Dimitri - He is Ready For A Forever Home

Dimitri started coming into my yard in the summer of 2022.  He was a skinny boy with half a tail, scruffy, and starving.  

After a few months of daily visits, I trapped him to be neutered and vaccinated.  Most of the cats who have been trapped and released to my yard take a few days before they venture back. Dimitri was back the next day, and he has been a resident ever since.  

Dimitri was quick to see the others getting love and attention when food was brought out, and it was only a matter of days before he was at the front of the line for pets and "good boys."  He LOVES attention, and he has a purr so loud that I can hear it through the door when I am bringing out food.  He truly enjoys human interaction, and of all of the strays I have had in my yard, he is the fastest one to become hand-trained.  As with all of the ferals, once they know loving touch, you can see them thinking, "Where has this been all my life?!"

This past winter, I tried to get some of my backyard guys into my house when temperatures were really frigid. Dimitri was the only one I was able to get inside, and he let me pick him up and carry him in without a problem.  I kept him in my side room, which was equipped with ample places to rest and blankets to snuggle in, as well as two windows to look out.  To my delight, he was very comfortable inside, and did not fuss at all to go out.  He used the litter box, and made me feel confident that, if needed, he could adapt to being an inside cat.  

The reason I kept him in a separate room is that I have a senior, special needs cat who has health issues, and he stays mostly indoors.  Peter John and Papa come in at night, as well. Dimitri is a strong male presence and my guys are afraid of him. He has a very intimidating stare, and being a feral animal, he has had to develop a tough exterior for self preservation.  To other animals, he is an intimidating force, but when it comes to receiving affection, he is a huge mush, and he LOVES to be brushed.   

Dimitri definitely likes people, and as I mentioned on the home page, he has big feelings.  He loves affection, and when being petted, he will often crush his head or whole side of his body into you and just stay there.  He loves to be connected to his human.  In November, he had his annual vet visit and tested negative for Feline Aids and Feline Leukemia, and he is up-to-date on his Rabies and Distemper vaccines. Although he was scared to death, he was a very good boy at the doctor's office.

As with any feral adoption, time, patience, understanding, love, and space are essential in helping an animal acclimate to a new home.  To them, the outside is their place of security, because they can run or hide from potential danger. A house is a huge version of a trap or crate that they can be locked in.  Learning to know the difference takes time, but it is definitely a possibility, and Dimitri is ready for that possibility to become a reality.  

If you are interested in learning more about Dimitri and may be looking to adopt him, please send me a note through the "Contact" page.  I will be happy to answer your questions and e-mail you an adoption application.