Rocky Da Cat

Meet Rocky, named after his tough guy appearance, like Rocky Balboa, only cuter, and more fluffy.

Rocky has been in our lives for just over two years now. We were lucky enough to rescue him from the Dundee Cat’s Protection Centre when he was just 9 months old. His owners didn’t want to part with him but they had to move and weren’t allowed pets at their new residence.

I still remember the day I first saw him. I had taken Zack with me to the centre just to find out what the deal was with it all, how to go about adopting a cat, whether there were any there that took our fancy, and just generally get a feel for the place.

We went all around the place. There were about 40 cats there in various pens, all looking very uncomfortable in the blazing heat we were getting that summer, but otherwise in good health, and all looking their best for their visitors.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and the place was quite busy.

Rocky was lazing on a shelf in his pen, looking very inquisitive in the way that only young cats do. We were allowed to go in to see how he would react with Zack (we had been told he was one of the friendliest cats there, and to take a look at him). Well, my almost-3-yr-old (at that point!) went straight over to the toys to find one to play with the cat who was named Gizmo at the time.

I let him sniff my hand, and instructed Zack to do the same, so that he could get to know us.

He purred, like a tractor.

Zack waved the dangly toy in front of him and he played for a moment before deciding that he enjoyed me tickling him behind the ears more.

I carefully tried to pick him up to see what his reaction would be.

He let me.

Only for about ten seconds, but still, he let me.

I asked Zack if he’d like Gizmo as our pet, and he replied something along the lines of “yes, now can we go get some food?”. That’s my boy… always thinking about his flippin stomach!

As we left the enclosure and went to speak to the people in charge, I couldn’t help but say loudly that we would go tell them that we wanted to bring him home with us. There were other people about, and I knew that no one would let a beauty like him stay there for long.

A week later, after a home-visit to check our house and garden area was suitable (I reckon this should be put in place for people who are pregnant to be quite honest. I’ve seen a lot of people who just don’t take care of children the way they should in my time), we brought Gizmo home, and re-named him Rocky.

This tough guy cat who is always Top Cat around the neighbourhood (both when we were in Dundee and where we are no), is friends with the rabbit.

They follow each other around.

And, he sniffs at the rat, but won’t lay a paw on her.

Some tough guy eh?