LOCAL CAT: Atticus

Atticus came to the shelter in late April. He’s been with us for months largely due to the fact that he was so reserved when he was first moved into the adoptable cat room that he would not come out of his cage for a month, though we gave him plenty of opportunity to do so, and also gave him a wide berth. It’s not so much that he seemed terrified to come OUT, more like he just wasn’t sure how he would fit IN. After a month, one of the better cat handlers just picked him up and hustled him into the small kitten playroom to get him used to being out of his cage. And yes, he was very frightened at first, burying his face in her elbow whenever she took him out, but then he discovered something he might not have known before: He really likes other cats. Especially male cats. He’s fine with female cats, but he really seems to connect with the other male cats he’s met at the shelter, and he’s met a variety of them by now. The more social males tend to bring him out more, as he enjoys following them around like a happy sidekick. When he has only a timid cat for company, he sits with that cat and enjoys what limited companionship the other cat is able to provide. We have seen enough of this by now to feel confident that Atticus will make a great sidekick for a more social cat who needs a friend, and one who needs a friend that won’t be dominant. None of his friends at the shelter has been a dominant cat, so if you have a cat that is more submissive, but social, and needs a buddy who won’t threaten him, Atticus is a great choice. And the more time he spends with a social companion cat, the more he connects with his humans at the shelter. So, we think that getting him into a home with a nice companion cat will help him get over his remaining reservations about making the same connection with humans. He’s not afraid of us, doesn’t run and hide from us — he is just very reserved with us. While we’re confident a home with another cat is what’s best for Atticus, we honestly can’t say how he feels about dogs. We just have not had a “cat friendly” dog at the shelter that we can trust to test with cats. He might actually enjoy being a companion to a gentle, laid-back dog that has lived with cats before and is not aggressive towards them. And if it doesn’t work out with your cat, or your dog, we will gladly take him back and try again with another home. Though he is very fond of other cats and might learn to love a dog, we don’t think an active home with young children would be good for him. Atticus needs a quieter home. Atticus is estimated to be just 2 years old, is neutered, box-trained, current on vaccinations, tested negative for FIV and feline leukemia, and received de-wormers and flea treatments. Adoption fee is $50. Personal checks are accepted from R.I. residents only; all others may pay by credit/debit card or money order, payable to “Town of Scituate.” No cash is accepted. For more information or an application, email [email protected] or call the shelter at (401) 647-7200. PLEASE NOTE, we have been having an issue receiving emails sent via the Petfinder link — it’s an inconsistent problem, and we can’t say when it’s working and when it isn’t. If you email and do not get a response within 24 hours, please call the shelter at (401) 647-7200 and leave your phone number, and we’ll call back as soon as possible. You can also visit the shelter during regular hours: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 7 to 11 a.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. But coordinating a visit with a volunteer Atticus knows well would be best. You can also access a downloadable application by scrolling down the Town of Scituate’s Animal Control page: https://cms5.revize.com/revize/townofscituate/scituate%20ri%20cat%20adopt%20form%20rev%200922.pdf Please email all PDF applications to [email protected] for faster processing.