How glue-covered rescue cat found a home in Brisbane
When the Hamilton family bought Titan, they didn’t know what they were getting. But they were focused on providing him with a loving, safe environment.
“You know what kind of personality you have with an adult cat,” her new mother said. “Kittens are so cute, but then it’s a potluck. You don’t know if you’re going to get a cuddler. It seems like a mix of the two. He’s so cute when he’s in the mood.”
Titan went from a timid kitten to a noisy cat.
“When we first met him he was very shy. ‘He’ll probably always be a bit traumatized’ they told us. But he’s very cheeky, extremely mischievous. He’s also very smart, you can see the gears constantly turning in his head.”
Titan has now turned from that little timid cat into a big, noisy cat.
“I call him little bobblehead because he’s a tiny body and a big head with floppy ears. His body definitely grows into big ears. He’s got big paws, so he can be a pretty big cat when he’s done.” [growing].”
His new mom is running up and down the kitchen with her favorite soccer ball toy as she talks.
“He has very good ball skills. My son is a football player, so he was very pleased to see this. He is just obsessed with it.”
Titan has now settled into his new family.
After the family was devastated by the loss of their senior rescue, the Hamiltons were looking for an older rescue cat.
“We were looking to get another rescue cat because we are very aware that many rescue cats need homes. Then my daughter saw the post about Titan. ‘Can we apply when they give him up for adoption?’ he said. And I said ‘yes, of course’ because I didn’t think we could catch him.
The family was shocked, to say the least, when the practice contacted them to arrange a meeting.
“If we didn’t have [Titan] We would be very happy to adopt an adult cat. There are many adult cats that need homes. Everyone wants a cute little kitten at Christmas. And that’s totally okay, they’re gorgeous. “These are not very difficult tasks in the beginning, but you have to be careful with them.”
Eatons Hill Veterinary Practice where Titan was brought and rehabilitated.Credit: Dominique Tassel
The Eatons Hill practice sees between 300 and 400 rescue cats each year, reaching a record number of 710 cats during the pandemic.
A new rescue team had just been dropped off when this masthead entered the practice. Six new rescue operations, actually.
The kittens’ litter was found in the bush at Caboolture. The cats were quickly taken downstairs for a flea bath and are already meeting potential new families.
She is one of six kittens brought to Eatons Hill Veterinary Practice after being found alone in bushland.Credit: Dominique Tassel
The practice also adopts out dogs from time to time, and the O’Gradys currently have three rescue dogs.
Their three-legged dog, Tinker, is now a regular at the practice. He was rescued from a rural shelter with a broken hind leg after being hit by a car. Watching her move around and caress after a swim in the dam, it’s clear that having one leg down doesn’t hinder her.
The practice is also home to a rescued macaw called Macca, who lives in the practice’s reception and rescues turtles in the front pond.
Tinker was adopted by the O’Grady family after being rescued from a rural council shelter.Credit: Dominique Tassel
Titan may have captured the most hearts online, but it’s just one of the heartbreaking stories O’Grady encountered at the clinic.
“Another little animal was found. Its eyes were all pierced and it was a skinny thing. Like the other vets, I was going to put it down because it was a complete mess.”
But his daughter Shannon asked him to give the cat a chance, and after an operation to remove both eyes, Trooper settled into a new home.
“Even though he has no eyes, he is now very loved, he is one of the family.”
Other animals involved this year include a kitten called Catillac, who was found trapped in a box next to a burnt-out car in Zillmere. Another cat, Frankie, was found scared and alone on a platform at the Roma Street bus stop. Three kittens, Arya, Sansa and Jon, were brought to the practice after being distributed outside the markets in Caboolture.
The turtle pond at Eatons Hill Veterinary Practice.Credit: Dominique Tassel
Matilda was rescued from a rural shelter with her month-old kittens. His front leg was severed and was found untreated. Puppy Sandy was brought in with burn marks from boiling water on her face and back.
A number of cats have been brought in from industrial areas in Clontarf, but thankfully none are in as bad a condition as Titan. All were successfully accepted.
The app does not accept monetary donations but does accept donations of animal food, toys and other equipment. Or the human food items that appear from time to time on social media.
Adult cat deliveries are currently closed and will continue into the new year.
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