Lucky in love at last ...
31 May 2016
A down-on-his-luck black cat is now in seventh-heaven with his new family – especially so in the arms of 10-year-old Leah Bolton of Great Barr.
Boyfriend was first popped on the Cats Protection North Birmingham ‘directs service’ page of the website after he was discovered abandoned in Stockland Green. His finder Lee decided on the name ‘Boyfriend’ as it seemed he’d very much like to make friends with her own cat Freya. However, she was having none of it!
Lee would love to have kept him – if only Freya had agreed. But instead she paid for him to be neutered and microchipped, gave him an igloo in the garden to shelter him from wind and rain at night, fed and watered him, and put out a plea for a new real home for the very friendly boy.
Says Lee: “We did find him a home in Erdington, and the adopter adored him, but this time it was Boyfriend who would have none of it. Once she allowed him out, he found his way back to my garden – a very long walk crossing dozens of roads – and we appealed again for someone from further afield to give him a home. We knew it was a big ask, as older plain black cats are not the most popular.”
But along came the Bolton family of Great Barr – comprising grown-ups Dion and John, teenager Thomas and the lovely Leah. Boyfriend and potential new family bonded really well, and off he went again – and this time he has stayed put! No more trips back to his old girlfriend-hunting ground of Stockland Green ! And he has a posh new double-barrelled name now – Bobby Boyfriend-Bolton.
Mum Dion confirms: “We wanted a black cat and couldn’t wait to meet Boyfriend. And for Leah and myself, it was love at first sight. But he was a bit off with partner John – and still is! And teenager Thomas wasn’t in the least bit interested in having a cat, yet now they spend lots of time together.”
Leah, who is a pupil at Ferndale School, Great Barr, wanted to take Boyfriend home straight away. She says: “Sheila of Cats Protection really helped me with Bobby and helped me get over losing my rabbit Snowy at just 9 months. My big brother didn't want a cat and now he's his best mate. We spend our time looking out of the window waiting for him to come home. He comes in as good as gold at 7 every night - I really love him.”
Adds Mum: “Bobby-B-B is puuuuurrrfect for us and makes my children happy.'
* To view other cats available via the CP ‘Directs’ service (no fees involved – a private adoption) see that page of the website.