sometime late last summer, this boy (who was a small kitten at the time) was part of a group of cats living in an elderly woman's backyard. Little Benji got curious and who knows how he did it, but this little guy found a way into the basement. But once he got in, he couldn't get back out. The woman started hearing sounds in her basement pipes and furnace room, but she never saw anything. She started putting food out, and low and behold, it was being eaten. She gave him a litter box and began feeding him closer to her basement bedroom. Fast-forward to this spring, and little Benji now gets into her lap and rubs his cheeks against hers, begging to be petted.
Still, he was always kept in the basement and never given the proper space or love that he deserves. His life there was pretty dismal at best. Due to her health, the woman can no longer take care of this poor boy, and regardless, he deserves a better situation than this one.
We moved Benji to a foster home a few weeks ago, and he's doing great. Since then he has been neutered and vaccinated, and he tested negative for FIV & FeLV. He's healthy and ready for a permanent home, or for another foster home - his current one is only short-term, and that term is nearly up!
Benji is VERY mellow. He is not shy, but he is timid. He LOVES being petted - his purrs are proof - and he'll sit in your lap all afternoon if you keep on scratching his chin and rubbing his ears. He is curious, but not especially playful - I don't think he ever had any toys or playmates growing up in that basement, sadly...and yet he loves other cats - especially kittens or young cats around his age.
I think Benji would make a great companion cat...if you're looking for a mellow guy who's content to lie around most of the day and who won't be raising a ruckus, Benji's your guy. If you have a kitten or young cat who could use a Buddy to curl up with, Benji's your guy! If you just want to stare for hours at his incredible swirls, stripes, and markings, Benji is your guy! He'd love to be your guy - if you or anyone know might be interested, please PM me and I can tell you more about him and arrange a visit. Thanks!
ps - New (and much better) photos of Benji enjoying some lap time and petting will be uploaded soon. He is much smaller than he appears in pictures for some reason...maybe camera adds a pound for cats?
Truly, he is a very petit boy and I think he'll stay small.
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