Affectionate Pickle loved company and had been used to having someone at home with her all day. After the loss of her owner, Pickle became understandably distressed and her behaviour changed. She struggled with litter tray use and began eating non-food items, including sponges and soft furnishings - a condition known as pica. Pickle’s previous owner’s family were unable to continue looking after her, so they made the very difficult, but responsible choice to bring her to Battersea.
Being in the cattery was another big change for Pickle, and she found the adjustment challenging at first. She would often hide away in her cat tower, not yet ready to interact with her new carers. Little by little, Pickle began to gain the trust of our dedicated care team, and she slowly started to come out of her hiding place.
However, it was clear that Pickle was stressed after all the big changes in her life. She had begun chewing on her blankets and eating parts of her cat toys. Our team decided the best thing we could do to help her feel more relaxed more quickly, was to arrange some time with one of our foster carers in a calm and quiet home.
This peaceful environment was exactly what she needed. Pickle formed a sweet bond with her foster carers during this time and would enjoy 'supervising' them when they worked from home. Pickle would often cuddle up on their laps just to be closer to them. At last, she felt content and her confidence soared - and her pica completely stopped.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters who make these second chances possible, Pickle was given all the love, care and time that she needed to regain her confidence. She was able to recover from her challenges and finally become her happy self again.
When Pickle was ready, we found her a loving new home and are delighted to share that she is now thriving and spends her days happily sleeping on her family’s laps.
